The French Revolution 1789 1799 Ancien Regime King

The French Revolution 1789 -1799

Ancien Regime King Louis XVI was leader of France Ancien regime was the old order in France Three different estates Social classes

Ancien Regime (cont. ) First Estate made of church and clergy Second Estate made up of nobility Third Estate everyone else

Ancien Regime (cont. ) France heavily in debt during this time

Tennis Court Oath Estates General was French “Congress” Reps from each estate meet to vote separately First and Second Estate always outvote Third

Tennis Court Oath Third Estate fed up with being outvoted despite making up most of France Called for all Estates to meet and vote “by head”

Tennis Court Oath Third Estate reps finally had enough; called themselves National Assembly Met at an indoor tennis court Took Tennis Court Oath stated they’d never separate and meet when the circumstances require until they make a Constitution

Tennis Court Oath Reform-minded clergy and noblemen join National Assembly Louis XVI accepts it, though plans to dissolve it

Bastille Rumors that royal troops were going to occupy Paris Peasants stormed prison called the Bastille looking for weapons Gain Bastille, but no weapons. Still symbol of revolution

The “Great Fear” Rumors that peasants and villages being attacked Peasants start attacking noblemen People look up to Marquis de Lafayette Leader that fought alongside George Washington

National Assembly Acts National Assembly issues “Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen” Insisted that governments must acknowledge the natural rights of men

National Assembly Acts (cont. ) Declaration did not mention women Olympe de Gouges, female journalist, speaks out against this Many women imprisoned during revolution for speaking out

Marie Antoinette was the Austrian-born queen Lived very lavish life; caused unrest among citizens Never actually said “Let them eat cake”

Louis in Paris Louis XVI lived in Versailles 6, 000 women marched miles from Paris to Versailles, demanding to see the king Wanted him to return to Paris

Louis in Paris (cont. ) Royal family agrees to move to Paris Louis XVI is now virtual “prisoner”

National Assembly Presses Onward National Assembly starts writing Constitution Put controls on Catholic Church Caused great divide

National Assembly Presses Onward (cont. ) Constitution finished in 1791 Established limited monarchy New legislative branch created

Louis’ Escape Louis XVI attempts to escape Paris Disguises himself as servant Gets caught because someone recognizes his face from a coin

Internationally Other rulers fear the “spread” of the revolution Joseph II, Marie Antoinette’s brother, tells revolutionaries that Austria and Prussia will intervene to save French monarchy Most likely bluff, but revolutionaries took it seriously and prepared for war

Radicals Fight for Power New Legislative Assembly takes over Economy too bad for L. A. to act Sans-culottes, working-class men and women, push for more radical means

Radicals Fight for Power Many sans-coulottes wanted a republic Government ruled by elected representatives Several factions within National Assembly start fighting for power Sans-culottes find allies in the radical Jacobins

War on Tyranny French revolutionaries declare war on European monarchs Declare war on Austria, Prussia, Britain, and others