6.4 French Revolution

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French Revolution

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3rd estate: peasants

3rd estate: city workers

3rd estate: bourgeoisie

Looking at the rights and duties of the 3 estates, 

it becomes clear why the 3rd estate 

(90% of the people) were unhappy.

Meeting of the Estates-General

• In 1789 the king called for a meeting of the Estates-General.
• He had run out of money and he wanted to ask the representatives of the 3 estates to agree to his plans to raise the taxes.
• In May, 1200 representatives gathered in Versailles 
• to listen to the king.

The 3rd estate members wanted to make some radical changes though......

The meeting would lead to the start of the French Revolution

How to vote?

This is when trouble started..

The Estates-General sat for several weeks in May and June 1789 but came to an impasse over the first item on the agenda: whether they should vote by estate, giving the first two estates an advantage, which was the King's choice, or vote all together, giving the Third Estate the advantage.

first estate:        300 representatives

second estate:  300 representatives

third estate:       600 representatives

1 vote

1 vote

1 vote

2 votes

1 vote

A violent start of the French Revolution

In 1789, the French people had simply had enough of food scarcities and the social inequality in their country. The ‘arrogance’ of the nobility and the luxurious lifestyle at Versailles made the people even angrier. In July 1789, hundreds of Parisians gathered together and plundered and destroyed food 

depots, hospitals and armouries. On July 14th, they stormed the Bastille, a state prison where the government stored ammunition. The storming of the Bastille is considered the start of the French Revolution.

summarize

1. what happened on July 14th 1789?
2. Explain briefly who did this and why
3. What is significent about this event?

Storming of the Bastille. On the right you see the arresting of Bernard de Launay, the governor of the Bastille. Anonymous painting.

1789: July 14th: Storming of the Bastille: the beginning of the French Revolution

The National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath

June 20, 1789

The National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath

June 20, 1789

The National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath

• We want a CONSTITUTION that gives us:
• - more power for the people
• - less power for the king
• - equal rights

The Reign of Terror

In 1792, the National Assembly officially ended the monarchy, which was replaced by the French Republic with a new government. This started a violent chapter in French history, known as the Reign of Terror. The leader of this movement was Maxime Robespierre. He was a lawyer working in the Estates- General, who was strongly influenced by the Enlightenment thinkers. This made Robespierre a strong opponent of the French monarchy.

Robespierre also believed that everyone who did not agree with the ideals of the revolution should be executed. His fanaticism did not make him very popular. Some people thought he was too extreme, and eventually they proved to be right. Robespierre was supported by a political group called the Jacobines. Soon they dominated the National Assembly and started their Reign of Terror. This led to the death of thousands of people. Still, Robespierre enjoyed great popularity among the people of France. He had a gift for public speaking and could convince people quite easily.

summarize

1. How did France become a Republic?
2. Who gained more influence in the National Assembly?
3. What were his ideas?
4. What were his supporters called?
5. What was the Reign of Terror?

Maxime Robespierre

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The end of the Terror

The Reign of Terror ended in 1794 because people were done with all the bloodshed and demanded a more peaceful France. However, the French Revolution did not end peacefully. Maxime Robespierre was executed on the guillotine in 1794 because of his ‘dictatorial behaviour’.

With the death of Robespierre, the Jacobines lost their leader. The political influence of the Jacobines was even more diminished when they were replaced by people with more moderate views. 

summarize

1. How and why did the Reign of terror end?
   
2. What kind of group took over from the Jacobines?
   
3. What was the Directoire and how was it organized?
   

the execution of Robespierre