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The French Revolution
Reasons for the French Revolution
• In the 1700s, France was
the cultural capital of
Europe, home to numerous
Enlightenment thinkers, &
had wealth from colonies.
• But, political, economic,
and social structure
problems led to the French
Revolution in 1789.
•The French also saw that the
American colonies had succeeded in
their revolution against their own
King.
King Louis XVI
XIV
Absolutism
• Absolute monarchs
have complete
power and don’t
share it with a
counsel or
parliament.
• “Divine Right of
Kings”- the belief
that a king is
determined by God.
To go against the
king is to sin against
God.
Louis XIV
Louis XIV (14th)
•
King Louis XIV (The Sun King) was the
most powerful king in Europe.
•
His reign of 72 years and 110 days is
the longest of any monarch of a major
country in European history.
•
Solidified absolute monarchy and Divine
Rule in France.
•
Led France through 3 major Wars and
several conflicts.
•
Renovated/Created the beautiful palace
of Versailles.
•
Allowed the nobility to pay fewer taxes.
•
Greatly increased the ARTS in France.
•
After his death in 1715, Louis XV & Louis
XVI continued to rule France as absolute
monarchs.
1643–1715
"One faith, one king, one
law.“
Analyze what this painting
of Louis XIV is revealing.
What symbols do you see?
Versailles
Versailles's Hall of Mirrors
French Social Classes Simulation
When kids walk in the door, they will be given a card with a letter on it. The letters will be as follows:
C=Clergy (1st estate)-2 students
N=Noble (2nd estate)-4 students
B=Bourgoise (middle class/3rd estate)
P=Peasant (3rd estate)-16 students
In a class of 22, the above student numbers are what I used.
Clergy- Given 7 pieces of candy each
Nobles-Given 8 pieces of candy each
Bourgoise and Peasants Given 4 pieces each
Round 1- I AM THE KING!!! THE ABSOLUTE RULER!!! GOD AGREES AND I SPEAK FOR THE DIVINE. ALL
BOURGOISE AND PEASANTS MUST GIVE ME 2 PIECES OF CANDY! ALL CLERGY MUST GIVE ME 1 PIECE OF
CANDY!!!
I WILL TURN AROUND AND GIVE 1 MORE PIECE OF CANDY TO ALL NOBLES (gifting them with land, riches,
etc).
Round 2- 3rd Estate members must give me half of what they have again (this time it is 1 piece).
Clergy members, give me 1 piece
I again will give one to the nobles.
Round 3- 3rd estate members must give me half of their candy…Don’t have that you say? Only have one
left you say???? Give me that piece or go to debtor’s prison!!!
Clergy- Give me one piece.
HOW MANY PIECES DOES EACH ESTATE END UP WITH?
One problem was France’s unequal social hierarchy
that was made up of three classes (called estates)
The clergy of the
Roman Catholic Church
made up the First Estate
Owned 10% of land
in France but paid little
in taxes to the gov’t
One problem was France’s unequal social hierarchy
that was made up of three classes (called estates)
The Second Estate was
made up of rich nobles
Owned 20% of French
land but were exempt
from paying taxes
One problem was France’s unequal social hierarchy
that was made up of three classes (called estates)
The Third Estate made up
97% of the population &
included poor peasants
but also the well-educated
middle class (Bourgeoisie)
This group paid 50% of
their income in taxes
The members of the
Third Estate resented the
special treatment the First
& Second Estates received.
Members of the Third
Estate gained inspiration
from the Enlightenment.
After the success of the
American Revolution,
the Third Estate began
demanding democracy,
equality, & liberty in France
Tensions were made worse by a growing
financial (money) crisis in the 1770s & 1780s
The French government was
in debt due to years of lavish
spending, expensive wars, &
poor economic planning.
Let them eat
cake!!!
By 1789, 25% of people were
unemployed (did not work).
The excessive spending by
King Louis XVI & his wife
Marie Antoinette angered
French citizens.
Marie Antoinette,
“Madame Deficit”
By 1789, France
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During the Estates-General, the First & Second Estates
voted to increase taxes on the Third Estate.
The First & Second Estates decided to vote by order
(1 vote per estate) rather than by head (by person).
These decisions angered the members of the Third Estate
who believed their rights were being violated.
The Third Estate decided
to form their own new
National Assembly
to make laws for the
French people.
In 1789, the National Assembly
swore to a Tennis Court Oath
promising a new constitution &
limitations on the king’s power.
This meeting was held at an
actual indoor tennis court!!!
The National Assembly
wrote their revolutionary
ideals in the Declaration
of the Rights of Man and
of the Citizen which said:
“Men are born free and
equal in rights”
Rights include “liberty,
property, security, &
resistance to oppression”
It guaranteed freedom of
speech, &freedom of
religion, & equal justice
Meanwhile, the economic crisis continued.
Citizens were without
Angry protestors in Paris
food & faced starvation. demanded new reforms.
When rumors circulated that the king was going to send
his army to Paris, citizens attacked the prison “The
Bastille” to seize weapons to defend themselves.
The “Storming of the Bastille” in 1789 represented
the beginning of the French Revolution.
In 1792, radicals took
control of France & made
important decisions:
The slogan of the French
Revolution became:
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”
The French monarchy
was overthrown &
democratic republic
was created called the
National Convention.
In 1793, King Louis XVI
was arrested, convicted
of treason, & executed
by guillotine.
His wife, Marie Antoinette,
was beheaded soon after.
The Guillotine
In 1793,
Maximilien Robespierre
gained control of the
National Convention.
From 1793 to 1794,
Robespierre executed
40,000 “traitors” during
an era known as the
Reign of Terror.
The Reign of Terror ended
when French citizens
turned on Robespierre
& executed him.
The revolution came to an end in 1795,
but France was in chaos.
People were starving.
France was at war with
England, Holland, Spain,
Austria & Prussia.
A new government
called the Directory, was
corrupt and made little
change.
Napoleon Bonaparte
In 1799, a 30 yr. old French
military general named
Napoleon Bonaparte led a
coup d'état & seized power
in France.
Coup d'état-a sudden,
violent, and illegal seizure of
power from a government.
As emperor of France,
Napoleon introduced
needed reforms,
defeated foreign armies,
& conquered a massive
French empire.
Napoleonic Code
• Created a set of laws for the Empire of France
• Made laws the same all over France
Some of the codes:
• Stated all male citizens had equal rights, and nobles would no longer
receive special treatment.
• made the authority of men over their families stronger, and deprived
women of any individual rights.
• reduced the rights of illegitimate children.
• Allowed freedoms for disagreement/debate concerning religion.
• Allowed slavery in the French colonies (even through France had previously
forbidden slavery).
These laws were applied to all territories under Napoleon’s control and were
influential in several other European countries and in South America.
Napoleon’s Empire
• Napoleon began The Napoleonic Wars in an effort to gain as much land as
he could. Basically, he invaded and conquered countries to add to his
French Empire.
• At the height of his power, Napoleon controlled most of France.
• He created many alliances and put family members and close friends in
charge of keeping order in his conquered lands.
Napoleon’s Downfall
• The worst tactical mistake of Napoleon’s career was trying to
invade Russia.
• He successfully took Moscow, but lost 40,000 soldiers.
• Napoleon thought that Russia’s leader would give up after the
attack, but he didn’t.
• Russia can be a large and harsh environment….especially in the
winter!!!
• Napoleon was forced to retreat with his army back toward France
• Temperatures reached 27 degrees below zero, troops had little food
and supplies.
• Many died of starvation, disease, and hypothermia… AND Napoleon
LEFT his army when it became clear that the mission had become a
total failure.
• Of the half-million who crossed the Russian frontier, only eighty
thousand returned.
• Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia had to band together to finally stop
Napoleon.
• He was finally defeated at the Battle of Waterloo and sent into
exile on the island of St. Helena.
“Consecration
of the Emperor Napoleon &
the Empress Josephine,”
Napoleon’s
Throne
Napoleon’s Bed Chamber
The Imperial Image
Haitian Revolution
• Haiti was one of France’s highest
producing colonies.
• Cotton, Indigo, Sugar, Coffee
• August 21, 1791- Inspired by the
French Revolution, a slave named
Toussaint l’Overture led the slaves in
a rebellion against their masters.
• Resisted all attempts from Haitian
leaders and Napoleon to put down
the rebellion.
• Expanded the rebellion to take over
present day Dominican Republic.
• Haiti emerged as the first black
republic in the world, and the
second nation in the western
hemisphere (after the United States)
to win its independence from
a European power.
South America
• South Americans were also inspired by
the American and French Revolutions.
• Simon Bolivar (1783-1830)-A
Venezuelan soldier and intellectual
helped organize revolts against Spain by
Spanish colonies. He became known as
the “The Liberator” for helping
Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador,
Peru and Panama gain independence
from Spain.
• Participated in the foundation of the
first union of independent nations in
Latin America, Gran Colombia, of which
he was president from 1819 to 1830
• He dreamed of a United “Spanish
America.”
• Bolivia is named after him.
The Monroe Doctrine
• Issued by President James Monroe
• The US wanted to keep newly independent countries in
South America and Latin America from getting sucked
back into European control.
• The Monroe Doctrine stated that the US would not
interfere in existing European Colonies in North or South
America, BUT that Europe was not allowed to attempt
to start more colonies in those areas.
• To do so would result in US military aggression.
• Why would the US want to keep
European powers away from this land
area???