The French Revolution The Causes The 4 Stages

The French Revolution The Causes

The 4 Stages of the French Revolution • 1 st Stage “Moderate Phase” (1789 – 1791) – Meeting of Estate General – Fall of the Bastille – Development of a Constitution and Bill of Rights • 2 nd Stage “Radical Phase” (1792 – 1794) – Execution of Louis XVI – Rise of Maximilien Robespierre – Reign of Terror • 3 rd Stage “Conservative Phase” (1795 – 1799) – Period of reaction against the violence of the revolution – Establishment of the Directory • 4 th Stage “Napoleonic Phase” (1799 – 1815) – Rise of Napoleon: Dictator to Emperor – France builds an empire – Collapse of Napoleon’s Empire

What would cause you to revolt against an established institution? Causes of French Revolution

Europe 1789 Bourbon Family Louis XVI + Hapsburg Family Marie Antoinette

Political and Social Inequalities Introduction • • French society was divided into estates = Large social classes 1300’s - The social classes began meeting as the Estates General “Old Regime” – French institution similar to early English Parliament 1 st Estate • Highest level church officials (NOT parish priests) – Under 1% of population, but owned 10% of land – Paid virtually NO taxes (2% of income) – Hated Enlightenment ideas 2 nd Estate • Rich Nobles: Office holders of army, government, courts, and middle level church officials – Less than 2% of population, but owned 20% of land – Paid NO taxes – This really furthered revolution – Disagreed with Enlightenment ideas 3 rd Estate • Bourgeoisie / Lower Class / Peasants – Paid vast majority of taxes (50+% of income) – Differed greatly in economic conditions BUT all had reasons to hate the Old Regime – Embraced Enlightenment ideas

Bourgeoisie (Middle Class) • Well educated professionals – Lawyers, doctors, manufacturers , bankers, merchants, and shopkeepers • Some were very wealthy, but had NO political or social standing – Paid very high taxes – Dressed like nobles wearing wigs, waistcoats, and culottes • Tight fitting knee breeches • Strongly believed in Enlightenment ideals "People under the Old Regime"

Lower Classes • Workers of France’s cities – Butchers, brewers, weavers, tanners, peddlers, cooks, servants • Much poorer & less educated than Bourgeoisie – Embodied frugality, thrift, hard work, and honest devotion • Sans-culottes – Those who are without knee breeches • Often went hungry – Diet consisted of 3 pounds of bread per day and very little else

Peasant Farmers • Largest group of the 3 rd Estate – 80% of total population • Very faithful to Catholic Church & local priests • Lost over ½ their income to taxes – Often went hungry • Required to perform free work for government for set number of days every year – Nevertheless, French peasants lived better than peasants elsewhere in Europe

Awakening of the Third Estate

Influence of the Enlightenment & American Revolution • Enlightenment thinkers inspired French people to question the Old Regime & go against their king – Major challenge to absolute monarchy • Success of American Revolution encouraged French to fight for freedom, equality, and liberty

Weak Rulers • Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette were weak and indecisive rulers – Put off dealing with France’s economic problems until it was an emergency • “Protect us lord for we reign too young” Louis XVI • Louis was more interested in hunting than public affairs – Had a history of hiring/firing financial advisers when they run into opposition • Marie = “Madame Deficit” – She was hated by the French people • From the royal family of Austria – Dedicated to absolute monarchy principle • 1788 – A bread shortage caused the price of bread to double – “Do you know why there are so many needy people? Because your elegant existence devours in 1 day the substance of 1, 000 men. ” – Robespierre Louis XVI Marie Antoinette

Bankruptcy of the Government • France went into deep debt to pay for the 7 yrs War & American Revolution – American Revolution price tag = 200 million livre • Enough to house and freed 7 million French citizens for a year • Louis’s established financial reforms – Raise taxes on 3 rd Estate = Increased cost of living • Loaf of bread = One months earnings • By 1788 – France was almost bankrupt – 50% government’s income went to pay interest on debt – 13% to support royal family’s lifestyle • Result: Riots start to spread across France

Bankruptcy of the Government • 1788 - Louis was forced to hire Jacques Necker – Believed in the ideals of the Enlightenment • Believed it was the governments duty to make sure there was enough beard for everyone • Necker introduced financial reforms – Reduce court spending, reform government, and improve trade – Proposed taxing the 1 st and 2 nd estates • Result: King tried to tax 1 st and 2 nd estates • The 1 st and 2 nd Estates forced Louis to call the Estates General