THE FRENCH REVOLUTION 1789 1799 MAJOR CAUSES OF

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION 1789 - 1799

MAJOR CAUSES OF REVOLUTION

INEQUALITY • FRANCE DIVIDED INTO THREE GROUPS (ESTATES) • 1 ST ESTATE – THE CLERGY (CATHOLIC CHURCH) – OWNED 10% OF THE LAND – PAID NO TAXES • 2 ND ESTATE – THE NOBLES – WEALTHY LAND OWNERS / GOVT OFFICIALS– PAID LITTLE /NO TAXES • 3 RD ESTATE – 97% OF THE POPULATION – EVERYONE ELSE (BUSINESS PEOPLE AND FARMERS) HELD NO POLITICAL POWER

THE ENLIGHTENMENT • WRITINGS OF PHILOSOPHERS – LOCKE, ROSSEAU, MONTESQUIE, VOLTAIRE – INSPIRE FRENCH POPULATION • MORE PEOPLE BEGIN TO QUESTION THE POWER OF THE MONARCH/NOBILITY

LOUIS XVI WEAKNESS • DOMINATED BY NOBLES – WOULD NOT MAKE NOBILITY PAY MORE TAXES • OVERSPENDING – CREATED HUGE DEBT • PERCEIVED AS WEAK AND INDECISIVE

OTHER CAUSES • WIDESPREAD HUNGER – • 1788 WORST WINTER IN 80 YEARS – CAUSED FOOD SHORTAGE

REVOLUTION ! • SPRING 1789 – MEMBERS OF THE 3 RD ESTATE GATHER IN PARIS – CREATE NEW GOVERNMENT - THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY • BEGIN CREATION OF NEW CONSTITUTION – LIMITING POWER OF THE KING, PASS THE “RIGHTS OF MAN” – FRENCH VERSION OF BILL OF RIGHTS, MORE VOTING RIGHTS • JULY 14 TH 1789 – BASTILLE DAY – FRENCH MOB STORMS INTO PRISON IN PARIS – SYMBOLIC EVENT • 1791 -1792– THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – DECLARE FRANCE A REPUBLIC, NOT A MONARCHY • AUGUST 1792 – ANGRY MOB STORMS ROYAL PALACE TAKES LOUIS XVI, QUEEN MARIE ANTOINETTE INTO CUSTODY

CHAOS AHEAD! • NEW FRENCH GOVERNMENT - RENAMED NATIONAL CONVENTION– VERY UNSTABLE • RADICALS SIEZE POWER – BEGIN REIGN OF TERROR… 1, 000’S EXCECUTED BY THE GUILLOTINE – INCLUDING KING/QUEEN • WHY SO MANY EXCECUTED? • FEAR OF COUNTER-REVOLUTION • WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE – FRANCE ON VERGE OF CIVIL WAR – OPENS THE DOOR FOR…? • NAPOLEON