The Beginning of the French Revolution

1. The Beginning of the French Revolution World History I

2. Causes of the French Revolution • Long Term Causes: • Inequality in society – France’s society was divided into 3 estates (social classes) - Clergy – church employees who didn’t pay taxes. - Nobility – Upper class, also exempt from paying taxes. - Commoners – Made up 98% of the population. - Held 65% of the land and were the only group to pay taxes. - Peasants, craftspeople, and the bourgeoisie (middle class) 2. Consumer prices increased at a greater rate than the increase in wages, leading to a decline in buying power for commoners. 3. New ideas of the Enlightenment led to opposition against the old order and action against the monarchy.

3. Causes of the French Revolution, cont. • Short Term Causes: • Economic Problems • Bad harvests in 1787 and 1788 and a slowdown in manufacturing resulted in food shortages, rising prices, and unemployment. • 1/3 of the French population was poor. • Despite economic problems the king continued to spend money. • Financed costly wars and court luxuries, and helped American colonists against the British. • Marie Antoinette (Queen) was known for extravagance. • On the verge of complete financial collapse, French king Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General (French Parliament) to raise taxes. • It had not met since 1614.

4. End of the Estates General • Each estate had one vote, meaning that the 1st and 2nd estates can outvote the 3rd estate by a 2-1 margin. • On June 17, 1789, the third estate decided to draft a constitution. • They swore to meet until a constitution was completed (Tennis Court Oath) • Louis XVI decided to use force against the third estate, but his troops refused his orders. • The people of Paris stormed the Bastille, a prison and armory and dismantled it. • Paris was under control of the rebels. • Louis XVI had lost control of France and rebellion broke out throughout the country.

5. Fall of the Old Regime • The 3rd Estate was now known as the National Assembly. • Their first act was to destroy aristocratic privileges. • They adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. • Based on enlightenment ideas, featured many of the same ideas as the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Dec. of Independence. • Equal rights for all men, no more exemptions from taxes, and freedom of speech and the press. • It still ignored the rights of women, however. • Thousands of women marched to Versailles and forced the king to accept the new ideas of the National Assembly. • The king was forced to march back to Paris to show support to the National Assembly. • He and his family were essentially prisoners in Paris.

6. Changes in France • Many changes occurred in France under the National Assembly. • The Catholic Church came under government control. • A new constitution set up a limited monarchy. • A legislative assembly was put in place to make laws. • Louis XVI attempted to flee Paris but was captured and returned. • Other European countries feared revolution would spread to them. • Austria and Prussia demanded that Louis XVI be reinstated and threatened to use force, causing France to declare war on Austria. • Bad conditions in France, including early losses against Austria, led to the rise of new political demonstrations against the government. • A new radical mob, declaring themselves a commune attacked the Royal Palace and Legislative Assembly.

7. Changes in France, cont. • The new Paris Commune took the king captive and forced the Legislative Assembly to suspend the monarchy. • They demanded a National Convention to elect new leaders with all males allowed to vote. • Power had been passed from the Assembly to the Paris Commune. • Many of its members claimed to be sans-culottes, or Patriots without fine clothes.