Throne Clergy Controller-General Manor Teacher Desk

Background Information Who was King Louis XIV? When did he reign over France? What was the Palace of Versailles? How did Louis XIV use the palace to increase his power?

Background Information Who was King Louis XVI? When did he reign over France? Who was the Queen of France during Louis XVI’s reign?? Where was she from?

Pre-Revolutionary France Financial Crisis End of 18th cent. France spent more $ than it made. Took out Loans to pay for: war w/ England gov’t operations % annual budget to pay loan interest 25% of annual budget to pay for military 6% of annual budget for king’s lifestyle and court at Versailles 19% of annual budget to run country Taxes King has no option but to raise taxes to cover costs Tax burden goes to peasants Clergy & Nobles mostly exempt from taxes Poor harvest hits as taxes increase caused price of bread to soar Meeting of Estates General Medieval representative body: hasn’t met since orders/Estates: Clergy, Nobility, Commoners King calls meeting to solve Financial Crisis

Revolution Starts Tennis Court Oath 3 rd Estate declares itself to be National assembly – the true representatives of France June 19, 1789 the Clergy joined the National Assembly Storming of the Bastille National Assembly established a Constitutional Monarch AND seized church lands July 14, ’s of people stormed the Bastille to find gunpowder when rumors of the sacking of Paris were spread. Represented the beginning of the French Revolution March on Versailles Unemployment and hunger went up October ,000 women marched to Versailles to demand bread from the King King Louis XVI was escorted (forced) back to Paris and never returned to Versailles

The Reign of Terror 1791June 21 - Royal Family was caught trying to escape and were returned to Paris King Louis XVI forced to sign new constitution, but vetoes all revolutionary decrees National Convention September 1792 – a more radical government, the National Convention, is elected Royal documents are found which incriminate the King of Treason January 1793 – King Louis XVI is convicted of treason and sentenced to death. - He is beheaded on the Guillotine. - Marks the Beginning of the Reign of Terror Treason War with Europe 1794-Patriotic Armies wiped out the European Armies on all fronts

The Reign of Terror RobespierreBelieved citizens needed to be taught the ‘Virtues” of the new Republic -Created new calendar -set up special revolutionary courts to that tried citizens for treason. These courts answered ONLY to Robespierre - Anyone deemed not “virtuous” enough was in danger of execution By July 1794 over 40,000 men & women were executed on the Guillotine Finally, Robespierre himself was executed. -the terror ended Terror The Directory The Reign of Terror was followed by a disastrous 5 year rule by a 5 man executive called the Directory Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon became Emperor of France in 1799 France became a police state – freedom of speech and press violated but he maintained some revolutionary changes -abolished feudal system, helped middle class and peasants advance. He Ruled France as a Dictator for 15 years ( )