1. Enlightenment & Revolutions Unit
The French Revolution
Enlightenment & Revolutions Unit

2. Essential Question
How did the ideas of the Enlightenment motivate political and social change?

3. Key Vocabulary
Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette: King and Queen of France who were executed for doing little for the French people.
Bourgeoisie: the well educated “middle class” of the third estate that held higher paying jobs and believed in Enlightenment principles.
Tennis Court Oath: A pledge made by France’s National Assembly that said they would stay until they created a new constitution

4. Fall of the Bastille: July 14th; it was a fortress that was attacked by an angry mob. This was the start of the French Revolution.
Declaration of the Rights of Man: Modeled after the Declaration of Independence and was issued by the National Assembly to declare all men were free and equal.
Reign of Terror: Conducted by the Committee for Public Safety. People opposing the Revolution were killed totaling around 40,000.

5. Warm Up
How would you change an unfair government?

6. The Old Order First Estate Second Estate Third Estate
Roman Catholic Church clergy
Scorned Enlightenment ideas
Second Estate
Rich nobles
Held highest offices of government
Disagreed about Enlightenment ideas.
Third Estate
Bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and peasant farmers.
Had no influence on government.
Paid the most taxes.
Embraced Enlightenment ideas.

7. Forces of Change Enlightened Ideas Economic Troubles Weak Leadership
The Third Estate began to demand equality, liberty, and democracy.
American Revolution
Economic Troubles
Heavy taxes on members of the Third Estate.
Cost of living was rising.
Severe shortage of grain.
Government was deeply in debt.
Weak Leadership
Marie Antoinette: Spent money on gowns, jewels, and gambling.
Louis XVI: had practically no money left; wanted to impose taxes on the nobility.

8. Assessment Prompt 1
In two sentences, describe why the “Old Order” of France was forced to change.

9. Dawn of the Revolution Estates-General was called together.
First & Second Estate would always be able to out vote the Third Estate.
Third Estate created the National Assembly.
End of absolute monarchy and the beginning of a representative government.
Third Estate found themselves locked out.
Tennis Court Oath: would not leave until a Constitution was created.
Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789)
People began to gather weapons and went in to the Bastille looking for guns.
Killed the guards and paraded their heads around town.

10. The Great Fear Rebellion spread.
Peasants destroy legal dues, steal grain, and burn down manor houses.
Women rioted over the rising price of bread.
The women march on Versailles.
They demanded that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette return to Paris to do something about rising costs.
King will be prisoner for the next three years.

11. The Assembly Reforms France
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen:
State that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.”
These rights included “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.”
Guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion.
Women are denied such freedoms.
Took over Church lands and declared that the Church officials were to be elected and paid as state official.
Peasants opposed this and no longer support the revolution.
Louis and his family tried to escape but are discovered and taken back to Paris.

12. Assessment Prompt 2
Talking heads: Ask the person sitting next to you how Enlightenment ideas and the American Revolution helped create the French Revolution. Record their answer.

13. Divisions Develop Created a constitutional monarchy. Radicals (left)
The Legislative Assembly created laws, collected taxes, and declared war.
Allowed to vote if you are a landowning male, 25 or older.
Radicals (left)
Wanted radical changes in the government.
Sans-culottes and Jacobians.
Moderates (center)
Wanted some changes, but not as many as the radicals.
Conservatives (right)
Wanted few changes in the government.

14. War and Execution War begins. The French imprisoned the royal family.
Fearful citizens raided the prisons and murdered prisoners.
The Constitution of 1791 was thrown out.
When the National Convention took office, it abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.
The Jacobians had the royal family beheaded by the guillotine.
France begins to draft soldiers.

15. Reign of Terror Jacobins had thousands of enemies.
Maximilien Robespierre gained power as a dictator.
The Committee for Public Safety protected France from its enemies.
The “enemies” were radicals who challenged Robespierre’s leadership.
Their only crime was that they were less radical than him.
40,000 were executed.
85% were peasants and the middle class.

16. End of the Terror The National Convention turned on Robespierre.
They demanded his arrest and execution.
Drafted a third new plan of government called the Directory.
Placed power in the hands of the upper middle class.

17. Assessment Prompt 3
Causes & effects of the French Revolution

18. Do you think that the guillotine is a form of “cruel and unusual punishment?” Why or why not?

19. Journal
Answer the EQ: How did the ideas of the Enlightenment motivate political and social change?