• Major transformation of the

society and a political

system of France, which

lasted from 1789 to 1799.

Phases of the Revolution – Chain of Events

First Phase

Causes of the Revolution

Second Phase

The Revolution in Action

Third Phase

The Reign of Terror

Outcome: Effects of the Revolution - Short Term Effects - Long Term Effects

1st Phase of the Revolution Causes of the Revolution

Review – Causes of the French Revolution

1. Social System

– Estates system = social inequalities

2. Economic

– Bad Harvests and soaring national debt

3. New Ideas/ Inspiration

– Enlightenment ideas and American Revolution

4. Political

– Lack of leadership (Louis XVI (16th) and Marie Antoinette

– *Calling the Estates General causes the 3rd Estate to declare themselves the National Assembly

1. The King presided over a country which was divided into “three estates”:

2. Economic factors. – By 1787 the French government was bankrupt, as the

figures show: Income 560 million livres

Spending 630 million livres

Total debt 4000 million livres

3. New ideas/ Inspirations • Many French businessmen and

professional people began to question the way the country was governed.

• They were influence by Jean Jacques Rousseau’s book The Social Contract.

– “Man is born free. No man has any natural authority over others; force does not give anyone that right. The power to make laws belongs to the people and only to the people”

• The American Revolution also

inspired the French – The British were thrown out of

America by George Washington’s armies, which included many French volunteers.

4. Political Problems The first stage of the French Revolution 1787-89

• By the 1780’s, many French people were angry with their ruler, King Louis XVI, and the way he ran the country. – Although the French

government was running out of money, the king’s nobles still led a luxurious life and paid no taxes.

• In August 1788 the desperate King decided to call the Estates General (a gathering of representatives from all three estates).

2nd Phase of the Revolution Revolution in Action

The National Assembly The National Assembly began on 19 June 1789. Radical nobles

and priests decided that they should draw up a constitution showing how France was to be governed.

On 20 June the members of this (illegal) Assembly met in the

royal tennis court at Versailles to swear an oath that they would not leave until the King agreed to the setting up of a national Assembly.

2. August to September 1789

• On the 4th August 1789 the Assembly passed a law ending all feudal privileges and unjust taxation.

• There were to be no more church tithes, no feudal dues and no more private companies keeping part of the taxation.

• Between the 12th -26th August, the Assembly issued the “Declaration of the Rights of Man”.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man • Activity:

– Read through the 17 Rights listed in The Declaration of the Rights of Man.

– Summarize/ put into your own words the following declarations:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 17.

– Why do you think the French included these rights in their declaration? (consider French history to help explain your answer.)

– What enlightenment thinkers are responsible for the ideas in each of these declarations?

Declaration of Rights Your Summation/ interpretation

Enlightenment Thinker responsible for idea in declaration.

1

2

3

The Declaration of the Rights of Man Declaration of Rights – in your own words

Why did the French include this in their Declaration

Enlightenment Thinker responsible for idea in declaration.

1. All Men are equal and have rights

Estates system = vast inequalities in society

Hobbes and Locke: natural rights

2. gov’t job is to preserve the natural rights of men

Absolute monarchy in France protected the king not the people’s rights

Locke – gov’t should protect the rights of the people

3. All power belongs to the people – king or group can’t make laws or control the nation (no absolute power)

Absolute monarchs had complete control – no input from the people

Montesquieu – people should have power/ play an active role in their gov’t

4. All people have the same rights – b/c everyone has to follow the same laws

King had been the law of the land before revolution

Voltaire – all men equal & defines the natural rights

6. All laws & jobs apply to everyone – laws created by the will of the people

Laws and jobs based on social class before rev.

Rousseau – equality and argues for a merit based system

9. Innocent until proven guilty and no torturing

Cruel and unjust legal system before

Montesquieu – no torture, fair legal system

10. Freedom of religion - expression

All of France Catholic Voltaire- freedom of religion

11. Freedom of speech and press

King determines what gets printed

Voltaire – freedom of press and speech

17. Right to private property King/ nobles could take property w/ justification

Rousseau – right to life, liberty and property

The Declaration of the Rights of Man Declaration of Rights – in your own words

Why did the French include this in their Declaration

Enlightenment Thinker responsible for idea in declaration.

1. All Men are equal and have rights

Estates system = vast inequalities in society

Hobbes and Locke: natural rights

2. The goal of all gov’ts should be to protect the rights of their citizens

French gov’t before Revolution is an absolute monarchy

Locke: gov’t should protect natural rights

3. The People (citizens) have the power in gov’t – not a group or an individual (king)

French gov’t before Revolution is an absolute monarchy

*Locke: you can trust the people (they will do what is best for the gov’t)

4. People should have freedoms – law limits freedoms

King limits freedoms before – can change over time

Freedoms: Voltaire Check on freedom - Hobbes

6. Follow laws no matter social class, representative gov’t

Estates system don’t get same punishments or jobs

Rousseau – equal, merit based system

9.People are innocent until proven guilty – no cruel or unjust punishments

Torture before the revolution common – trials not common

Fredrick – no cruel or unusual punishments

10. Freedom of religion/ expression

No freedom of religion – everyone Catholic, no freedom of expression

Fredrick – some freedom of expression (not perfect) Voltaire – freedom of expression

11. Freedom of speech and press

No freedom of press before revolution – controlled by king

Voltaire – freedom of press/ speech

17. Property can not be taken from you

Absolute monarch can just take your property

Jefferson – secure private property.

Development of a uniform civil

law code.

The initial Ideals of the

Revolution

3rd Phase of the Revolution The Reign of Terror

"Terror is nought but prompt, severe, inflexible justice; it is therefore an emanation of virtue; it is less a particular principle than a consequence of the general principle of democracy applied to the most pressing needs of the fatherland." Maximillien Robespierre Address, National Convention, 1794

Why was the king executed by the

revolutionaries on 21st January 1793?

• On 26th December 1792 the members of the Convention put the King on trial. The King had lawyers, but he could not call witnesses.

• He was charged with bankrupting France, that he was disloyal to the new constitution and that he was plotting against the Revolution.

Would we (with our modern judicial system), have considered this a fair trial? Why or why not?

ACTIVITIES Read the texts and answer the questions

Effects of the Revolution: What were the consequences of the French

revolution? Short Term Effects of the French Revolution: 1. Declaration of the Rights of Man adopted

End of old social order, monarchy has been overthrown, Church is under state control

2. Formation of national identity (beginning of nationalism) 3. Social Reforms implemented Religious freedom, educational reform, end of slavery in colonies…

Long Term Effects of the French Revolution: 1. Napoleon gains power Establishes reforms: Napoleonic Code

2. French conquests spread nationalism and Revolutionary ideas 3. Congress of Vienna restores stability to Europe Balance of Power

Effects of the Revolution: What were the consequences of the French

revolution? Short Term Effects of the French Revolution: 1. End of old social order, monarchy has been overthrown, Church is under state control 2. Formation of national identity (beginning of nationalism) 3. Social Reforms implemented - Religious freedom, educational reform, end of slavery in colonies

Long Term Effects of the French Revolution: 1. Napoleon takes power *Reforms – Napoleonic Code, Concordat of 1801, 2. Napoleon’s invasion of Europe *Spreads French Revolution ideas and nationalism throughout Europe 3. After fall of Napoleon – Europe wants peace and a balance of power

• It was decided that there should be five directors who would see that laws were carried out.

• However, the Directory had serious problems to deal with and by 1798 they had reached a crisis point…

As things got worse for the Directory in France, one of the Directors began to look round for a general who

could control France.

• Napoleon seized power.

How?

The long-term effects of the French Revolution

1. Napoleon quickly advances through the military ranks

2. In 1802, Napoleon made himself consul for life

3. In 1804 Napoleon announced that he was now Emperor and, in a ceremony attended by the Pope, crowned himself.

Consecration of the Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of the Empress Josephine

Napoleon 4. Napoleon reforms France and wins support across class line

5. From 1804 to 1812, Napoleon creates a vast French Empire

6. 1812, Napoleon invades Russia (BIG mistake)

Napoleon 7. 1813, European alliance defeats Napoleon in the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig Napoleon abdicates 1814 (exiled on Elba) 8. March 1815, Napoleon returns to France 9. 100 days later, British & Prussian forces crushed Napoleon at Battle of Waterloo 10. Napoleon is forced to go into exile on St. Helena (guarded by British troops)

Effects of the Revolution

Napoleon preserves many of the benefits of the Revolution:

• Feudalism was abolished, the

nobles lost their powers, and the peasants were given access to land and the right to pay only their fair share of taxes.

• The Napoleonic Code Napoleon is still the basis of the French legal system

• The Code was also introduced to other parts of Europe conquered by napoleon, like Italy, Spain and some parts of Germany.

• All adult men (not women) got to the vote.

• Marriage became a civil ceremony and divorce was allowed.

What was the impact of the French Revolution

outside France?

• Other liberal revolutions – In Spain, for example,

a pro-liberal and nationalist revolution took place in 1812.

– Other Europeans followed the example of the Spanish liberals: Portugal, Germany and Italy.