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The French revolution. 1789-1794. Enlightenment ideas. motivated the french.
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The French revolution 1789-1794
motivated the french • “The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, inalienable, and sacred rights of man…..”
American revolution • American’s wanted freedom from British rule • American’s were content to keep British style of law, culture, and social heritage. • American’s had prior experience with self-governing
DIFFERED GREATLY • France, on the other hand wanted total change…. • And France had no experience with self-rule. • EVER!
WHAT CAUSED THE FRENCH REVOLUTION? • France had a failing economy~ * aid to Americans drained budget * the wealthiest classes paid virtually no taxes. * tax collection system was inefficient and corrupt
economics • The Monarchy lived extravagantly and deficit spending was a way of life. • The years leading up to the Revolution had such bad weather, and grain crops were so poor that price of bread doubled leading to widespread starvation. • Banks began refusing loans to the government.
Politics 2. France had political problems * King Louis XVI- nice man; inept leader. *Queen Marie Antoinette- hated * A vocal minority of political elites were clamoring for revolution and change of the Ancien Regime
social • France’s social structure placed the harshest burden on the lowest class of citizens….the people least able to afford it. • The commoner had almost no voice in the way government was run. The Enlightenment Ideas appealed to many from the lowest class.
What was the 3rd estate? • Not just peasants and commoners, but also, lawyers and other professionals who argued that they deserved more power because they were in the majority. • They took control of the Estates General (the meeting of all 3 Estates convened by King Louis XVI) when they had the opportunity
Estates general • Meeting called at Versailles • All 3 Estates attend in order to determine new tax rules • 3rd estate takes control, demands political and social reforms and seceded from the Estates General and proclaimed themselves the National Assembly.
How did it go wrong • “In the absence of a strong leader….. Someone will rise up to take over because nature abhors a vacuum”
Tennis court oath • A promise by the General Assembly to remain assembled until a written constitution was prepared. • G.A-first act of revolution
The king’s response • Louis XVI called for armed military in the event there was unrest in Paris. • This aroused the suspicions of the 600,000 citizens who thought that they were being attacked. • In response they stormed the Bastille
The attack on the bastille • Looking for weapons, acting out their rage and frustration, citizens attacked the prison and set the tone for a bloody and violent revolution that would tear a country apart. • July 14th is Bastille Day in France & is similar to our 4th of July.
The great fear • In the fall of 1789, peasants became outlaws, the nobility were harassed, Parisian women rioted over rising bread costs, and demanded that the King and Queen leave Versailles and return to Paris.
Also…… • National Assembly reconfigured French Society • Established “Liberty, Equality & Fraternity • Old social order abolished • Fees and labor services that peasants owed to their landlords were done away with • Church became less important, clergy lost power • Half the population had voting rights. (male)
