THE CAUSES AND STAGES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

Economic Disorder

State of Mind

The war in America

Character of King Louis

Mass starvation and civil unrest

PRACTICE RESPONSE

Question: What were the five major causes for the French Revolution?

Structure

Opening: The five most notable causes for the French Revolution were economic disorder, a change in the state of mind, French involvement in the American war for independence, the character of the monarchy, as well as the plight of the French masses.

The text that is in red will be the VIPs for your paragraphs.

VIPs: Very, Important, Points

ECONOMIC DISORDER

• Revenue collection was poorly managed and was inadequate for government spending.

• France provided aid to the American during their war for independence.

• This huge financial commitment was one of the significant causes for the monarchy's economic disorder.

• 1789 saw total bankruptcy of the monarchy, which, opened the doors for defiance regarding the kings authority.

• This loss of authority led to open debate regarding changes to the status quo.

• This economic crisis influenced the monarchy to take drastic measures.

ASSISTED RESPONSE STAGE 1 The first and (perhaps/certainly) the most (notable/important) cause for revolution in France during 1789, was related to economic disorder.

One of the major reasons for this economic disorder was because, the French during this period were committing large amounts of aid to the Americans during their war for independence. This financial commitment added a crippling drain to the tax reserves of the monarchy. As a result, the monarchy was drove into total bankruptcy, which, opened the doors for defiance regarding the kings authority. This loss of authority led to increased open debate regarding changes to the status quo.

STATE OF MIND

• The ways of tradition now had completion from a rebellious alternative.

• The impact of the Enlightenment, as well as philosophes, contributed significantly to the opinions for challenging the absolute monarchy.

Please list 4 changes that came with the Enlightenment:

Title: Changes brought about from the Enlightenment

ASSISTED RESPONSE STAGE 2 Another factor that occurred partly as a result to the economic disorder was a shift in the nations state of mind.

Greater open debate regarding the kings authority challenged __________ , especially ideologies regarding the current system of _________. In addition, philosophies from the era of ___________, contributed significantly to the opinions for challenging the absolute ________. These philosophies include; ___________, ____________, __________ and also ________.

THE WAR IN AMERICA

• The American war for independence from the British empire.

• France provided aid to the American during this war.

• This huge financial commitment was one of the significant causes for the monarchy's economic disorder.

• America’s revolution for independence was a popular motivating factor for people living in France to overthrow the current feudal system.

• Republican based systems were also adopted by a number of French monarchy controlled institutions. (This shifts was against entitlement)

• The monarchy of France primarily engaged in the war only to create a form embarrassment for Great Britain. The irony was, that this decision to increase the monarchy's influence instead, ultimately led to its own demise.

NOW ITS YOUR TURN !

Remember:VIPs, Connecter, Different Vocabulary

“King Louis was well-meaning but weak-willed and indecisive”

“Also, the Queen Marie Antoinette was impulsive”

PLIGHT OF MILLIONS

• 1715- 1789 saw a massive population increase from 18 to 26 million.

• Enormous amounts of people were starving or unemployed.

• Hordes of protestors were force to moved to the town to find work.

• 1788 was a severely bad year for harvest.

THE REVOLUTION AND REIGN OF TERROR

THE TENNIS COURT OATH

With all the issues currently in France, the king is forced to hold a Estates General meeting to discuss key issues regarding the future of France.

When the Estates General met in May 1789, the Third Estate rebelled against attempts to have each Estate vote separately as it knew its vote would be outweighed by those of the other two estates.

On the 14th of June, the Third Estate together with some clergy, established what is called a National Assembly. In what became know as the Tennis Court Oath, the members demanded a new constitution outlining how government would be organized in France.

TENNIS COURT OATH PICTURE ANALYSIS- At the center of the image 3 figures embrace. The Protestant, The Carthusian

monk and the Patriot. The cluster represents unity of the confessions, with patriots in the project of national regeneration.

- Wind blowing into the court can signify the winds of change.

- Jean-Sylvain is the man with his hand held high in the center of the image. He is administering the oath of solidarity.

- Seated before Jean-Sylvain is Abbe’ Emmanuel. He is the important figure of the revolution, who created a pamphlet “What is the Third Estate”. This pamphlet was arguably the single most important piece of writing to launch the revolution.