The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

Essential Questions

• What caused the French Revolution?

• What happened during the first events of the Revolution?

• How did the French create a new nation?

Main Idea

Problems in French society led to a revolution, the formation of a new government, and the end of the monarchy.

The Revolution Begins

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

Causes of the Revolution

Long-standing resentments against the monarchy

• Inequalities in society

– Existing social and political structure

– Called the Old Order

• King at the top and estates under him

– King Louis XVI, shy and indecisive

– Unpopular, self-indulgent queen, Marie-Antoinette

– Rest of French society divided into three classes, called estates

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

Varied widely in what they contributed in terms of work and taxes

•Roman Catholic clergy

•1% of the population

•Exempt from taxes

•Owned 10% of land– Collected rents &

fees– Bishops and

other clergy grew wealthy

First Estate

•Nobility

•Less than 2 percent of the population

•Paid few taxes

•Controlled much wealth

•Held key positions– Government– Military

Second Estate

• 97% of the population

• Bourgeoisie—city-dwelling merchants, factory owners, and professionals

• Sans culottes—artisans and workers

• Peasants—poor with little hope, paid rents and fees

Third Estate

The Three Estates

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

• Severe economic problems affected much of the country

• France in debt, spending lavishly, borrowing money, and facing bankruptcy

• Hailstorm and drought ruined harvest; harsh winter limited flour production

• People hungry and angry; clergy and nobility no help

A Financial Crisis

• Inspiring new ideas from Enlightenment philosophers

• Great Britain’s government limiting the king’s power

• American colonists rebelled successfully against British king

• New ideas changed government and society in other countries

Enlightenment Ideas

Further Causes

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

Summarize

What were the causes of the French Revolution?

Answer(s): inequalities in society, Enlightenment ideas, poor leadership, financial crisis, hunger and cold

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

By 1789, no group happy• 1st & 2nd estates lost power to

monarchy • Bourgeoisie resented

regulations

• Poor worse off

Storming of the Bastille• People went to the prison

searching for weapons, and stormed the Bastille

• Beginning of French Revolution

Estates General meets

• Desire for reforms• Voting process a problem• Third Estate proclaimed

themselves National Assembly

• Tennis Court Oath

Great Fear spread

• Were in fear the king would retaliate for Bastille

• Rumors of massacres• Peasants destroyed records

and burned nobles’ houses

First Events of the Revolution

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

• Louis tried to protect Versailles

• Angered the common people

• Mob marched to Versailles broke into the palace and demanded bread

• Louis agreed to live in Paris

• National Assembly passed laws against the church, clergy, etc

• Clergy & many peasants were horrified by the new laws

Restrictions on Power

• Feudal dues eliminated

• Adopted Declaration of Rights of Man

• Inspired by the English Bill of Rights, American Declaration of Independence, and the writings of Enlightenment philosophers

• Men are born equal and remain equal under the law

• The rights did not extend to women

Legislating New Rights

Creating a New Nation

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

New French republic held ground against Europe’s Old Order.

In 1791, the Legislative Assembly was formed. Citizens gained voting rights, but they were not universal. Constitution restricted power of king. King and queen feared they would be harmed, so they put on disguises and fled, but they were recognized & returned to Paris.

• Other nations warned against harming monarchs

• Austrian army defeats French

• Financial strain of war, food shortages, and high prices

• King blamed

Foreign Powers

Formation of a New Government

• August 10, 1792 royal family imprisoned by mob

• Legislative Assembly stepped aside & Radical faction took charge with National Convention

• Monarchy abolished; France declared a republic

End of Monarchy

The French Revolution and Napoleon Section 1

Sequence

What steps did National and Legislative Assemblies take to

create a new nation?

Answer(s): National Assembly completed constitution and created Legislative Assembly; Legislative Assembly—created a new legislature, the National Convention, which abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic