What WAS the French Revolution?

1. AP EUROUnit #4 – French Revolution and the Era of NapoleonLesson #401Causes of the French Revolution

2. What WAS the French Revolution? • What makes this A REVOLUTION? • What actually changed? • established a republic, • Altered society, laws, self-expression • Names changed of everything, including sections of France, titles of people, religious buildings, days of the week, months of the year, measurements of everything • How would all of Europe be effected?

3. What WAS the French Revolution? • What is a simple definition of the Revolution? • The “old” opinion: the King and the rich nobles were overthrown by an agitated Middle Class • Why? • Reality – IT’S WAY MORE COMPLICATED • Count the sections of society in the next slides • ALL OF THEM WERE AGITATED; none of them could relate to each other – WHY NOT? • Why will this lead to eventual conflict?

7. First Estate • Clergy • High Clergy (Bishops) • Low Clergy (Priests) • Monks and Nuns • .05 % of population • (~100,000) • 5-10% of land • No taxes on person or land • Not really accountable to laws

8. Second Estate • Nobility • Nobility of the Sword (old $$) • Nobility of the Robe (purchased their position) • 1.5 % of population • (~400,000 people, including families) • All powerful jobs in government and military • 30% of land – some nobles never moved to Versailles • Proud to let the land do the work for them • Rented land; charged dues and rents to peasants • Almost no taxes (exempt from all direct taxes) • Not really accountable to laws (could avoid) • REAL power was in hands of Top 200 families • They ran everything in Versailles • Others in Versailles just LOVED LIFE – The lazy nobility

13. Third Estate • Everyone else – 25, 000,000 • Bourgeois – city people (14% of population) • Haute: wealthy land owners, financiers, bankers • Upper Petit: professionals: lawyers, merchants, doctors (2 million) • Lower Petit: artisans, shop keepers (guildsmen), City workers (2 million) • Peasants (85% of society) – some with land, most had almost none • Owned majority of land • Paid most of income to taxes and dues • Tithe to Church • Dues and rent to landlords • Direct and indirect taxes (land)

14. Did you count? • HOW MANY SECTIONS WAS THAT? • WHY WILL NONE OF THEM EVER REALLY AGREE ON THE DIRECTION OF A REVOLUTION? • WHAT WILL THIS LEAD TO?

15. Louis XV • What was the impact of Louis XV on building tensions? • Raised in magnanimous privilege and pomp • Saw his life meaning in the splendor and ceremony established at Versailles by Louis XIV • Lost wars to British • Lost most of colonies to British • Lost $$ to Mississippi Bubble debacle • Lost trust and admiration to poor attitude • Enlightenment created question to Divine Right and power centered on one man • Died in 1774 to smallpox • Power passed to young Louis August (the Dauphin)

16. France also had an Estates General THREE ESTATES • First Estate • Clergy • Second Estate • Nobility • Third Estate • Middle Class • City Workers • Peasants ESTATES GENERAL • A convocation of reps from all three estates could be called by the king • Created in 1302 to advise the king • Sometimes used to raise $$ for the king • No real power • Last met 1614

17. Louis XVI • 20 years old at ascension to throne • Good intentioned but indecisive • Raised in the shadow of a frivolous king • 4th in line – his dad and older brothers died • Reclusive and shy; unable to assert power • Forced to marry 16th child of Maria Theresa, Marie Antoinette of Austria

18. Marie Antoinette • Forced marriage to Louis August • (she was 14, he was 15) • She was young, spoiled and sweet • She was used to living in private splendor • She was forced to the very public and ceremonial life of Versailles • Not much help from Louis • She proved to be sweet and kind, but • Completely out of touch with society • Blamed for overspending (“madam deficit”) • Loved to look regal and wildly fancy • 3 ft. high hairdos • Expensive dresses and jewelry 4m arrival to Versailles 15 sec “let them eat cake”

19. Louis, the “Dauphin” becomes Louis XVI • Was only 20 – not ready to rule • Took job seriously, but took advice too freely, and rarely stuck with a decision • Unpopular with Versailles crowd • Set goals: • Solve debt problem • Get $$ from where the $$ was • Revenge on Britain for losses

20. Causes of Revolution What were the causes? • Massive debt • Mid-century wars • Maintaining Versailles – Nobles lived for free • Mississippi Bubble • American Revolution • Class Conflict • Bourgeois jealous of privileges of Nobles • Enlightenment and American Revolution: liberty • Poor leadership • Nobles unwilling to take responsibility • Famines went unnoticed in Versailles

21. Issues a new king faced: Role of Nobility: • Irresponsible and lazy Nobility Status on the World Stage: • England had surpassed France as greatest nation • England had more valuable colonies Unrest in society • Poor were VERY poor, rich were ridiculously rich • Impact of enlightenment ideas • Growing middle class wanting to have some power and tax breaks, like the LAZY nobility

22. Impact of the American Revolution • France supported the war from the beginning • Louis XVI was looking for something positive • The Americans handed him the opportunity • Sending $$ for munitions and cannon immediately • Soon after, France sent key advisors • Then, troops… Then, the French Navy • Finally, a full alliance was signed – France was committed to victory. • French troops were fighting for their lives for the CAUSE OF LIBERTY • French monarchy was borrowing far more that it had for the purpose of revenge… this would push France deep into FINANCIAL CRISIS

23. Financial Crisis • Treasury was gone at start of American Revolution • financed with French debt • After the war: 50% of all tax income went to interest on loans • Louis’ plan: restructure tax system • Advisors suggested the only way to restructure was to get buy-in from all levels of society • reconvening meeting of Estates General • Once together, what do you think the King would do? • Plan: use positional authority to force change • Most popular advisor: Jacques Necker

29. So, why did the French Revolution happen?...