Absolutism
France was an Absolute monarch after Louis 14th
- Absolute monarchs: didnāt share power with a counsel or parliament
- āDivine Right of Kingsā
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Louis XIV (14th):
- Ruled from 1643-1715
- Reduced power of the nobility
- Fought four wars
- Greatly increased Franceās national debt
The Seven Yearsā War
Louis XV (15):
- War fought in Europe, India, North America
- France ends up losing some of its colonial possessions
- Increases French national debt
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French and English troops fight at the battle of Fort St. Philip on the Island of Minorca
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Causes of the French Revolution:
- Influence of the American Revolution
The Good:
- Inspired by Thomas jefferson
- Declaration of Independence
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The Bad:
France was in a lot of debt and the king was a weak leader
Marie Antoinette
1755 - 1792
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Louis XVI (16) \n
Insecure, clumsy, man with a good heart.
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The Three Estates
First Estate - The Clergy (The Roman Catholic Church)
- Less than 1% of population
- 2nd richest of the three estates
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Second Estate - Rich nobles
- Held highest offices in government
- Exempt from taxes
- 2% of population and richest of the three estates
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Third Estate - Everyone Else
- Bourgeoisie, urban lower class, and peasant farmers
- Had little power in the government
- 98% of the population paid taxes. Poorest of the 3 estates.
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Estates-General
Due to economic and agricultural problems, King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General
- Each Estate meets separately to vote on tax reform.
- Each estate gets one vote.
- Third Estate calls for a National Assembly where each rep gets a vote.
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Events of the French Revolution
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Storming of the Bastille - July 14, 1789
- Marked the beginning of open rebellion against the king
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Reign of Terror - 1792-1794, led by Robespierre
- Most famous victim was Marie Antoinette.
- About 18,000 people were killed during that year. About 85% were peasants.
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The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Adopted by National Assembly on August 27th 1789
- Enlightenment ideals
- Outlined basic freedoms held by all
- Asserted the sovereignty of the people
- āLiberte, Egalite, Fraterniteā
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First French Republic
September 1792
- Monarchy Abolished
- Introduced a new calendar
- Louis XVI (16) put on trial
- Convicted and sentenced to death
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The Guillotine
Invented in 1792 by a physician as a āhumaneā way of executing people
- Before the guillotine: burning, strangulation, hanging, beheading by an ax, being pulled apart by horses
Some doctors believed that a victimās head could still see and hear for up to 15 minutes after the head was chopped off.
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Maximilien Robespierre
Tried to wipe out every trace of Franceās monarchy
- Became leader of the Committee of Public Safety
Enemies of the Committee were often tried in the morning and guillotined in the afternoon.
- This became known as the Reign of Terror
Outcomes of the French Revolution
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