French RevolutionFrench Revolution

World HistoryWorld History

Louis XIV – The Sun KingLouis XIV – The Sun King

““l‘etat, c’est moi” l‘etat, c’est moi” I am the stateI am the state Built France into one of Built France into one of

the most powerful the most powerful nations in Europenations in Europe

Disbanded Estates Disbanded Estates GeneralGeneral

Spent vast amounts of Spent vast amounts of money on artsmoney on arts

Created extensive Created extensive militarymilitary

Built VersaillesBuilt Versailles Left France deeply in Left France deeply in

debtdebt

1643-1715

VersaillesVersailles

Louis XV: 1715-1774Louis XV: 1715-1774

Continued deficit Continued deficit spendingspending

Taxed the third estate Taxed the third estate unmercifullyunmercifully

Pursued pleasure before Pursued pleasure before the business of the statethe business of the state

When warned that When warned that France was in serious France was in serious danger of collapse, he danger of collapse, he replied,replied,

““For now, all is well. For now, all is well. After me, the deluge.”After me, the deluge.”

Louis XVI – The Last KingLouis XVI – The Last King

Inherited a huge Inherited a huge economic crisiseconomic crisis

Starvation was very real Starvation was very real in the citiesin the cities

France deeply in debtFrance deeply in debt Called Estates General to Called Estates General to

try to raise funds by try to raise funds by enticing bourgeoisie to enticing bourgeoisie to raise taxes on raise taxes on themselves.themselves.

Third Estate objected to Third Estate objected to unfair conditions and unfair conditions and demanded reformdemanded reform

1774-1793

Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette

Nicknamed “Madam Nicknamed “Madam Deficit”Deficit”

Daughter of Marie Teresa Daughter of Marie Teresa of Austriaof Austria

Had little understanding Had little understanding of the conditions of the of the conditions of the lower classeslower classes

Confused by march on Confused by march on women on Versailles.women on Versailles.

When told that the When told that the masses had no bread, she masses had no bread, she is said to have declared, is said to have declared, “Let them eat cake!”“Let them eat cake!”

Background InformationBackground Information

1789 United States founded and the 1789 United States founded and the French Revolution beginsFrench Revolution begins

The Three EstatesThe Three Estates First EstateFirst Estate Second EstateSecond Estate Third EstateThird Estate

Financial CrisisFinancial Crisis

Meeting of the Estates-Meeting of the Estates-GeneralGeneral

Estates General meeting at Versailles on Estates General meeting at Versailles on May 5, 1789May 5, 1789

Tennis Court OathTennis Court Oath Storming the BastilleStorming the Bastille

A New ConstitutionA New Constitution

In 1791 the National Assembly In 1791 the National Assembly implemented a new constitution, which implemented a new constitution, which created a limited monarchy.created a limited monarchy.

The Assembly consisted of 745 The Assembly consisted of 745 representatives and chosen so the more representatives and chosen so the more affluent people were elected.affluent people were elected.

All male citizens had the same rights, but All male citizens had the same rights, but only men over 25 who paid a specified only men over 25 who paid a specified amount in taxes could vote.amount in taxes could vote.

Louis XVI tried to flee France in June 1791.Louis XVI tried to flee France in June 1791.

Causes of Causes of the the

French French RevolutioRevolutio

nn

•Enlightenment ideas—liberty and equalityExample furnished by the American Revolution Social and economic injustices of the Old Regime

Long Term Causes:

Economic crisis—famine and government debtWeak leadershipDiscontent of the Third Estate

Immediate Causes:

REVOLUTIONFall of the BastilleNational AssemblyDeclaration of the Rights of Man and a new constitution

A New RegimeA New Regime

August 4, 1789 – National Assembly August 4, 1789 – National Assembly abolishes the rights of landlordsabolishes the rights of landlords

August 26, 1789 – National Assembly August 26, 1789 – National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizenof Man and the Citizen

October 6, 1789 – King Louis XVI and October 6, 1789 – King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become virtual Marie Antoinette become virtual prisoners in Paris.prisoners in Paris.

Church ReformsChurch Reforms

The National The National Assembly seized and Assembly seized and sold the lands of the sold the lands of the Catholic Church.Catholic Church.

A Civil Constitution A Civil Constitution was put into place, was put into place, in which the bishops in which the bishops and priests were to and priests were to be elected by the be elected by the people and paid by people and paid by the state.the state.

RobespierreRobespierre

Leader of the RevolutionLeader of the Revolution Become dictator of Become dictator of

FranceFrance Institutes Reign of Institutes Reign of

TerrorTerror Enemies of the Enemies of the

Committee of Public Committee of Public Safetey sent to the Safetey sent to the guillotineguillotine

Robespierre is himself Robespierre is himself eventually beheaded as eventually beheaded as wellwell

Louis XVI is GuillotinedLouis XVI is Guillotined

France’s War with AustriaFrance’s War with Austria

Rulers of Austria and Rulers of Austria and Prussia threatened to Prussia threatened to use military power to use military power to restore Louis XVI to full restore Louis XVI to full power.power.

The Legislative Assembly The Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria declared war on Austria in the spring of 1792.in the spring of 1792.

The French were not The French were not successful in their fight successful in their fight against the Austrians.against the Austrians.

Rise of the Paris CommuneRise of the Paris Commune Members of the Paris Members of the Paris

Commune took the Commune took the king captive.king captive.

The Legislative The Legislative Assembly was forced Assembly was forced to suspend the to suspend the monarchy and call for monarchy and call for a National Convention a National Convention to chose the future to chose the future form of government form of government for France.for France.

Warm UpWarm Up

Grab a book.Grab a book. Spend 5 minutes or so creating a Spend 5 minutes or so creating a

flow chart of events for the French flow chart of events for the French Revolution. The flow chart is on the Revolution. The flow chart is on the front table.front table.

Declaration of the Rights Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizenof Man and the Citizen

A new “declaration of independence” A new “declaration of independence” createdcreated

Modeled after American DeclarationModeled after American Declaration ““All men were born free and equal in rights.”All men were born free and equal in rights.” Freedom of religionFreedom of religion Taxed according to ability to payTaxed according to ability to pay ““Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” A new constitution created.A new constitution created.

Age of NapoleonAge of Napoleon Ruler of France from 1799 Ruler of France from 1799

until 1815until 1815 Gained power with military Gained power with military

successsuccess 1799 took part in coup 1799 took part in coup

d’etat (sudden d’etat (sudden overthrowing of the overthrowing of the government)government)

Although the new Although the new government was a republic government was a republic Napoleon, the new Napoleon, the new consulate, had absolute consulate, had absolute powerpower

1802 made consul for life1802 made consul for life

Emperor Napoleon IEmperor Napoleon I

1804 declared himself the Emperor Napoleon I1804 declared himself the Emperor Napoleon I Established peace with the Catholic church in Established peace with the Catholic church in

18011801 Introduced Civil Code, or Napoleonic CodeIntroduced Civil Code, or Napoleonic Code Developed centralized and powerful Developed centralized and powerful

bureaucracybureaucracy Shut down 60 of France’s 73 newspapersShut down 60 of France’s 73 newspapers Napoleon’s empire grew greatly during his ruleNapoleon’s empire grew greatly during his rule

Napoleon FallsNapoleon Falls

Napoleon’s success came to a rather Napoleon’s success came to a rather quick end in 1812 after his invasion of quick end in 1812 after his invasion of Russia.Russia.

Napoleon’s Grand Army of over 600,000 Napoleon’s Grand Army of over 600,000 men entered Russia headed towards men entered Russia headed towards Moscow.Moscow.

After running out of supplies and food the After running out of supplies and food the march was abandoned and the “Great march was abandoned and the “Great Retreat” across Russia began.Retreat” across Russia began.

Napoleon was sent to Elba and the Napoleon was sent to Elba and the Bourbon monarchy was restoredBourbon monarchy was restored

Napoleon Falls ContinuedNapoleon Falls Continued

Returned to power in March 20, 1815Returned to power in March 20, 1815 Attacked Waterloo on June 18, 1815 Attacked Waterloo on June 18, 1815

were Napoleon and his army were were Napoleon and his army were defeated by a combined British and defeated by a combined British and Prussian army under the command of Prussian army under the command of the Duke of Wellingtonthe Duke of Wellington

Napoleon once again exiled, but to St. Napoleon once again exiled, but to St. HelenaHelena

Summary of French Summary of French RevolutionRevolution

Toward the end of the 1700s, the reign of France’s Toward the end of the 1700s, the reign of France’s monarchs came to a violent end. Several forces—monarchs came to a violent end. Several forces—Enlightenment ideas, terrible economic conditions, and a Enlightenment ideas, terrible economic conditions, and a bourgeoisie anxious for more power—combined to spark a bourgeoisie anxious for more power—combined to spark a momentous revolution in 1789 that swept out the old momentous revolution in 1789 that swept out the old regime and ushered in a new government. However, the regime and ushered in a new government. However, the revolutionaries soon battled each other, and terror revolutionaries soon battled each other, and terror gripped France for several years. Into this chaos stepped gripped France for several years. Into this chaos stepped a French army officer, Napoleon Bonaparte. a French army officer, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon seized control of the country and then Napoleon seized control of the country and then built an empire that dominated much of western Europe. built an empire that dominated much of western Europe. The other European powers eventually defeated Napoleon The other European powers eventually defeated Napoleon and convened the Congress of Vienna in 1814. There, and convened the Congress of Vienna in 1814. There, they reestablished order and balance among the nations they reestablished order and balance among the nations of Europe.of Europe.