Age of Revolution

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Age of Revolution

• The French Revolution

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EARLY HISTORY OF FRANCE

• CHARLEMAGNE- 800 A.D.- First to UNIFY France
  after Roman Control divided up after his
  death-brought back education
• Followed by the MIDDLE AGES and FEUDALISM-strong
  nobles/weak king
• HUNDRED Years War- JOAN of ARC became a national
  heroin helped to unify FRANCE into a nation
  (development of Nationalism)

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EARLY HISTORY OF FRANCE

• Bourbon Dynasty (Kings regained power)
• Louis XIV
• Considered the perfect example of an ABSOLUTE
  monarch by DIVINE right
• Built Palace of VERSAILLES at the expense of the
  French people
• Never called the Estates
• Letat cest moi mean I AM THE STATE
• France reached the height of their power during
  his REIGN

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CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

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ABUSES OF THE OLD REGIME
POLITICAL

• King had ABSOLUTE POWER and ruled by DIVINE right
• King CENSORED speech and press
• King selected GOVERNMENT officials on the basis
  of NOBLE birth
• Lettres de Cachet- King IMPRISONED his enemies
  without a CHARGE, BAIL, or trial.

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ABUSES OF THE OLD REGIME
SOCIAL

• Rigid CLASS System-population divided into 3
  estates
• First-CLERGY
• Second-NOBILITY
• Third-EVERYONE ELSE

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ABUSES OF THE OLD REGIME
ECONOMIC

• THIRD Estate paid all of the taxes
• BOURGEOISIE (middle class) was hampered with many
  government restrictions on trade

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The French Monarchy1775 - 1793
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FRENCH PHILOSOPHERS OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT

• Montesquieu
• Voltaire
• Rousseau

• SEPARATION OF POWERS
• FREE SPEECH RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
• DIRECT DEMOCRACY

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ENGLISH AND AMERICAN REVOLUTIONS

• How did the American Revolution cause the French
  Revolution??

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FRENCH BOUGEOISIE

• Sought a role in shaping the GOVERNMENT wanted a
  policy of laissez-faire
• WHAT DOES LAISSEZ-FAIRE MEAN???

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LOUIS XVIS DIFFICULTIES

• Inherited a severe debt from his PREDECESSORS
• Continues to spend heavily while refusing to TAX
  the FIRST and SECOND Estates.
• Call the French LEGISLATURE and the
  Estates-General into session in 1789
• Signified the King could not handle the problem
  alone

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UNDEMOCRATIC FEATURES OF THE ESTATES-GENERAL
VOTING

• Each Estate had ONE vote.
• The two privileged estates could out vote the
  unprivileged estate.
• WHAT does this mean?

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UNDEMOCRATIC FEATURES OF THE ESTATES-GENERAL
REPRESENTATION

• First Estate--------gt
• Second Estate-----gt
• Third Estate-------gt

• 300 REPRESENTATIVES
• 300 REPRESENTATIVES
• 600 REPRESENTATIVES

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ESTATES-GENERAL BECOMES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• THIRD Estate demanded that each member, not each
  ESTATE have one vote in a new national assesmbly
• King rejects the proposal
• WHY???????

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ESTATES-GENERAL BECOMES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• Third Estate REBELLED
• Declared themselves to the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
• Issued the TENNIS COURT OATH
• Pledge to write a CONSTITUTION for France

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ESTATES-GENERAL BECOMES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• MOB RIOTS helped to change the Kings mind and he
  CONSENTED to the National Assembly

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BASTILLE IS DESTROYED
July 14, 1789

• Rumors were spreading through PARIS that the King
  had ordered troops to break up the NATIONAL
  ASSEMBLY
• Mobs stormed the hated prison
• Showed SUPPORT for the National Assembly
• Warn the King not to RESIST REFORM

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Bastille (copy)

• French prison stormed by French citizens
• This event began the French Revolution (July
  14th, 1789 Bastille Day!)

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WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
1789-1791
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WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• Abolished SPECIAL PRIVILEGES and unfair TAXES

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WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• Adopted the Declaration of the RIGHTS of MAN
• Men are born FREE and EQUAL
• All CITIZENS are entitled to a VOICE in the law
  making process
• All persons are GUARANTEED equality before the law

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WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• FINANCIAL Aid to the Government
• Seized CHURCH lands
• 1/5 of total land
• Sold it cheaply to the PEASANTS

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WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• Catholic CHURCH was put under STATE control
• Formerly controlled by the POPE
• Clergy were ELECTED by the PEOPLE

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WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• Reformed local GOVERNMENT
• Laws became effective NATIONWIDE
• Stimulated loyalty and NATIONALISM

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WORK OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• Wrote the CONSTITUTION of 1791
• Limited MONARCHY
• Had some EXECUTIVE powers
• Legislative ASSEMBLY
• Consisted of PROPERTY OWNERS being elected by
  TAXPAYERS to make the laws

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• Declaration of the Rights of Man
• Similar to the American Declaration of
  Independence
• Stopped the privileges of the 1st and 2nd estates

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POLITCAL SPECTRUM IN FRANCE
Those who favored a REPUBLIC

• Girondists-middle class control favored

• JACOBINS-wanted the poor to control the government

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POLITCAL SPECTRUM IN FRANCE
Those who favored the OLD REGIME

• Louis XVI-attempted to FLEE the country but was
  captured
• DEVOUT Catholics
• French NOBLES
• Foreign MONARCHS
• Kings of PRUSSIA and AUSTRIA
• Planned on INVADING France to put down the
  Revolution

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END OF THE LIMITED MONARCH

• Mobs RIOTED upon the news that Foreign armies
  were on their way
• Believe Louis XVI was in on the INVASION
• French legislature DETHRONED the King and called
  for the ELECTION of a NATIONAL CONVENTION
• Would GOVERN France and write a new, more
  DEMOCRATIC constitution

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NATIONAL CONVENTION PROMOTES THE REVOLUTION
1792-1795
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NATIONAL CONVENTION PROMOTES THE REVOLUTION

• Established the First French REPUBLIC
• Tried Louis XVI on charges of TREASON
• Sentenced to death by guillotine

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NATIONAL CONVENTION PROMOTES THE REVOLUTION

• Jacobins dominate the National
  Convention-PROTECT the revolution from its
  foreign and DOMESTIC enemies

• Formed the COMMITTEE of PUBLIC SAFETY
• CENTRALIZED all the government into one small,
  dictatorial group
• Called for compulsory conscription (DRAFT)
• Helped to remove FOREIGN INVADERS
• Instituted the REIGN of TERROR
• Get rid of DOMESTIC enemies
• French people turned against the JACOBINS

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REIGN OF TERROR

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• Reign of Terror (copy)
• Began with the execution of Louis XVI
• Tens of thousands of nobles killed

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NATIONAL CONVENTION PROMOTES THE REVOLUTION
MODERATES take control of the National Convention

• Abolished imprisonment for DEBT
• Abolished SLAVERY in French Colonies
• Adopted a national EDUCATION system
• Prohibited PRIMOGENITURE
• Property no longer WILLED to ELDEST son
• Drew up a new CONSTITUTION for the republic
• Headed by a FIVE man DIRECTORY (1795-1799)
• Very corrupt
• Be in power until the rise of NAPOLEAN

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• Directory (copy)
• Was weak and inefficient