Start of the French Revolution The Three Estates

Start of the French Revolution

The Three Estates Second Estate • Nobility • Held High Positions in government • Paid no taxes Third Estate • 97 -98% of pop. • Middle and lower classes • Included bourgeoisie • Paid the majority of taxes First Estate • Clergy • Controlled 10 percent of all land • Did not pay taxes

French Problems Economic Stress Helped pay for American Revolution Running global Empire is expensive! Bad weather ruins crops Food becomes VERY expensive

Estates General National Assembly

The Bastille

Declaration of the Rights of Man Based off Declaration of Independence All men are equal in law Any man can hold public office Freedom of religion Taxes based on ability to pay Government exists to protect peoples rights

King is slow to respond…

Prussia & Austria declare support for King

French Revolution Radicalizes Fear of resistance to Revolution from within and outside of France grows Sans-Culottes and Jacobins begin to push for a more radical revolution National Assembly declares war on Austria, Prussia, and Britain Execute the King & Queen (if they are dead, they can’t be put back on the throne!) Committee of Public Safety is formed to “protect” the revolution Maximilien Robespierre comes to power and encourages the use of terror to keep revolution safe

Reign of Terror

Committee on Public Safety 12 person committee in charge of “protecting revolution” Robespierre is head of Committee Convinced that terror will keep people in place Reign of Terror July 1793 -July 1794 40, 000 people executed Majority were peasants, poor, involved in riots Eventually, leaders of Revolution turn on Committee of Public Safety Robespierre and others executed Terror is over

After the Terror Robespierre & others seen as too great a threat 1795: New Constitution signed The Directory is 5 men to work with 2 house legislature Very weak, corrupt Food still issue Riots ensue

Directory needs help! Riots and chaos threaten French revolution yet again Turn to a war hero to provide stability Napoleon Bonaparte is brought in 1799: Establishes 3 man Consulate Declares himself Consulate for life 1802 declares himself Emperor

Impact of Revolution Much greater equality among men Education established for elementary ages Social support for poor, exsoldiers and war widows Arts take on “classical” look Nationalism – aggressive pride in one’s country France is VERY proud

Order of the Revolution Absolute Monarchy (1789) Republic (17941799) Constitutional Monarchy (1790 -1793)