Chapter 20 Section 1 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION BEGINS
Chapter 20, Section 1 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION BEGINS
Causes • Inequities in Society (the Old Order) 1. King (Louis XVI) and Queen (Marie-Antoinette) at the top of society living in extravagance 2. First Estate—Roman Catholic clergy • 1% of pop. • Didn’t pay taxes or have to follow the laws • Owned 10% of the land 3. Second Estate—nobility (gov’t & military) • • 2% of pop. Controlled most of the wealth but paid few taxes
Causes • Inequalities in Society (con’t) 4. Third Estate—common people • 97% of pop. • Very poor but paid high tax and rent rates • Multiple levels – Bourgeoisie—city-dwelling merchants, factory owners, and professionals (like lawyers) – Sans culottes—workers and artisans – Peasants who farmed nobles’ lands
Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette French political cartoon (the common man struggling under the ruling elites)
Causes • Enlightenment Ideas of equality and limited government • Restricted powers of England’s monarchy • Successful rebellion of the American colonies • Financial crisis – Deep debt from American Revolution – Lavish living by the royalty – Natural disasters destroyed food crops
1 st Events of the Revolution • Meeting of the Estates-General (spring 1789) – Assembly of all 3 estates together – 1 st meeting in 175 years – Each estate got only 1 vote, so 3 rd estate left and created the National Assembly to write a new French constitution; forced Louis to change voting rules to favor the 3 rd estate
1 st Events of the Revolution • Storming of the Bastille – Louis began putting soldiers in the city to put down any potential rebellion; National Assembly feared he was going to stop their meetings – People went to the medieval prison to take weapons for protection – Resulted in a guard shooting and the people then killing all the guards and prison commander • The Great Fear—people were afraid of punishment for Bastille causing paranoia and some violence in the countryside
Creating a New Nation • Monarchy collapsed and National Assembly began running the country • Privileges of the First Estate and fees owed to the nobility were eliminated • Created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen – Inspired by Enlightenment philosophers, the American Constitution, and the English Bill of Rights and reflected their ideals – Laid out the basic principles of the revolution – Did not extend rights to women
Creating a New Nation • Louis sent troops to Paris to restore order • Any angry mob marched to his palace and captured him and his wife • Church lands were taken and sold to pay of France’s debts & take power from the 1 st Estate • 1791—Constitution is finished – Country run by the Legislative Assembly – Still a monarchy but king had very limited power • King and queen tried to sneak out of the country but were caught and returned to Paris
Creating a New Nation • Prussia (Germany) and Austria threatened war to protect the king and queen • France declared war in defense and was defeated, causing people to turn to radical action – Mob attacked Louis’ home, killed the guards and threw him and his family in a prison – Legislative Assembly voted itself out of existence and gave power to the National Convention, which was run by radicals – National Convention eliminated the monarchy and made France a republic
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