The French Revolution Transition from Absolute Monarchy to

The French Revolution Transition from Absolute Monarchy to Republic Marks the Death of Feudalism Enlightenment Ideas In Action Sent Shock Waves Around the World Transformed Europe as well as France

Ancien Régime 1700’s France was seen as the most advanced country in Europe Had a large population & prosperous foreign trade Social & political system in place was the Old Regime Characterized by Absolute Monarchy & lingering Feudalism

To Recap: Both Feudalism & Absolute Monarchy Feudalism: system of reciprocal relationships between Kings & nobles 1780 s in France: Feudal countryside Absolute Monarchy: Centralized Authority Stranglehold on the Nobility Very Costly!!!

Social Classes of the Ancien Régime

1 st Estate: Clergy

2 nd Estate: Nobility

Third Estate

Causes of the Revolution 1. 2. 3. The 3 rd Estate is increasingly resentful The Enlightenment ideas of individual freedom & equality spread through France Economic Troubles Previous debt from Louis XIV still not paid off Heavy taxes made it impossible to make a profit Crop failures 4. Louis XVI (16 th) is a weak leader

Louis XVI

Estates-General Meeting May 1789

Tennis Court Oath

Storming the Bastille

The Great Fear July 1789

Women March on Versailles

The Old Regime is Dead August 4 th, 1789: National Assembly declares the end of Feudalism: “The National Assembly abolishes the feudal system entirely… any kind of tithes and fees… are abolished… Financial, personal, or real privileges are abolished forever…” Civil Constitution of the Clergy Church officials become state employees Sell Church land Splits the 3 rd Estate & Church: bourgeoisie vs. peasant

Declaration of Rights of Man 27 August 1789 Full of Enlightenment Ideas!!! Guarantees many basic rights: Property, liberty, security, speech, religion Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!!! Caveat: these rights did not apply to women Olympe de Gouges published a Declaration of the Rights of Women her ideas were rejected Seen as an enemy of the Revolution

Out with the Old, In with the New OLD & gone: Feudalism Slavery Nobles’ titles Independent Church Absolute Monarchy NEW: Jews given citizenship Loyalty Oath Divorce legalized Trade unions & guilds banned Constitution Currency: assignat 1 st Republic

La Nuit de Varennes

Constitutional Monarchy 1 October 1791 a new Constitution approved by Louis XVI 1791 Constitution establishes Constitutional Monarchy Legislative Assembly

Political Spectrum Participants in French Revolution Conservative limited monarchy • a few changes • Many peasants • nobility • Moderate (Liberal) Some change • Girondins • Mountain • Radical • oppose monarchy • want sweeping changes • Jacobins • Sans culottes

1792 - Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria Mob invades the Tuileries Palace kills guards & imprisons the Royal Family September Massacres: Fear Monarchists take over Raid prisons & murder over 1000 royalists France at War

The Sansculottes Parisian workers & small shopkeepers They want the Revolution to bring even greater changes Sans-culottes ally with Radicals in the Legislative Assembly

Jacobins

The End of the Monarchy

First French Republic: A Republic of Virtue

The Reign of Terror

Death of Marat

Execution of Robespierre

After the Terror National Convention drafts another constitution Creates Directory: bicameral legislature & executive moderates, not revolutionaries Corrupt