FRENCH REVOLUTIONFRENCH REVOLUTION

A more humane execution?

French RevolutionFrench Revolution

Takes all of the ideas of the Takes all of the ideas of the Enlightenment and puts them to the Enlightenment and puts them to the testtest

ReasonReason

NatureNature

HappinessHappiness

ProgressProgress

LibertyLiberty

The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

Who ruled France? Who ruled France? Louis XVI

What does he resemble in this portrait?

(Mes cheres enfants Je vous porte tons dans mon coeur

My dear children I carry you all in my heart—or elsewhere as suggested by a cartoonist

Louis XVI-Govt #1-what is it?Louis XVI-Govt #1-what is it?

Really not a terrible manReally not a terrible manHomely lookingHomely lookingLoved to putter around the castle Loved to putter around the castle and play with gadgets (clocks and play with gadgets (clocks were his favorite)were his favorite)Had no understanding of the Had no understanding of the world around him (naïve) and world around him (naïve) and could not relate to the peoplecould not relate to the people

Louis XVILouis XVI

His gov’t was deeply in debt—partly His gov’t was deeply in debt—partly due to his help to finance the American due to his help to finance the American RevolutionRevolution

He was indecisive and quite stupidHe was indecisive and quite stupid

He lived in luxury in Versailles, while He lived in luxury in Versailles, while his people went hungry.his people went hungry.

He called to tax the nobles for money, He called to tax the nobles for money, but they insisted upon a call of the but they insisted upon a call of the Estates—figuring to vote it downEstates—figuring to vote it down

Marie Antoinette-Is that your real hair?

If they are hungry, let them eat cake

Marie Antoinette (known as the Marie Antoinette (known as the Austrian whore)Austrian whore)

Daughter of Austrian queenDaughter of Austrian queenElegant and obnoxiousElegant and obnoxiousUnhappily married (at age 15) Unhappily married (at age 15) and very unfaithful-Louis was and very unfaithful-Louis was reputed to have a sort of problemreputed to have a sort of problemSCANDAL—the diamond SCANDAL—the diamond necklace necklace

Equal to what might be over $100 million in diamonds today—or a new battleship

2,800 carats of diamonds

A bit unfair?A bit unfair?

Average peasant earned about Average peasant earned about 500 livres per year—Marie 500 livres per year—Marie spent about 100,000 just on spent about 100,000 just on clothing and millions (13% of the clothing and millions (13% of the govt’s budget) just to pay the govt’s budget) just to pay the household staff of 15,000 household staff of 15,000 people.people.

Their palace in Versailles, France

Other problemsOther problems

Bad winter and most crops Bad winter and most crops were lostwere lost

Not enough wheat for Not enough wheat for bread— bread prices soarbread— bread prices soar

The Three EstatesThe Three Estates(French Society)(French Society)

Ancien Regime

First Estate

Second Estate

Third Estate

The First Estate The First Estate Religious leaders – ClergyReligious leaders – Clergy

Less than 1% of 25 million Less than 1% of 25 million

Owned 1/5 (20%) of land Owned 1/5 (20%) of land

NO TAXESNO TAXES

The Second Estate The Second Estate

Nobility – 2% of population Nobility – 2% of population

Many privileges & land ownership (30%)Many privileges & land ownership (30%)

Paid few taxes -> collected them from peasants Paid few taxes -> collected them from peasants

High government positions -> influence over High government positions -> influence over Louis XVI Louis XVI

The Third Estate The Third Estate

97%97% of population (24 million+) of population (24 million+)

Serfs & peasants Serfs & peasants

Bourgeoisie – middle class Bourgeoisie – middle class – Merchants, manufacturers, professionals Merchants, manufacturers, professionals

Provided most if not all taxes Provided most if not all taxes

Little voice in government decisions Little voice in government decisions

The French Revolution—The The French Revolution—The King and the Three Estates #1King and the Three Estates #1

First Estate-Catholic Church-held 10% First Estate-Catholic Church-held 10% of the land-a fraction of 1% of popof the land-a fraction of 1% of pop

Second Estate—the nobles—held Second Estate—the nobles—held about 20% of the land—less than 2% about 20% of the land—less than 2% of the population—did not have to pay of the population—did not have to pay taxestaxes

Third Estate—almost 98% of the Third Estate—almost 98% of the populationpopulation

What might this picture be representing?

Third Estate—3 groupsThird Estate—3 groups

Middle class—bankers, doctors, Middle class—bankers, doctors, lawyers, merchants, etc known as lawyers, merchants, etc known as the the bourgeoisiebourgeoisie

a.a. Urban lower class—craftspeople Urban lower class—craftspeople such as butchers, weavers, such as butchers, weavers, peddlers, etc.peddlers, etc.

b.b. Peasants/farmers—80% of France’s Peasants/farmers—80% of France’s population—often going hungrypopulation—often going hungry

Meeting of the 3 EstatesMeeting of the 3 Estates 17891789

In order to raise money, King In order to raise money, King Louis needs to raise taxes? Louis needs to raise taxes? Whom will he tax?Whom will he tax?

He calls for a meeting of the He calls for a meeting of the estates for the first time in 179 estates for the first time in 179 yearsyears

Estates General: Estates General: An Invitation to Revolution?An Invitation to Revolution?

1789: The Third Estate demanded that all three estates meet together and EACH MAN would have an individual vote.

Third Estate: 610

First and Second Estate: 591

Estates General:Estates General:So…The King tells all of the groups to meet

individuallyThe Third Estate goes to where they’re

supposed to meet…AND THEY’RE LOCKED OUT!!!

The Third Estate adjourns to the Tennis Court

Absolute monarchy is finishedAbsolute monarchy is finishedA clergyman by the name of A clergyman by the name of Abbe Sieyes declared the Abbe Sieyes declared the Third Estate the Third Estate the National National AssemblyAssembly

Tennis court oath

Estates General: Estates General:

Enter Abbé Sieyès stage left…

–“What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been up to now in the political order? Nothing. What does it demand? To become something herein.”

King Louis XVI is getting scaredKing Louis XVI is getting scared

Sends a hired guard of Sends a hired guard of Swiss troops to march on Swiss troops to march on Paris to break up the Paris to break up the Assembly? Why not Assembly? Why not French troops?French troops?

The BastilleThe BastilleMobs Paris riot over bread prices Mobs Paris riot over bread prices (the only affordable food)(the only affordable food)

Peasants with the aid of some Peasants with the aid of some French troops storm the Bastille—French troops storm the Bastille—July 14July 14thth 1789-they want its 1789-they want its gunpowder to defend against the gunpowder to defend against the king’s mercenaries. Why not French king’s mercenaries. Why not French troops? Bad things happen to the troops? Bad things happen to the defenders.defenders.

Storming of the Bastille

The Revolution Begins The Revolution Begins Meeting of Estates General – May 1789 Meeting of Estates General – May 1789

Upset with old voting methods, 3Upset with old voting methods, 3rdrd Estate withdraws and declares Estate withdraws and declares themselves the National Assemblythemselves the National Assembly

National Assembly locked out of meeting National Assembly locked out of meeting

Refused to disband until a constitution was signed Refused to disband until a constitution was signed

Louis XVI refused -- allowed the Estates to meet togetherLouis XVI refused -- allowed the Estates to meet together

Summer 1789 -National Assembly began writing the French Summer 1789 -National Assembly began writing the French Constitution Constitution

July 14, 1789July 14, 1789Bastille Day Bastille Day

The Great FearThe Great Fear

The Great FearThe Great FearPeasants feared what the nobles Peasants feared what the nobles might do after the Bastille, so they might do after the Bastille, so they took initiative and acted as terror took initiative and acted as terror mobsmobs

They stormed noble They stormed noble houses/manors and destroyed all houses/manors and destroyed all documents-feudal dues recordsdocuments-feudal dues records

Royal family attacked at VersaillesRoyal family attacked at Versailles

Women riot and storm the palace Women riot and storm the palace hacking apart the kings guards. hacking apart the kings guards. The royal family is made to leave The royal family is made to leave Versailles and live in Paris. They Versailles and live in Paris. They are escorted by the mob with the are escorted by the mob with the heads of all of the soldiers on heads of all of the soldiers on pikes.pikes.

A Declaration of the Rights of A Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the CitizenMan and of the Citizen

(Aug 1789)—revolutionary (Aug 1789)—revolutionary ideas adopted by the National ideas adopted by the National AssemblyAssemblyGuarantees men equal justice, Guarantees men equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of speech, and freedom of religion.-who is freedom of religion.-who is excluded?excluded?

LibertéLibertéEgalitéEgalitéFraternitéFraternité

Escape to Varennes…

Legislative Assembly and limited Legislative Assembly and limited king #3king #3

National Assembly steps National Assembly steps down and a new group of down and a new group of officials are electedofficials are elected

France has other problems as wellFrance has other problems as well

War has been declared on Austria War has been declared on Austria and Prussia in hopes of spreading and Prussia in hopes of spreading the revolution to the rest of Europe. the revolution to the rest of Europe. Austria wanted to help Marie Austria wanted to help Marie

70,000 citizens attack the king and 70,000 citizens attack the king and queen and slaughter their guard—queen and slaughter their guard—limited monarchy is overlimited monarchy is over

National Convention #4National Convention #4

National Convention declares National Convention declares France a republic all males France a republic all males have the right to hold office have the right to hold office and had the right to vote.and had the right to vote.

The king is declared an enemy The king is declared an enemy of the state and executed by of the state and executed by the guillotinethe guillotine

Look what I found ma!!!!

January January 17921792

The execution of Louis XVI

Still have problemsStill have problems

Britain, Spain, Portugal, Austria , Britain, Spain, Portugal, Austria , and Prussia all join the FIRST and Prussia all join the FIRST COALITION against France –fall COALITION against France –fall 17921792

France forms a huge citizen army France forms a huge citizen army of 800,000 and win battle after of 800,000 and win battle after battle. Why?battle. Why?

“I guess they took that cake comment a bit too seriously”—poor Marie

“

The Reign of Terror-1793The Reign of Terror-1793

Led by Led by Maximilien Maximilien Robespierre—Robespierre—Wanted to wipe Wanted to wipe out all traces of out all traces of nobility and the nobility and the monarchymonarchy

“Show my head to people, it is worth seeing" Danton

“Help me, I have sores and twitch a lot”-Marat

The Reign of Terror-acquittal or The Reign of Terror-acquittal or death-1793death-1793

Why? Intimidate all others from Why? Intimidate all others from forming a counter revolution forming a counter revolution against him against him

Forms a Forms a Committee of Public Committee of Public SafetySafety to decide who should be to decide who should be tried as an enemytried as an enemy

Executions were considered Executions were considered EducationalEducational

The TerrorThe Terror

When will your turn come? When will you hear the knock on the door?

The TerrorThe Terror

shut down all churches shut down all churches

changing the French calendar to changing the French calendar to get rid of Sundays (religious days) get rid of Sundays (religious days) and to use reasonable names and to use reasonable names monthly names (Fog month)-also monthly names (Fog month)-also 10 days in a week/3 weeks in a 10 days in a week/3 weeks in a monthmonth

executing thousands of “enemies executing thousands of “enemies of the republic”of the republic”

Not just the guillotine for executionNot just the guillotine for executionboats of prisoners were sent onto the Loire boats of prisoners were sent onto the Loire River. On the bottom of each boat was a River. On the bottom of each boat was a trap door. He ordered that these trapped trap door. He ordered that these trapped were to be opened, thus causing the boats were to be opened, thus causing the boats to sink and the prisoners to drown to sink and the prisoners to drown

The Terror The Terror

Notre Dame is Notre Dame is changed to “changed to “The The Temple of Temple of Reason”Reason” and and priests are priests are replaced with replaced with ““cult of the cult of the supreme being”supreme being”

BYE BYE TERRORBYE BYE TERROR

By July 1794, National By July 1794, National Convention members are tired Convention members are tired of the death and turn on of the death and turn on Robespierre taking his and 99 Robespierre taking his and 99 of his supporters heads.of his supporters heads.

40,000 had been beheaded, 40,000 had been beheaded, 25,000 under the age of 1625,000 under the age of 16

Death of Robespierre

#5 the Directory#5 the Directory

2 house legislature and 5 man 2 house legislature and 5 man executive body controlled by the executive body controlled by the bourgeoisie bourgeoisie

They were corrupt, but returned a They were corrupt, but returned a degree of order to the nationdegree of order to the nation

Had an excellent general leading Had an excellent general leading them by the name of Napoleon them by the name of Napoleon Bonaparte. Bonaparte.