The French Revolution

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The French Revolution Background and Beginnings
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King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
The Old Regime
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The French Revolution
Political Background

• The king ruled by Divine Right
• The king selected officials based on social rank
  not ability.
• The king censored speech and press
• The Estates General had not met in 175 years.

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French Society
First Estate
Clergy 1
Second Estate
Nobles 2
Third Estate
Bourgeoisie, Laborers, Artisans Peasants 97
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The French Revolution
Social Conditions

• The First Estate was exempt from taxes military
  service
• The Second Estate owned most of the land and was
  exempt from taxes.
• The Third Estate paid most of the taxes and did
  virtually all the work.

Burden of the Third Estate
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The French Revolution
Economic Conditions
The Economic conditions of France had been
gradually growing worse since the reign of Louis
XIV. By 1787, the country was near bankruptcy and
faced financial disaster. This was due to

• Extravagant lifestyle of the monarchy.

• Spending vast amounts on wars.
• Debt created by French support of the American
  Revolution.

• Exemption of the upper classes from taxation.

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Basic Causes of the French Revolution
Economic Discontentment
The French population began to grow rapidly in
the 1700s. While families had more children to
support poor economic conditions caused great
hardships

• Prices rose dramatically in the 1700s while
  wages barely rose. This was especially true of
  bread prices which were a staple of the masses

• Nobles and clergy raised rents and fees on the
  lower classes

• High taxes on peasants caused numerous riots
  which were ruthlessly suppressed.

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Inequity of the French Estates
Subject to Military
Served in Govt.
Owned Land
Taxed
First Estate
NO
YES
YES
NO
Second Estate
NO
YES
YES
YES
Third Estate
YES
NO
NO
YES
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Influence of French Philosophers
Basic Causes of the French Revolution
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Voltaire

• Letters on the English
• Advocated free speech, praised Englands limited
  monarchy and denounced the French government.

I may not agree with a word you say, but Ill
defend to the death your right to say it
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Jean Jacques Rousseau

• The Social Contract
• Government should be based on popular sovereignty
  and people have the right to change government
  when they are discontented

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Montesquieu

• Spirit of the Laws
• The perfect government contained checks and
  balances

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Basic Causes of the French Revolution
Influence of Foreign Revolutions
Benjamin Franklin in the French court.
The Marquis de Lafayette in the American
Revolution
Thomas Jefferson author of The Declaration of
Independence
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Basic Causes of the French Revolution
Discontentment with the government
Queen Marie Antoinette Madame Deficit

• Austrian Princess unpopular with people
• Didnt understand French customs
• Spent extravagant amounts on jewelry, clothing,
  and gambling.
• Let them eat cake

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Basic Causes of the French Revolution
Population Explosion in France
24.7 Million
1789
17 Million
1715

• Reasons for Growth
• Greater Food Production
• Increased Prosperity
• Better Sanitation
• Lack of Wars Invasion

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Income Distribution of the Third Estate
Taxes 50
Feudal Dues 12
Personal Income 28
Tithes 10
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Convened for the first time in 175 years
First Estate 300 members 1 Vote Second
Estate 300 members 1 Vote Third Estate 600
members 1 Vote
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The National Assembly Created June 17, 1789
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The Tennis Court Oath June 20, 1789
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Storming of the Bastille July 14, 1789
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Storming of the Bastille July 14, 1789
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The National Assembly
The August Decrees - August 5, 1789
Abolished All Ancient Feudal Rights No more
distinction of social classes
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Declaration of the Rights of Man August 27, 1789
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
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Work of the National Assembly (1789-1791)

• Completed work on the Constitution of 1791
• A newly elected group called the National
  Convention took over.
• Created the Civil Constitution of the Clergy

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Make-up of the National Convention
1791-1792
Moderates
Radicals
Jacobins
Conservatives
Girondins
Speaker
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Make-up of the National Convention
1792-1795
Moderates
Radicals
Jacobins
Conservatives
Girondins
Speaker
On Sept. 19, 1792 the Monarchy was abolished
ending the 300 year reign of the Bourbon Dynasty.
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Jean Paul Marat

• Journalist who was an early Jacobin leader.
  Outspoken critic of the Old Regime
• Advocated death for opponents of the revolution
• Because of a skin disease, he was forced to work
  out of his bathtub

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Georges Danton

• Powerful leader of the Jacobins and a strong
  public speaker.
• Very popular with common people.

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Maximilien RobespierreThe Apostle of Terror

• Became the most powerful leader of the Jacobins
  and the most feared man in France.
• Led the revolution to its most radical stage, the
  Reign of Terror

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Seizure of the Royal Family August, 1792
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The First French Republic

• On September 22, 1792, the convention established
  the First French Republic
• All adult male citizens were given the right to
  vote
• The monarchy was abolished and the royal family
  imprisoned

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Trial of Louis XVI Dec. 12, 1792 - Jan. 21, 1793

• Louis was charged for conspiring against the
  revolution. Jacobins dominated the trial
• On Jan. 15, 1793, Louis was found guilty by a
  683 to 66 vote
• The next day Louis was sentenced to execution by
  a 361 to 360 vote

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Execution of Louis XVI January 21, 1793
Louis must die, so that the republic may
live -Robespierre
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The First Coalition March 1793

• France announced that it planned to export the
  Revolution to all of Europe
• Several countries formed a coalition against
  France.

Became the first of four anti-French coalitions
from 1793-1815.
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The Committee of Public SafetyFormed March 10,
1793

• Formed to combat outside enemies
• Consisted of 12 members
• Sought out enemies of the revolution
• Total control over affairs of state
• Made carried out all laws

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Jacobin Takeover of the ConventionMay 31, 1793

• On May 31, 1793, Jacobins began arresting and
  executing Girondins
• Many Girondins escaped and became émigrés
• On July 31, 1793, a Girondin supporter, Charlotte
  Corday, assassinated Marat as he sat in his
  bathtub. He became a martyr.

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Assassination of Marat
July 31, 1793
Assassinated by a Girondin sympathizer Charlotte
Corday as he worked in his bathtub
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The Reign of Terror Sept. 17, 1793 - July 28,
1794

• Devised to stop any opposition to the revolution.
• Defendants were tried by the Revolutionary
  Tribunal.
• Trials were quick and unfair.
• More than 40,000 citizens, mostly peasants, were
  executed

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Execution of Marie Antoinette October 16, 1793
Monsieur, I beg your pardon Last Words of Marie
Antoinette
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The Revolution Devours its OwnEnd of the Terror

• In April 1794, Danton called for an end to the
  terror. He and his followers were executed.

• By July, moderates had turned against
  Robespierre. He was executed on July 28, 1794
  ending the Reign of Terror.

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Moderate Control of the ConventionJuly 29, 1794
- October 26, 1795

• Moderates regained control of the convention
• All Jacobin clubs were closed
• When the economy worsened mobs tried to break up
  the convention.
• They were stopped by a young unknown general
  named Napoleon Bonaparte

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The Constitution of 1795

• The moderates who controlled the Convention
  finished the new Constitution in the fall of 1795
• A new government called The Directory was created
• The Directory consisted of an executive branch of
  5 directors, and a weak legislature.
• The Directory lasted until 1799 when Napoleon
  staged a Coup d'état and formed a new government.

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Napoleon Bonaparte