The French Revolution Overview

Turning Points in History

Timeline Event

French Revolution

When

1789-1799

Where

Europe - France

Participants (Who) | }}

{{ #if: King Louis XVI (16th) | *King Louis XVI (16th)| }} {{ #if: Robbespierre | *Robbespierre| }} {{ #if: Marat | *Marat| }} {{ #if: Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte | *Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte| }} {{ #if: | *| }} {{ #if: | *| }} {{ #if: | *| }}

What Happened | }}

The French lower and middle class (3rd Estate) revolt against the monarchy.

Causes/Why Happened | }}

Famine (Food Shortages), High Taxes, Corrupt Monarchy, Unemployment, Enlightenment Ideas

Results/Outcomes | }}

Monarchy was replaced with a Republic, then a Dictator (Napoleon) in 1800. Louis XVI and wife are beheaded by the Guillotine machine. Vocabulary

Vocabulary Listing

Causes of the French Revolution

The French Revolution has political, social, and economic causes.

• Politically, France suffered under an Absolute Monarchy, and most people were denied basic rights, or a say in their government.

• Socially, France was divided among 3 Estates, or classes. The 3rd Estate, which constituted 98% of the population, had the fewest rights, the least amount of land, and the heaviest tax burden.

• Economically, France faced a severe financial crisis due to overspending. Also, bad harvests resulted in food shortages. The Third Estate faced the greatest burden because of these problems.

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The First Estate- Those Who Prayed

The First Estate was made up of the clergy (religious leaders). They owned roughly 10% of land in France and made up about 10% of the population during the 18th Century. The church paid a “voluntary gift” every five years in lieu of taxes.

The Second Estate- Those Who Fought

The Second Estate was made up of the French aristocracy. Originally, the French nobles had been the feudal lords who fought alongside the French king and protected the peasant families who lived on their lands. However, by the 18th Century most Aristocrats were living in opulent splendor at Versailles, waiting on the king. Instead of brandishing swords and suits of armor they paraded about in high heels and powdered wigs. The aristocracy owned 25% of the land in France and was made up of around 400,000 people. They were lightly taxes, or not taxed at all. And to add insult to injury, the French nobles could impose taxes on peasants living on their land. They could tax them for fishing and hunting rights, to baking bread and to press grapes into wine. And there was nothing that the peasants could do about it.

The Third Estate- Everyone Else

Originally, the third estate was made up of peasants and unskilled laborers. Generally, this group was on equal footing in the Middle Ages. However, as trade expanded and learning flourished during the European Renaissance, a new class of educated and well-to-do merchants emerged in the Third Estates. This new bourgeoisie class did not take too kindly to being bossed around by the nobles. Well educated lawyers, doctors and writers were included in the bourgeoisie class. The Third Estate bore the brunt of the tax burden in France. At the time of the French Revolution, 98% of those who were taxed had no say in their government.

In 1789, King Louis XVI called the Estates General, France's weak legislative body to deal with the crisis. The meeting begins the French Revolution as the Third Estate attempts to better their situation by taking control of government.

Stages of the French Revolution

1st Stage

• Louis XVI spends too much of France's money on The American Revolution against France's enemy, Great Britain, and on the Palace of Versailles and keeping the nobles (aristocracy) happy.
• Louis XVI calls the Estates General (a legislature that hasn't met for 175 years) to raise taxes.

• Estates General votes (2-1), with each Estate receiving one (1) vote to raise taxes on the 3rd Estate, and no taxes to be paid by the 1st and 2nd Estate.

• Third Estate walks out and agrees to form a new government and swears an oath on the King's Tennis Court at Versailles (Tennis Court Oath).

• National Assembly - Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly, vows to write new Constitution. (1789)

• Riots in Paris cause the Storming of the Bastille (July 14th, 1789). They will take the prison, it's weapons, and take down the prison walls, brick by brick. This prison was considered a symbol of the King's absolute power.

2nd Stage

• Limited Monarchy - New Constitution of 1791 limits the monarchy, sets up a representative assembly.

• King Louis XVI reluctantly agrees to Limited Monarchy, eventually tries to ignore it, and will attempt to flee France.

3rd Stage

• Radicals - In 1792, Radicals take over. Robespierre is leader. IN 1793 The Reign of Terror begins, many die as result.
  • Committee for Public Safety headed by Robespierre is in charge of the government.
  • The Reign of Terror executes or imprisons people who were loyal to the Monarchy or against the republic.
  • Louis XVI is executed.
  • Marie Antoinette is executed.
  • Robespierre is executed because he went too far with his accusations of traitors against the republic.
  • Robespierre's execution ends The Reign of Terror in 1794.

4th Stage

• 1795 - Moderates return to government. A five (5) man group called The Directory runs country.

• Government very unstable, The Directory calls Napoleon, a general in the French army to keep order in Paris due to riots.

5th Stage

• 1799 Coup D'Etat (take over) Napoleon takes control from The Directory.
• Napoleon names himself Emperor of France in 1802, and begins rule as a dictator, or as a absolute ruler, and attempts to build a dynasty.
• Napoleonic Age begins, the French Revolution is over.

Results of the French Revolutiuon

• Democracy in Action - The French Revolution provides an example to other nations, especially Latin America. The democratic ideas of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" were spread across Europe.

• Nationalism Grows - Nationalist (feeling of pride in one's country above all) ideas were spread, which would in turn lead to the unification of Italy and Germany.

• Rise of the Middle Class - The growing Middle Class asserted their power, and would come to dominate politics throughout Europe as limitations were placed on existing monarchs, or they were ousted in favor of other forms of government.