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The French Revolution

The French Revolution. 1789-1799. The Old Regime ( Ancien Regime ). Old Regime – social & political system which existed in most of Europe during the 18 th century Countries were ruled by absolutism Divine Right Societies were divided by class. Society under the Old Regime.

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The French Revolution

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  1. The French Revolution 1789-1799

  2. The Old Regime (Ancien Regime) • Old Regime – social & political system which existed in most of Europe during the 18th century • Countries were ruled by absolutism • Divine Right • Societies were divided by class

  3. Society under the Old Regime • French people were divided into three social classes • First Estate • High-ranking clergy (Church) • Second Estate • Nobility • Third Estate • Everyone else – from peasants in the countryside to wealthy bourgeoisie merchants in the cities Privileged Class Unprivileged Class

  4. The Three Estates

  5. Economic Conditions under the Old Regime • France’s economy - primarily agriculture • Peasant farmers bore the burden of taxation • Poor harvests - 1788 • Food shortages led to high prices • Had trouble paying regular taxes • Could not afford to have taxes raised • Bourgeoisie often managed to gather wealth • But were upset by the inequality • They paid taxes while nobles did not

  6. France Is Bankrupt • King Louis XVI & Queen Marie Antoinette were seen as a lavish & wasteful spenders

  7. France Is Bankrupt • Government funds depleted from wars • Loss of the Seven Years’ War • $ to the Amer. Revolutionaries • Deficit spending – a government spending more money than it takes in from tax revenues • Privileged classes would not submit to being taxed

  8. Les États-Généraux: Estates General • Louis XVI called the E-G to assemble in May 1789 • To override the parlementsrefusal to tax nobles • Had not met since 1614 • Cahiers - grievances

  9. Deadlock!

  10. Tennis Court Oath1789 • The Third Estate declared itself to be the National Assembly. Louis XVI responded by locking the Third Estate out of the meeting. • The Third Estate relocated, vowed to stay together and create a written constitution for France.

  11. Tennis Court Oath

  12. The Tennis Court Oath “Decrees that all members of this Assembly shall immediately take a solemn oath not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established and consolidated upon firm foundations; and that, the said oath taken, all members and each one of them individually shall ratify this steadfast resolution by signature.” • Louis XVI relented … ordered all three estates to meet together as the National Assembly & vote, by population, on a constitution.

  13. Storming of the Bastille

  14. Le Grande Peur • “The Great Fear” – famine caused panic of 1789 • Chronic hunger, elevated bread prices, and rumors of a “famine plot” • Peasants took up arms in self defense • Some attacked manor houses • Led to the abolishment of the feudal system

  15. Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen • Passed by the National Assembly • Earlier that month the NA had abolished the Ancien Regime • Influenced by T. Jefferson & Enlightenment ideals • Established universal rights as the basis for a new constitution

  16. Women’s March • Parisian women fed up with food scarcity and high bread prices • Joined by revolutionary protesters • Ransacked city armory • Marched to and besieged Palace of Versailles • King and family moved to Paris • Symbolized a shift of power to the people

  17. Tuileries Palace (Paris, France)

  18. Constitution of 1791 • New government known as Legislative Assembly • Democratic features • France became a limited monarchy • King merely the head of state • All laws were created by the Legislative Assembly • Feudalism was abolished • Undemocratic features • Voting was limited to taxpayers • Offices were reserved for property owners

  19. Legislative Assembly (1791-1792) • June 1791, royal family tried to escape to Austria • Nobles fled the revolution lived abroad as émigrés • April 1792, declared war on Austria & Prussia, which invaded France • Jacobins arrested the King and Queen, who were both executed by guillotine for high treason

  20. Reign of Terror • Era of radicalism led by the Jacobins • Suspected enemies of the Revolution were executed by the thousands • Robespierre’s “Committee of Public Safety” • Also changed the measurements of time to multiples of ten • Robespierre himself was executed by guillotine when people revolted against the Terror.

  21. Revolution’s End, Napoleon’s Rise • After a series of failed Constitutions and leaders, General Napoleon Bonaparte seized power • Coup d’etat= violent takeover • Bonaparte abolished the unpopular Girondin “Directory” government • Appointed himself France’s First Consul, later Emperor • Dictatorial ruler

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