The French Revolution:

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The French Revolution
The Rise of the People
The Fall of the Monarchy.
Those above us look powerful only because we are
on our knees. Lets Stand Up!
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Areas of Tension
Absolutism Above all, the Revolution was a
revolt against the Tyranny or Despotism of
the Monarchy. In place of this, they demanded
a Representative Government. eg The Royal
Parlement
Economic Strife The Monarchy had been unable to
balance its income with its expenditure.
External Defense big . Not much left over
for social aids. Let Them Eat Cake.
Social Structure The Three Estates. France
was structured on the principle of corporate
privileges. eg Tax exemptions. The Clergy and
Nobility were the two most privileged groups.
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The Three Estates
Clergy
Nobles
Peasants
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Clergy
Nobles
More Nobles
Peasants
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Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• By nature, Man is Free
• Everyone has an equal share in the state, in
  making laws, etc.
• Thus, each person obeys his own rules, and
  therefore is Free.
• Each person is an indivisible part of the whole.
  Each person is needed. If someone does not want
  to take part in the state, the state has the
  right to coerce that person into participating.
• This has a later importance in the Terror.

The Social Contract
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Voted by the National Assembly August 26, 1789
All men are FREE and EQUAL
Mans rights are Liberty, Property, Security, and
resistance to Oppression
Freedom of Speech and the Press
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
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Now that we have an idea of what the Revolution
was attempting to do...
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Louis XVIWhere did he go Wrong?
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He Hesitated

• Louis had to convince the National Assembly that
  he supported the Revolution. Since he was not,
  this was a difficult task.
• When he hesitated at certain requests from the
  National Assembly, he showed that he did not
  completely support the Revolution.
• BUT more importantly

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June 20, 1791
In an attempt to get out of his increasingly
awkward situation, the King Flees from Paris.
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What did this mean?
His flight shows just how far removed he was from
the goals of the Revolution.
His manifesto
When louis returned from his botched flight, he
was no longer able to hide behind his false
support of the Revolution (because of his
Manifesto). Two Years Later, after much debate
about what to do with him, it was decided that he
would be beheaded.
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