2nd MAJOR CHANGE: Political & Economic Revolutions ( FRENCH REV )

FRENCH REV CAUSES

• The Three Estates 

  • -1st & 2nd estates was the wealthy Monarchs, Church, and Landowning class. Paid no tax.

  • -3rd Estates- Commoners, paid ALL taxes but had NO political power.  

cause

• Enlightenment Ideas challenged traditional Monarchy. French people in the 3rd Estate were inspired by the American Revolution.

cause

Weather Conditions Drought and storms destroyed crops. Peasants struggled. Led to social unrest. 

casue

The Absolute Monarchy of King Louis XVI- lived lavishly even though peasants and the economy were suffering.

cause < Economic Crisis >

• Government was going bankrupt. National debt doubled.

• Revolution is very bloody and very violent (they beheaded their own king!). 

• Effects- 

effects

• Declaration of Rights of Man and of Citizens

  • inspired by American D.O.I, called for gov’t protection of Natural rights, freedom of Religion, and fair taxation.

• Declaration of Rights of Woman and of Citizens (ODG).

• Long term effect- Women will continue to demand more RIghts

• Short term effects- After Napoleon is defeated France will accept a French King (Popular Dictatorship) Then another series

• Long term effects- Many monarchies will continue to be limited or obsolete 

• Long term effects- Napoleon moves through Europe and spreads Liberalism 

French Revolution background (slide review)

+ timeline

France in the 1780s ruled by King Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette

1. Lived Lavishly- spent more than they received in income

2. Took loans to pay for war with England and to aid the American Revolution

3. National debt doubled, banks will not loan anymore money.

( Louis XVI ascended to the throne in May 1774, residing at the Palace of Versailles with his wife, Marie Antoinette. He ruled with absolute power, believing in divine right, but his leadership was marked by inexperience, weakness, and indecision. His poor decisions played a significant role in fueling the French Revolution. )

Absolute power = having total control over everything without any rules or limits to follow. It's like being the ultimate boss, where you can make any decision you want without anyone telling you otherwise.

In France, people were divided into 3 estates

• 1st Estate (<1% of pop.)

  • The Monarchy and high ranking members of the church

  • Paid no tax

• 2nd Estate (2% of pop.)

  • Nobility

  • Paid no tax

• 3rd Estate (rest of pop.)

  • Everyone else  (peasants to

wealthy bourgeoisie merchants)

• Paid ALL the taxes

• No political power

king does devious meeting

• The King called a meeting and locked the 3rd estate out. King called to increase tax on 3rd estate.

• Angered,  In an indoor tennis court and declared themselves the National Assembly- the 3rd estate Vowed to stay together and write a new constitution for France.

( On May 5, 1789, the States-General convened at the Palace of Versailles to address France's financial crisis, unfair taxes, and other grievances. During a crucial vote on debt solutions, the 1st and 2nd Estates deceived the 3rd Estate by calling for a break and then locking them out of the meeting, ultimately voting to increase taxes on the 3rd Estate once again. )

Olympe de Gouge

• she helped pass laws for women to hold political office, vote, and gain equality during the French Revolution.

• She was later on beheaded for her “insane” and “radical” ideas.  

• French Activist

• Early Feminist 

• Writes The Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen

Ideas: Women are born free and her rights are those of man! All citizens, be they men or women, being equal in the state's eyes must be equally eligible for all public offices, positions, and jobs.

First act of the Revolution.

• Peasants Fearing that the king would retaliate with his own military they stormed the Bastille prison to find weapons to arm themselves. First act of the Revolution.

(800 angry peasants, bourgeoisie, workers, and commoners stormed the Bastille, symbolizing defiance against King Louis XVI. They believed the King's guards attacked protesting peasants earlier due to food shortages.)

• Bastille Day- France’s independence day. 

Crisis and Reign of Terror / DOWNFALL

• On August 13,1792 the National Assembly ( changed their name officially to the National Convention ) dethroned King Louis XVI taking away all of his power and privileges. King Louis XVI and his entire family was imprisoned on charges of betraying national interest.

• Execution of Louis XVI

  • Attempting to flee France, caught and brought back to Paris

  • National Convention- a radical government, chosen by the public due to a Secret document showing the King’s intention to take back authority

    • King Louis XVI and Marie Antoniette is Convicted of treason by National Convention

    • Sentenced to death by guillotine- Introduced as a method of "humane" execution; used during the French Revolution against thousands of individuals, especially during the Reign of Terror.

Robspierre has a power trip

• Robspierre = Leader of the National Convention and the new Republic

  • Raised an army of 1 million to fight every major power in Europe

  • Created and controlled special revolutionary courts to try people for treason against the revolution

  • 40,000 men and women executed in the span of 2 years – guilty of treason

• In July 1794, Robespierre was himself executed by guillotine

National Assembly writes the

Declaration of the Rights of Man and The Citizen

This document was modeled in part by the English Bill of Rights and the American Declaration of Independence. The declaration called for equality for all male citizens, protection of natural rights, freedom of religion, fair taxation, amongst other things.

WOMEN’S MARCH ON VERSAILLE

• Thousands of armed women from Paris marched to Versailles demanding King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette lower food prices, especially for bread.

• The protest was successful, marking a turning point in the revolution and demonstrating the strength of the people.

• It signaled the decline of the monarchy's power.

NATIONAL CONVENTION

The new French government that represents the common people and suffrage(voting rights) for all male citizens.

the suspect law

The National Convention passed the suspect law which allowed the arrest and imprisonment of all people suspected to be enemies of the revolution and new government.

DIRECTORY RULE

• The National Convention proclaimed a republic and established a new constitution.

• The government became known as "The Directory," consisting of five leaders to prevent a return to monarchy or dictatorship.

• The new constitution limited voting rights to literate men who owned property, granting political power to the bourgeoisie, the wealthy middle class.