The French Revolution Begins

1. The French Revolution Begins

2. Political Cartoon Analysis Political Cartoons have a political or social message – an argument • To determine the argument, examine: 1. Text (caption, title, words in the cartoon) 2. Symbols (images that represent something) 3. Caricature (things exaggerated for effect)

4. French Revolution Political Cartoons • We will predict the causes of the Revolution by looking at political cartoons • First just look at the political cartoons in your group – tell your partner what you notice

5. Predict the causes of the Revolution

8. Predict the causes of the Revolution

10. Goals for Today • Understand the conditions in France before the Revolution • Understand why the French Revolution began

11. Causes of the French Revolution During the 1700’s France was the most advanced nation in Europe and the focal point of the Enlightenment

12. The Old Regime In the 18th Century, France was made up of 3 distinct social classes – called estates

13. First Estate Roman Catholic clergy Owned ~10% of the land Provided education and relief services to the poor Not taxed .5% of population

14. Second Estate Rich nobles About 2% of the population Owned ~20% of the land Paid almost no taxes

15. The Third Estate About 97% of the people were in the 3rd Estate There were 3 groups within the 3rd Estate:

16. The Third Estate 1. Bourgeoisie – the middle class • Bankers, merchants, professionals, artisans • Well educated • Believed in ideals of the Enlightenment

17. The Third Estate 2. Workers in French cities • Laborers, apprentices, tradespeople, servants • Received low wages • Often unemployed • Poorest of any of the groups

18. The Third Estate 3. Peasants • Lived outside of cities • Largest group within 3rd Estate (about 80%) • Roughly ½ of their income went to taxes, tithes or to landowners

19. What the Estates Controlled

20. Partner Discussion • Take on the perspective of the estate on your card • Do you think the estate system is fair? Why or why not?

21. Why revolution? • There were 3 major causes behind the French Revolution • Idealism brought on by the Enlightenment • Economic issues • Weak leadership

22. Cause # 1 • Ideas from the Enlightenment: • New views about government, power, and authority • Inspired by the American Revolution

23. Cause #2 • Troubled French economy • Heavy taxes to pay off national debt • Partly b/c of support of American Revolution • Cost of living rising rapidly • Food became expensive – cost of bread doubled • Crop failures led to shortage of grain • Extravagant spending by the government

24. Cause #3

25. Cause #3 3. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette • Weak leaders, lavish spenders • King didn’t put a lot of effort into governing • More concerned with hunting and other pleasures • The queen was very unpopular due to: • Her extravagances • The fact that she was from Austria

26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEZqarUnVpo

27. Review Questions!

28. Which estate had the largest population? • A. First Estate • B. Second Estate • C. Third Estate • D. The Second and Third Estates were roughly equal in size

29. Which of the following was NOT one of the causes of the French Revolution? • A. Poor leadership • B. New views about government, power, etc. • C. Wars with neighboring countries • D. A troubled economy

30. The bourgeoisie was part of… • A. First Estate • B. Second Estate • C. Third Estate • D. None of the above – it was its own group

31. The 2nd estate was what % of France’s population? • A. 1% • B. 2% • C. 12% • D. 24%

32. Homework: Social Causes of the French Revolution • Read & complete your notes on the back side of the paper

33. Questions – answer on the back of your note paper 1. Given the circumstances in France in the 1780’s, why do you think the Third Estate believed that the French political system needed to change? 2. What changes do you think members of the 3rd Estate might demand? 3. Do you think that changes in the French government were inevitable?

35. Unflattering cartoon of the royal couple

36. More anti-Louis XVI cartoons…

37. “The Awakening of the Third Estate”

38. The first and second estates riding the third estate… …revolutionary political cartoon making a point about the burdens of the third estate.

39. Women were invaluable in starting much of the agitation that led to a full-fledged revolution in France.

40. 1st Estate: Clergy (.5% of pop.) 2nd Estate: Nobility (1.5% of pop.) 3rd Estate: Bourgeoisie, workers and peasants (98% of the pop.)

41. The Storming of the Bastille (a symbol of royal oppression to the French people)

42. The Bastille was dismantled brick by brick…

43. …the Bastille today.

44. The Great Fear 1789 Panic swept the countryside as nobles and clergymen became targets of angry revolutionaries

45. Church lands were confiscated…

46. Sans Culottes (“without breeches”): French revolutionary soldiers

47. Symbols of the Revolution: tricolor sash, red cap of liberty and the pike.

48. Upon his capture by revolutionaries, Louis XVI donned the red cap of liberty and drank a toast to the revolution

49. Louis XVI pictured as a drunkard in this revolution cartoon…

50. The public execution of Louis XVI by the guillotine, which would emerge as an symbol of the revolution