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Europe on the Eve of the French Revolution

Europe on the Eve of the French Revolution. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity… -- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities.

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Europe on the Eve of the French Revolution

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  1. Europe on the Eve of theFrench Revolution

  2. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity… -- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities

  3. The French Revolution • In the late 1700's France was divided into 3 social classes (estates) • 1st Estate-Clergy and church officials • 2nd Estate-landowning Nobles and Political Leaders • 3rd Estate-Bourgeoisie or Middle Class merchants, bankers, tradesmen, etc. and Lower Class peasants

  4. In 1789, the 3rd estate started a revolution in order to overthrow their government. So, why was France on the brink of revolution by 1789?

  5. Revolutionary PIES • Key ingredients usually present at the start of a revolution. • Political • Intellectual • Economic • Social

  6. Problems • High taxes placed burden on poor • Poor harvests • High bread prices • Enlightenment spreading • American Revolutionary ideas spreading • Poor leadership and lack of representation

  7. The French Revolution • The French Revolution was partly precipitated by the American Revolution and the ultimate breakdown of the old order. • Many French soldiers served in America during the American Revolution. • By the 1780s, the French government was nearly bankrupt.

  8. Thinkers called philosophes believed that the use of reason could lead to reforms of government, law, and society. 1 MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT VOLTAIRE ROUSSEAU Believed that people were basically good. Argued that government controls should be minimal and should only be imposed by a freely elected government. Felt the good of the community should be placed above individual interests. Argued that a woman should be able to decide what is in her own interest and should not be completely dependent on her husband. Called for equal education for girls and boys. Men and women would benefit from sexual equality Defended the principle of freedom of speech. Used wit to expose abuses and corruption. Opposed the slave trade and religious prejudice.

  9. The French Urban Poor

  10. The French Monarchy:1775 - 1793 Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI

  11. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette • lived extravagant lives and squandered much of France's money on parties, gambling, and Sports. • Louis also neglected many of his political duties, and affairs of state.

  12. Marie Antoinette and the Royal Children

  13. Marie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”

  14. Marie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”

  15. Economic Trouble 1 • Economic woes added to the social unrest and heightened tension • For years, the French government had engaged in deficit spending that is, a government’s spending more money than it takes in. • Louis XIV had left France deeply in debt. Recent wars, a general rise in costs in the 1700s, and the lavish court were incredibly costly. To bridge the gap between income and expenses, the government borrowed more and more money. • Bad harvests in the late 1780s sent food prices soaring and brought hunger to poorer peasants and city dwellers. • In 1787 – The Assembly of Notables met to discuss Tax reform

  16. Financial Problemsin France, 1789 • Urban Commoner’sBudget: • Food 80% • Rent 25% • Tithe 10% • Taxes 35% • Clothing 20% • TOTAL 170% • King’s Budget: • Interest 50% • Army 25% • Versailles 25% • Coronation 10% • Loans 25% • Admin. 25% • TOTAL 160%

  17. (1789) Estates-General-Louis was forced to call a meeting of the Estates-General to get permission to pass new taxes on the nobles • -Traditionally, the Estates-General's 3 factions met separately and each Estate had one vote. (This almost always guaranteed that the 1st and 2nd Estate could out vote the 3rd).

  18. The Old Regime 1 Under the ancien regime, or old order, everyone in France belonged to one of three classes. SECOND ESTATE FIRST ESTATE THIRD ESTATE The CLERGY Enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege Owned about 10 percent of land, collected tithes, and paid no taxes Provided some social services The NOBILITY Owned land but had little money income Hated absolutism Feared losing traditional privilege, especially exemption from taxe The BOURGEOISIE and PEASANTS Peasants were 90 percent of French population Resented privilege of first and second estates Burdened by taxes Many earned miserable wages and faced hunger and even starvation

  19. The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by Estates Clergy 1st Estate 1 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 1 1 Commoners 3rd Estate

  20. The 3rd Estate had more delegates than the other 2 combined. So they requested that all 3 Estates meet together and have 1 vote. • Louis XVI denied their request

  21. The Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head! Clergy 1st Estate 300 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 300 648 Commoners 3rd Estate

  22. Cartoon: People crushed by power Cartoon: People crushed by power In this contemporary French cartoon, a nobleman in military dress and a clergyman crush a commoner under the rock of burdensome taxes and forced labor (corvees). The victim's situation reflects that of the peasantry, but his stylish clothes would allow affluent townspeople to identify with him.

  23. Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes-a priest who supported the 3rd Estate suggested that the 3rd Estate create a National Assembly or lawmaking body that would pass laws and reform the government According to Sieyes the third estate was the true strength and backbone of the French Nation • June 17, 1789-The 3rd Estate voted the National Assembly into power

  24. But they had been locked out of their meeting room, so they broke into Tennis Court and promised to stay until France had a new constitution. This is called the Tennis Court Oath • In response, Louis called a Swiss mercenary Army to Versailles • People believed that Louis XVI would use his army to destroy the National Assembly or kill French citizens in Paris. They began collecting weapons to defend Paris against Louis

  25. “The Tennis Court Oath” June 20, 1789

  26. Bell Assignment: (To turn in) Which PIES factor do you think was the most important in leading France to revolution? Explain.

  27. The French Revolution "Liberal" Phase: 1789-1791

  28. Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789 • July 14, 1789-An angry mob looking for gunpowder and more supplies stormed the Bastille, the Parisian • 1st ‘battle’ of the revolution

  29. The Great Fear:Peasant Revolt July 20, 1789 After the Bastille was attacked, a great fear spread through France that the peasants would be terrorized by the nobles and hired thugs. SO the peasants took up arms and began burning legal papers and many noble manors.

  30. National Constituent Assembly1789 - 1791 Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité! August DecreesAugust 4-11, 1789 (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!) • Equality & Meritocracy

  31. The Tricolor (1789) The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of Paris. Citizen!

  32. The Tricolor is the Fashion!

  33. The “Liberty Cap”: Bonne Rouge

  34. Revolutionary Playing Cards

  35. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen August 26, 1789

  36. Aug.1789. • Declaration of the Rights of man and of the Citizen-declaration which is very identical to the Declaration of Independence: stating rights for the people

  37. 83 Revolutionary Departments February 26, 1790

  38. Planting the Tree of Liberty 1790

  39. The Confiscation of Church Lands 1790

  40. Assignats • Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.

  41. Depreciation of the Assignat • They were backed by the sale of Church lands.

  42. The national assembly took over Church lands and sold its lands to pay off some National Debt • church officials were now to be elected and paid as gov't officials • many peasants opposed the national assembly because of their devotion to the Pope.

  43. March of the Women,October 5-6, 1789 Women’s March-Oct 1789 Oct. 1789-Armed women rioted in Paris over the rising prices of bread. They demanded that the National Assembly provide bread and stormed the palace, killing several guards and demanded that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette return to Paris -Louis returned to Paris never to see Versailles again.

  44. Divisions Develop • June 1791-Louis XVI tried to escape to the Austrian Netherlands but was captured in N. France and returned to Paris • Sept. 1791-The new constitution is completed and reluctantly approved by Louis XVI • -it stripped away much of the King's authority • -it created the Legislative Assembly

  45. 1792-To prevent the revolutionary ideas from spreading, Austria and Prussia asked the French to restore Louis XVI to the throne • -The national assembly responded by declaring war (April 1792) What should be done about the king?

  46. Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly. 1791

  47. The Political Spectrum TODAY: 1790s: The Plain(uncommitted) Montagnards(“The Mountain”) Girondists Monarchíen(Royalists) Jacobins

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