The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

Donald SterrettDonald Sterrett

World HistoryWorld History

11/06/0611/06/06

Absolute MonarchsAbsolute Monarchs

France had been ruled by an absolute France had been ruled by an absolute monarchy.monarchy.

At the top was the king who had total At the top was the king who had total controlcontrol

Louis XIV had been one of the most Louis XIV had been one of the most powerful rulers in history and had built the powerful rulers in history and had built the great palace of Versailles.great palace of Versailles.

But all the wars and buildings cost a lot of But all the wars and buildings cost a lot of money and the treasury was getting low.money and the treasury was getting low.

1. If you are the king what would you do? 1. If you are the king what would you do?

THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES: THE PALACE OF VERSAILLES: The King’s HouseThe King’s House

Three EstatesThree Estates

The old Regime (Ancien Regime) divided The old Regime (Ancien Regime) divided up society into 3 groups or estates.up society into 3 groups or estates.

11stst Estate: Clergy. It made up less then Estate: Clergy. It made up less then 1% of the population, had lots of power 1% of the population, had lots of power and money, and paid 2% of their income and money, and paid 2% of their income in taxes. in taxes.

22ndnd Estate: Nobles: It made up 2% of the Estate: Nobles: It made up 2% of the population, had lots of power and money population, had lots of power and money and paid no taxes.and paid no taxes.

2. Where do you think they are going to 2. Where do you think they are going to get all the money they need?get all the money they need?

The 3The 3rdrd Estate Estate

The Third Estate: Everybody else. It The Third Estate: Everybody else. It included 98% of the population had included 98% of the population had few rights, almost no power and few rights, almost no power and money. They paid 50% of their money. They paid 50% of their earnings in taxes.earnings in taxes.

3. If you were a member of the 33. If you were a member of the 3rdrd Estate how would you feel about this Estate how would you feel about this situation.situation.

Examine this cartoon from the time of the Revolution.What is going on in the picture?How might this illustrate a cause of the revolution?Who are each of the men in the picture supposed to be?

Forces for ChangeForces for Change1. Enlightenment Ideas: The 1. Enlightenment Ideas: The

Enlightenment ideas made people ask Enlightenment ideas made people ask questions about how society is set up. questions about how society is set up. They pushed the ideas like equality, They pushed the ideas like equality, liberty, and democracy.liberty, and democracy.

2. Economic Woes: High taxes meant 2. Economic Woes: High taxes meant that business people had to raise the that business people had to raise the price of their goods. This led to huge price of their goods. This led to huge price jumps where the price of bread price jumps where the price of bread doubled.doubled.

Question: Imagine you are trying to Question: Imagine you are trying to support your family and you cannot buy support your family and you cannot buy bread. How might you respond?bread. How might you respond?

Louis calls the Estates Louis calls the Estates togethertogether

1. Louis calls the Estates together for the 1. Louis calls the Estates together for the first time in 175 years to solve financial first time in 175 years to solve financial problems.problems.

At the meeting they vote by Estate At the meeting they vote by Estate instead of by head. This angered the 3instead of by head. This angered the 3rdrd Estate because they are the largest group Estate because they are the largest group and yet they get outvoted each time.and yet they get outvoted each time.

One day they are locked out of the One day they are locked out of the meeting and go to the Tennis Court where meeting and go to the Tennis Court where they promise not to leave until they get a they promise not to leave until they get a new Constitution.new Constitution.

National AssemblyNational Assembly

The people create a new representative The people create a new representative body that will be one person one vote. body that will be one person one vote. They start passing revolutionary laws They start passing revolutionary laws that starts to disturb the king.that starts to disturb the king.

The king sends in troops to break up The king sends in troops to break up the Assembly. When the people find the Assembly. When the people find out they storm the Bastille and get out they storm the Bastille and get weapons. This event is the beginning weapons. This event is the beginning of the Revolution.of the Revolution.

Declaration of the Rights of Declaration of the Rights of ManMan

The French Declaration of Rights The French Declaration of Rights declared that people had the rights to declared that people had the rights to life, liberty, and freedom from life, liberty, and freedom from oppression.oppression.

Despite these grand ideas they did not Despite these grand ideas they did not live up to them and they denied rights to live up to them and they denied rights to womenwomen

Many of the poor peasant women Many of the poor peasant women became angry at the king and Queen became angry at the king and Queen and they marched on Versailles attacked and they marched on Versailles attacked the palace, killed the guards and brought the palace, killed the guards and brought the King and Queen back to Paris.the King and Queen back to Paris.

Flight to Varenne/Declaration of Flight to Varenne/Declaration of PillnitzPillnitz

There are the two events that make the There are the two events that make the people not trust the King and Queen.people not trust the King and Queen.

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempt Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempt to escape to Austria and they are caught to escape to Austria and they are caught before they can make it over the border. before they can make it over the border.

The Declaration of Pillnitz is a statement The Declaration of Pillnitz is a statement by Marieby Marie’’s relatives that they will step s relatives that they will step into restore Louisinto restore Louis’’ throne. throne.

This makes the people believe that the This makes the people believe that the king and queen are traitors.king and queen are traitors.

Jacobins and Sans CullottesJacobins and Sans Cullottes

Jacobins: Radical group in the Jacobins: Radical group in the French Revolution they were more French Revolution they were more middle class and believed in the middle class and believed in the ideas of the Enlightenment. They ideas of the Enlightenment. They end up taking over the Government end up taking over the Government during and after the Revolution.during and after the Revolution.

Sans cullotes: Parisian tradespeople Sans cullotes: Parisian tradespeople and artisans were angry about the and artisans were angry about the food shortages and economic food shortages and economic inequalities.inequalities.