FRENCH REVOLUTION
France before the Rev.
Three groups:
First estate: clergy
Second Estate: nobility
Third Estate: (95%) – rich merchants, professionals and urban workers
Majority peasant farmers
1789 – dissatisfaction at privileges of upper 2
Bankrupt: - loaned money to America/involved in wars/built extravagant palaces
Poor harvests, food shortages and rising bread prices
Louis 16 Called Estates general – hope for change or raise money through taxes
Two events signalled the start of the revolution:
Estates general meet: Palace of Versailles in May 1789
Third estate = National Assembly
Discussions about new political system: constitution
They storm the Bastille in July 1789 – symbol of royal authority
Three main stages spread over 10 years
1789 – 91 Reform
National Assembly:
End privileges of nobility and clergy
Nationalisation of church property
Constitutional monarchy not absolute monarchy
= King head by elected parliament
All men over 25 who paid tax could vote
Declaration of the rights of man
1792 – 94 violent change
Gov = National Convention
Extremist political clubs
Invasion of other countries = Fr = republic
Set up an army
Protest against conscription
‘Committee of Public Safety’
Disloyalty = ‘Revolutionary Tribunal’
300 000 = imprisoned
40 000 = executed : guillotine, drown or shot
1795 – 99 Reaction
Conservative gov. – the directory
Closed down radical political clubs
Suppressed bread riots
Changed voting system so fewer wealthier men had the vote
Napolean Bonaparte ruled France
Some changes kept, modified and reversed.
