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The French Revolution

Explore the divisions in French society, the rise of unrest, constitutional reforms, fall of the monarchy, the Reign of Terror, and the emergence of Napoleon during the transformative period of the French Revolution.

gabriel-valdez
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The French Revolution

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  1. The French Revolution

  2. I. The Old Order • French Society Divided • First Estate – Catholic clergy (1% of the pop.) • archbishops, bishops, abbots, etc. • Exempt from taille • Gave government a “fare gift” of 2% of their income • Second Estate – Nobles (2% of the pop.) • nobles • paid no taxes • held positions of power in government

  3. I. The Old Order (continued) • Third Estate – (97% of the pop.) • peasants, sans-culottes, bourgeoisie • peasants paid ½ their income to landlords • Sans-culottes income lagged behind food prices and rent • Bourgeoisie were lawyers, office holders, doctors, writers, manufacturers, etc. • Lacked social and political rights of nobles

  4. I. The Old Order (continued) • Growing Unrest • Third Estate called for change • Nobles resented the king’s absolute power • Financial problems (higher prices/fees) • Louis helped the American colonies in their Revolution • Banks would not lend more money to the crown • Crop failures in 1787 and 1788 raised prices even more

  5. I. The Old Order (continued) • Calling the Estates Together • Louis XVI was forced to call the Estates-General • Had not met since 1614 • Nobles wanted to gain control of the government • Third Estate wanted a joint meeting • formed the National Assembly and promised to draft a Constitution (Tennis Court Oath)

  6. I. The Old Order (continued) • A Call to Revolt • Third Estate wanted social/representative equality • The Fall of Bastille • Spreading violence against upper classes

  7. II. Constitutional Government • End of the Old Order • Nobles gave up feudal dues and agreed that all males could serve in govt., military, church office • Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen • French Constitution (August of 1789) • All people are equal before the law • Freedom of speech, religion, and press • King Louis XVI forced to return to Paris

  8. II. Constitutional Government • A New France • The Assembly sold off church land to pay debt • The Church was placed under government control • Constitution of 1791 – one-house assembly • Most moderates were happy with the Constitution results • Left, center, right wing ideas • Unrest begins

  9. III. The Decline of Monarchy • Louis decided to flee to Austria, but was discovered and arrested • Louis was forced to accept the limited monarchy proposed by the National Assembly • French Revolutionists declared war on Austria • The “September Massacres” – killing of nobles

  10. IV. Dawn of a New Era • The French Republic • The National Convention met from 1792-1795 • Political power placed in the legislature • Death of Louis XVI (Jan. 1793) • Was beheaded for conspiracy against liberty • No turning back, the republic would remain • Jacobins (sans-culottes) and Girondists

  11. IV. Dawn of a New Era • Spreading the Revolution • Leaders were determined to overthrow all royalty • Bring liberty, equality, and fraternity to all • Strong opposition from their enemies • Conscription was implemented (men 18-45)

  12. Factions in the New Government • The Mountain (Jacobins) – most radical; support came from middle and lower classes • Girondins – moderates; support came from provinces and those who resented the Paris mob • The Plain – swing voters; originally supported the Girondins, but later changed to the Mountain

  13. Factions in the New Government • Radical Leaders • Jean-Paul Marat – advocated violence, leader of the sans culottes (considered the most radical) • Georges-Jacques Danton –came to be known as the “compromiser” (opposed Revolutions excesses) • Maximilien Robespierre – became more radical as the Revolution progressed (led the National Convention)

  14. Quotes – Maximilien Robespierre • Any law which violates the inalienable rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all. • Pity is treason. • The secret of freedom lies in educating people, whereas the secret of tyranny is in keeping them ignorant. • The king must die so that the country can live.

  15. IV. Dawn of a New Era (cont.) • The Reign of Terror (July, 1793 – July, 1794) • Those suspected of treason were hunted down and punished (often times the victims were innocent) • 85% of the 40,000 were commoners • The Committee of Public Safety & Robespierre • Church was turned into a “temple of reason” • By mid 1794, many favored a restoration of monarchy

  16. IV. Dawn of a New Era (cont.) • The Directory (1795 – 1799) • 1795: the Convention wrote a new constitution • Executive council of 5 directors was set in place • Used the army to put down uprisings by both the royalists and radicals • Ineptness and financial difficulty led to the end of the Directory

  17. Napoleon Bonaparte

  18. V. Napoleon Takes Over • Had become a military hero while protecting the Directory (1795, age 26) • Was promoted to general, gained command of French forces in Prussia • Napoleon defeated the Austrians and forced them to relinquish most of northern Italy

  19. V. Napoleon Takes Over • Returned to Paris (from Egypt) in 1799 and joined revolutionary leaders in a coup d’état • Established a dictatorship; concentrated power • Replaced elected officials with men he appointed • Created the Bank of France; required all to pay taxes • Gradually brought inflation and high prices under control • Approved by the popular vote (plebiscite)

  20. VI. Napoleon Builds an Empire • Napoleonic Code: clear and consistent laws • Placed the state above the individual; allowed censorship • The Concordat of 1801: recognized Catholicism as the official religion of France • Treaty of Amiens (1802): • Between Great Britain and France • Battle of Trafalgar: an attempt to invade England • Admiral Lord Nelson defeated the French Navy • Economic Blockades: • Ordered all European nations to stop trade with Britain • Britain proclaimed all ships must first port in G.B. • French Economy worsened

  21. VII. Downfall of the Empire • Confederation of the Rhine – German States • Spaniards and Wellington (Wesley) • 1812: Spain overthrew French occupiers with the help of the English • Failed invasion of Russia – harsh winter • 400,000 of 600,000 French soldiers died

  22. VII. Downfall of the Empire • Napoleon forced into exile (Elba) • King Louis XVIII was restored to the throne • Hundred Days (March – June, 1815) • Napoleon’s return was met with both acceptance and opposition • Was defeated at Waterloo by Wellington

  23. Peace in Europe • Congress of Vienna • Compensation, Legitimacy, and balance of power • Redrawing maps (France relinquished most) • Restoring Monarchies (divine right was necessary) • Buffer States – neutral territories around French territories

  24. Peace in Europe • Changing Forces • Reactionaries: opposed change (traditional) • Liberalism: accepted new ideas (change) • Alliances: representatives were to meet regularly • Concert of Europe • Two alliances met regularly • Helped avoid major European conflicts

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