CH3 sec. 3.2 The French Revolution

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 2

Memo h/v 2 TTO

CH3 The age of wigs and revolutions

The French Revolution

sec. 3.2 The French Revolution

Learning objectives

• I can describe how the French Revolution started and what the three main causes were.
• I can explain what political and social changes happened as a result of the French Revolution.
• I can explain how the French Revolution turned into a reign of terror.

French Revolution

Revolution = an event that causes major changes in government and society in a short timespan.

Three causes of the French Revolution:

• The huge inequality and injustice of the 

       Ancien Régime; 

• The rise of enlightened ideas about society 

       and government; 

• France’s lack of money.

A mighty ruler

• At the end of the 18th century, Louis XVI was king of France.
  
• He held all power, as it had been in France for centuries: He was an absolute monarch. 
  

A mighty ruler

• Louis XVI ruled from Versailles, his palace just outside of Paris.
• The French queen Marie Antoinette wasn't popular.
• Lived in luxury (expensive clothes and parties)

A mighty ruler

• Louis XVI was advised by clergymen and nobles.

• This type of government was later called the Ancien Régime.  
  

A mighty ruler

• When Louis XVI became king, France 

       was facing major problems.

• France was a prosperous country, but 

       around 1788 the state was almost bankrupt.

-     Too much money had been spend on fighting wars.

-     High debts led to high interest that had to be paid.

A mighty ruler

• It was almost impossible for the king to levy even more taxes.
  
• So a change had to be made to the tax system.
• The king came up with the solution: the nobility and clergy also had to pay taxes.
  

A mighty ruler

• He needed the States General (assembly of the estates) to change the tax system.
  
• The Estates General had not met for 174 years.
  
• 5 May 1789 meeting of States General. Argument about the way of voting (per estate or per member?).
  

Why was it that the French treasury was almost empty?

1. War expenses
2. High debts and interest rates
3. Spending of the royal couple
4. All answers are correct

How did Louis XVI want to solve the money problems?

1. Let the 3rd estate pay more taxes
2. Make the 1st and 2nd estates pay taxes

What was so special about Louis XVI calling for an assembly of the States General?

1. An absolute monarch rules alone
2. This hadn't happened for 174 years
3. A and B are both correct
4. A and B are both incorrect

A new house of representatives

• Meeting fails and the Third Estate  founded their own assembly: National Assembly.

• The National Assembly was a people’s parliament = a group of people elected by citizens who held the right to vote and which runs the country on behalf of the citizens.

A new house of representatives

• Tennis Court Oath. Agreed not to leave until France had a constitution.
  

• Document stating the citizens' rights and duties, and the government's organisation.

Fall of the Bastille

Start French Revolution

• 14 July 1789 Storming of the Bastille (trigger).
• Revolt spreads to countryside (killings and looting)
• The king acknowledges the National Assembly.

Fall of the Bastille

National Assembly abolishes the rights of the First and Second Estates.

Declaration of the rights of Man and the Citizen. 

All French were given equal rights and duties.

Fall of the Bastille

Fundamental right = Basic right of every citizen, for example freedom of religion and freedom of expression. Citizens' fundamental rights are often written down in a constitution. 

• Fundamental rights applied to every citizen and thus ensured equality.
  
• Fundamental rights protected the freedom of the citizens. 

Fall of the Bastille

1791 Constitution finished.

Document that sets out the fundamental rights of citizens and the principles according to which a state is to be governed.

Consequences for the administration:

• National Assembly (parliament) makes laws (legislative power) Rich citizens received right to vote;
  
• From now on King Louis XVI was only allowed to carry out laws (executive power). End absolute power king;
  
• Judges checked if people kept to the laws (judicial power).

What changed because of the Declaration of the rights of Man and the Citizen? There are 2 correct answers.

1. All French people received the same rights and duties
2. Beginning of the Estate based society
3. Privileges of the 1st and 2nd Estate abolished
4. Privileges of the 3rd Estate abolished

What doesn't match fundamental rights?

1. Fundamental rights of citizens
2. Privileges
3. Freedom of expression
4. Freedom of religion

What wasn't a consequence of the constitution of 1791?

1. The king was only allowed to make laws
2. The king was only allowed to carry-out laws
3. Rich citizens received the right to vote
4. Judges checked if people kept to the law

The Reign of Terror

Clergy and nobility were dissatisfied with the revolution:

• Had lost their privileges;
  
• New government had seized their land and other possessions.
  

Many nobles fled abroad because of the revolution.

The Reign of Terror

1789 March on Versailles. Angry crowd (food shortages) forced the royal family to leave the palace of Versailles and live in Paris.

1791 Louis XVI tried to flee to Prussia (fails). Citizens no longer trust the king. 

1792 War with Prussia and Austria

The Reign of Terror

August 1792 Louis XVI arrested and sentenced for treason.

January 1793 Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette executed (beheaded).

Monarchy abolished. France became a republic.

The Reign of Terror

The Girondins formed a majority in the National Assembly. The Girondins were moderates: wanted slow changes, not too much power for the poor, and were supported by the bourgeoisie.

Many French were dissatisfied with the new administration:

• Wars didn't go well;
• The lives of the poor hadn't improved;
• Lack of political influence.

The Reign of Terror

1793 The Jacobins, led by Robespierre, seized power.

They were radicals: wanted big changes and more power for the common people quickly. 

Sep 1793- Aug 1794 Reign of Terror

Thousands of people beheaded.

1795-1799 New administration: the Directoire

What's not a reason why the nobility and clergy were dissatisfied with the revolution?

1. They had received privileges
2. Their privileges were abolished
3. New government had seized their land and other possessions.

What doesn't match the Girondins?

1. Supported by wealthy citizens
2. Moderates
3. Slow changes
4. Voting rights for poor people

What doesn't match the Jacobins?

1. Supported by wealthy citizens
2. Quick changes
3. Radicals
4. Voting rights for poor people

Learning objectives

• I can describe how the French Revolution started and what the three main causes were.
• I can explain what political and social changes happened as a result of the French Revolution.
• I can explain how the French Revolution turned into a reign of terror.

Get to work

What? See whiteboard.

How? Alone 

Help? Ask neighbour. Can't figure it out? Ask teacher. 

Time? Until the end of the lesson. 

Done? Learn terms and dates. Ask teacher.