FRENCH REVOLUTION CHAPTER 6

I. French Revolution n A n B. A period of disorder, turmoil, and chaos

II. Causes n A. Social Structure –1. Three main classes –2. Special Privileges to upper classes (no taxes)

II. Causes n B. Enlightenment Ideas –1. Ideas from U.S. entered France with individuals who had helped Americans fight for independence –2. France helped U.S. fight British with some money, arms supplies (including a ship)

II. Causes n C. Economic Problems –1. France Bankrupt < a. Louis XIV--spent, spent, spent < b. Louis XV- lazy, poor leader < c. Louis XVI--not interested-- wanted to be a locksmith

n 2. Result was a tax on everything (high taxes) –a. Gabelle tax--salt tax that everyone 8 yrs or older must buy 7 pounds of salt per year from the govt

–B. Peasants paid to pick up sticks for fire wood which at one time was free –c. Tax on some peasants amounted to 80% of income

III. Estates General n A. French society was divided into three parts n B. Met for the first time in 1789 after almost 300 years of inactivity.

III. Estates General –1. Their mission was to solve France’s economic problems –2. Would go much further

III. Estates General n C. First Estate –1. Clergy –2. Less than one percent of population – delegates

III. Estates General n D. Second Estate –1. Nobles –2. Less than two percent of population – delegates –4. Many nobles had financial problems

III. Estates General n F. Third Estate –1. The rest < a. Middle class, professional people--leaders of the revolution < b. Manual workers < c. peasants

III. Estates General –2. About 97% of population – delegates n G. Each group had one vote –1. Result was that the 1st and 2nd Estates could out vote the 3rd.

III. Estates General n H. Major mistake on the part of Louis XVI to get the Estates together

Y.T.T.W. n Determine the three causes that led to the beginning of the French Revolution.

IV. Tennis Court Oath n A. King called Estates General together to try and solve some of France’s financial problems n Could not decide on voting procedures.

n C. Refused to accept the voting conditions, the king locked the meeting house doors and told the group to return home.

n D. 3rd Estate refused and moved to nearby indoor tennis court n E. A vow to continue to meet until they had produced a French constitution.

–1. This was the first act of the French Revolution –The Third Estate becomes known as the National Assembly. –The National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen n All men were free and equal before the law. n Appointment to public office should be based on talent n No group should be exempt from taxation n Freedom of speed and press were affirmed.

Storming the Bastille n A. While the Tennis Court Oath is being taken the people of Paris riot. n B. The most hate building in Paris was the Bastille, a prison n C. Citizens believed that weapons were stored there along with hundreds of prisoners

–D. Once the mob had taken the prison they found seven prisoners < a. 2 lunatics < b. 4 convicts < c. 1 pervert < d. All guarded by 100 disabled war veterans

n C. This was the first violent act of the French Revolution.

Women March on Versailles n Louis XVI did not want to accept these terms but thousands of women from Paris marched to the palace and captured him, his wife (Marie Antoinette), and their son.

Constitution of 1791 n Set up a Limited Monarchy(with a constitution) n “active” citizens-men over 25 who paid a certain amount of taxes could vote n “passive” citizens- equal rights but no right to vote

Y.T.T.W. n Determine why the Third Estate was upset by the voting conditions. After the discovery at the Bastille do you feel the Third Estate should have stopped the Revolution?

SECTION 3: RADICAL DAYS

The Monarch Abolished n National Convention- Sept wanted to establish a republic n Two groups of people formed: –1. Jacobins-Radicals- Wanted the King dead. –2. Girondins-Supporters of the King

n Louis XVI- was put on trial as a traitor n Jan 21, Louis was beheaded by the guillotine. n October- Marie Antoinette executed n Their son Louis XVII- died of unknown causes

1793 National Convention n Committee of Public Safety- 12 members- absolute power- save the revolution –Mass levy- requiring all citizens to contribute to the war effort

–Mandating education –Abolishing slavery –Controlled prices –Tried to de-Christianize France < “saint” was removed from street signs < New calendar renumbered years from the first day of the French Republic, not the birth of Christ < Sunday service and church holidays eliminated.

Maximillien Robespierre n Leader of the Committee of Public Safety (12 people) n Great public speaker –Democracy –Universal male suffrage n “Criminals lose their heads”

Reign of Terror--2nd Stage n July July 1794 n 40,000 people died -- Guillotine n July 27, Robespierre was arrested and then executed

Reaction and the Directory- 3rd Stage n The Constitution of set up a five- man Directory and a two-house legislature. -Lower House (500), drafted laws -Upper House (250) accepted or rejected laws n Held power from 1795 to 1799 and then failed