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French Revolution
Society Divided First Estate
ClergyOwned 10% of landRan schools, hospitals and
orphanagesDid not pay taxes
French Revolution
Second Estate Nobles
Top jobs in government, army, courts and church
Received little financial incomeDid not pay taxes
French Revolution
Third Estate Rest of France
Very diverse Bourgeoisie- middle class
Prosperous Majority were rural peasants
Landowners and farmers
French Revolution
Third Estate (cont) Urban workers
Poorest members Some members of the third estate had
more money and power than 1st or 2nd, however, could not get ahead because of their social status
Economic troubles France was using deficit spending
Spend more money than it makes Rulers were not equipped to handle the situation Jacques Necker
Hired by Louis XVI as a financial planner Suggested to reduce extravagant spending, reform
government, and abolish tariffs on trade Also suggested taxing the first and second estate
Clergy and nobles did not like this idea Made the king dismiss him
French Revolution
Estates-General called Legislative body consisting of
representatives from all three estates Had not been called for 175 years Each class gets one vote on issues 1st and 2nd estate always won the vote over
the 3rd Third estate wanted reform
French Revolution
Estates-General, not getting anywhere Third Estate claimed to represent the
people of France and formed the National Assembly
After a week of meeting, their meeting place was locked, so they met on a tennis court Tennis Court Oath
French Revolution
Reform minded clergy and nobles joined the National Assembly as well
Rumors spread that King Louis XVI sent troops to Paris to dissolve the Assembly
As the Assembly met, Parisians roamed the streets worrying about royal troops
French Revolution
Met at the Bastille (prison for political prisoners) and demanded weapons
Guards at the Bastille opened fire on the crowd and a riot ensued
The people overtook the Bastille This became recognized as the French
Independence day, Bastille day
French Revolution
Many peasant uprisings Fear of government
National Assembly acts Writes Declaration of the Rights of Man (p.
584) Creates New Constitution
Legislative Assembly formed
French Revolution
Radicals take over Legislative Assembly Declare war on other European countries Support radical uprisings in cities Executed the King and Marie Antoinette
Formed National Convention
French Revolution
National Convention creates committee of Public Safety
Held absolute power Led by Robespierre
Reign of Terror Used guillotine to punish prisoners 300,000 arrested, 17,000 executed
French Revolution
Robespierre was out of control National Convention turned on Committee
of Public Safety and executed Robespierre
French Revolution
Without a strong leader in place, officials turned to Napoleon to lead their country At first, he was only there to push through
the goals of the politicians Later he would become the Ruler of
France
Napoleon
Napoleon rose quickly in the Army Had many victories
Led expedition into Egypt Disaster
Hid losses through spies and censoring Became political leader and overthrew
weak government
Napoleon
Napoleon reforms France Plebiscite- popular vote (not really) Napoleonic Code
New laws that supported enlightenment principles
Used large army and friends to control most of Europe
Napoleon
Nationalism hurts Napoleon’s rule Leads to war with other European
countries France and Russia go to war
Napoleon led 600,000 soldiers and 50,000 horses in invasion of Russia
Russians fled East and burned the ground as they went
Napoleon
Burning left no food or supplies for French army as the Russian winter came
Cold weather killed most of the soldiers 20,000 survived
Napoleon steps down from power Exiled to Elba