Bellringer

1. Bellringer Open yesterday’s notes (French Revolution Causes) to check questions. We will quiz after!

2. End of the Old Regime • As a reaction to the rebellion and rumors of foreign invasion, on August 4, 1789, the National Assembly decided to abolish all legal privileges of the clergy and nobles. • On August 26, they drafted the Declaration of Rights of Man, a document which stated that all men were created equal and status should be based on talent, not on birth-right. • Everyone should pay taxes. • Freedom of speech and press.

4. The King Concedes • Louis XVI had refused to accept the decrees of the National Assembly. • On October 5, thousands of women from Paris marched on Versailles. The Women’s March • Rumor that Marie Antoinette was hoarding grain at Versailles. • Many of them met with the king and told horror stories of how their children had no food. • The women forced Louis to accept the new decrees. • The king was taken prisoner by the people because they feared he would form an alliance with outside forces to regain control. • The church was also brought under control of the state and the National Assembly sold off church land to raise revenue.

5. Connect! 1. What is the Declaration of the Rights of Man? 2. What role did the women who marched on Versailles play in the Revolution?

6. New Constitution • In 1791, a new constitution set up a limited monarchy, where the king still had powers, but was limited by a legislature. • Only “active” citizens, men over 25 who paid taxes could vote • The legislature had 745 deputies and the method used to select them made it so that most seats went to the wealthy • The new government did not have the support of many of the radicals of the revolution and poor people, they wanted even more reform. • The king did not want to cooperate with the new government and tried to escape to the east but was captured. • Eventually he swore an oath to the new constitution, but the system seemed doomed from the start.

7. War with Austria • Rumors grew that other countries feared the revolution would spread to their borders, so the kings of Prussia and Austria were getting ready to re-establish the old order by attacking France. • In 1792, The French assembly decided to strike first, attacking Austria. • The war was unsuccessful early on. • The people were looking for someone to blame… the king. • In the spring of 1792, angry citizens demonstrated to protest food shortages and losses in the war.

8. Rise of the Paris Commune • In August, radical revolutionaries named themselves a commune, or popularly run city council. • They organized a mob that attacked the royal palace and the legislative assembly. • The revolution turned radical as they captured the king and forced the assembly to call a national convention. • At the convention, radical change was enacted as they called for universal male suffrage (voting rights) • Called themselves sans-culottes meaning “without breeches” • The revolution grew more radical because ofthe threat of foreign intervention and the economy did not improve • The Paris Commune would take drastic measures to ensure the future of the revolution.

9. Sans-culottes

10. Questions 1. What type of government was set-up in 1791? 2. Who were considered “active” citizens? 3. Why was the 1791 Constitution doomed from the start? 4. What led to the rise of the Paris Commune?