French Revolution
(1789-1799)
I. Intro
II. Background/Why a Key Terms
Revolution? • National Assembly
A. Economy/Monarchy • Bastille
B. Estates General
III. Freedom/Equality (1789-92)
• Great Fear
A. Taking Action • “Rights of Man”
B. New Constitution & • Committee on
Calendar Public Safety
IV. Terror (1792-95)
A. War
• “Levee en masse”
B. Robespierre
V. Directory (1795-99)
VI. Evaluation
French Revolution Themes
(Turning Point In Europe’s History)
• It was a “popular” Revolution (involved common
people angry at the monarchy).
• It turned violent & bloody.
• It came full-circle.
Why?
Economic Crisis:
• Government’s Debt
– French/Indian War & American Revolution
– Tax system
• Poor harvests in 1780s—riots
Anger at monarchy:
Tax System In France
• Nobles & Clergy-did not pay taxes
• Who was left…?
–Peasants & Bourgeoisie
• Those with the least wealth paid the most in taxes
• Corvée: Peasants were required to work 12-15
days of unpaid labor for the state (roads, bridges, etc)
French Monarchy: Symbol for Anger
Marie Antoinette Louis XVI
(1755-1793) (1754-1793)
French Revolution
• Phase I: Freedom & Equality (1789-1792)
Slogan: Liberty,
Equality & Fraternity
First Step to Revolution
• The King (Louis XVI) wanted to increase taxes
& nobles refused to pay.
• Estates General (French Parliament) was
called into session—it had not met since 1614!
Estates General
• But the “Masses”& Bourgeoisie objected to
unequal representation.
• So, they formed their own group:
National Assembly
Nobles/Lords: 1-5%
Clergy: 5-10%
Middle Class: 5-10%
(Bourgeoisie)
The “Masses”
75-85%
National Assembly
• “The Masses” &
Bourgeoisie met and
Declared they would not
disband until a new
constitution was
adopted!
Tennis Court Oath
Storming the Bastille
(July, 1789)
1. Rioting in Paris led about
800 common citizens to
attack the Bastille.
2. The people took the
Bastille, but 98 civilians
died & became martyrs.
3. Turning point: Average
citizens sparked a mass
Revolution.
Storming the Bastille
(July, 1789)
• Lafayette gave this key
to George Washington
it’s now on display at
Mount Vernon
Key to the Bastille
Great Fear
(August, 1789)
1. Rumor: nobles were going to destroy crops in
rural areas to hurt Revolutionaries.
2. Peasants looted & destroyed noble’s homes.
3. Result = nobility & clergy renounced ALL
traditional privileges.
Common People Destroy The Old Order
“Rights of Man”
(1789)
Philosophical Statement:
1. Every man is guaranteed natural rights and should
be treated equally.
New Calendar
• Provisions
– 1789 would be the year 1 (a brand new start)
– 12 months in year
– 30 days in each month
– 3 weeks in each month
– 1 day each week a holiday (1 every 10 days)
New Constitution*
(1790)
1. Established a Constitutional Monarchy:
a) Louis XVI-monarch
b) But a National Legislature would have the
most power
2. The Old Regime was gone; society would be
based on freedom & equality.
*Just about all adult males could vote.
French Revolution
• Phase II: Terror (1792-1795)
Reign of Terror
(1792-95)
• WAR!
France vs. rest of Europe
• To wage war, the National Legislature gave
tremendous power to a committee of its
members.
Committee On Public Safety
Robespierre
• Leader of the Committee
(1758-1794)
Committee On Public Safety
• Mobilized entire defense of France.
• Instituted “Levee en masse.”
– ALL in society were required to contribute to
the war effort.
• Any & all dissent was CRUSHED.
Guillotine
• Use was popularized by
Dr. Joseph Guillotin
• Estimated 25,000-
50,000 executions
(1792-94)
• 500,000 were
imprisoned
Louis XVI Executed
(January, 1793)
Marie Antoinette Executed
(October, 1793)
Committee On Public Safety
• Mobilized entire defense of France.
• Instituted “Levee en masse.”
– ALL in society were required to contribute to
the war effort.
• Any & all dissent was CRUSHED
Their actions demonstrated the TERROR & how
the Revolution turned violent & bloody.
French Revolution
• Phase III: The Directory (1795-1799)
(Conservative Reaction)
Directory
(1795-1799)
1. Created by the adoption of another new
Constitution—to prevent another “TERROR.”
• Who can vote?—landowners only
2. Power would be held by Five Consuls (one was
Napoleon Bonaparte).
3. 1799 Directory was abolished & Napoleon
became the sole leader of France.
Revolution Comes Full-Circle
• Revolution’s Goal: destroy the monarchy &
Old Regime
• Result: one ruler (Emperor)
• All male landowners could vote, society was
more equal; but not full “freedom & equality”
for all
French Revolution Themes
(Turning Point In Europe’s History)
• It was a “popular” Revolution (involved common
people angry at the monarchy).
• It turned violent & bloody.
• It came full-circle.
Evaluation…
• Overall, was the Revolution positive or negative
for the people of France?
French Revolution
(1789-1799)
I. Intro
II. Background/Why a Key Terms
Revolution? • National Assembly
A. Economy/Monarchy • Bastille
B. Estates General
III. Freedom/Equality (1789-92)
• Great Fear
A. Taking Action • “Rights of Man”
B. New Constitution & • Committee on
Calendar Public Safety
IV. Terror (1792-95)
A. War
• “Levee en masse”
B. Robespierre
V. Directory (1795-99)
VI. Evaluation
