THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

PROBLEMS THAT LED TO

FRENCH REVOLUTION
 INEQUALITIES AMONG SOCIAL
CLASSES

FRENCH SOCIETY DUE TO THE LEGALITY OF

FEUDALISM IN 18TH CENTURY, WAS DIVIDED INTO
THREE CLASSES

FIRST ESTATE – which are also divided into

two groups—higher clergy—who held the
important posts in the Church as archbishops,
bishops and abbots (head of monasteries).
There they enjoy the special privileges of being
in the First Estate such as living in luxury,
spending huge sums of money for hunting
animals, for buying carriages, and for their
own entertainment. The second group of First
Estate are the lower clergy– who were priests
who came from the middle and lower classes.
Unlike the higher clergy, the priests of lower
clergy resented the life of luxuries and were
sympathetic to other people.
INEQUALITIES AMONG SOCIAL
CLASSES

FRENCH SOCIETY DUE TO THE LEGALITY OF

FEUDALISM IN 18TH CENTURY, WAS DIVIDED
INTO THREE CLASSES

SECOND ESTATE – the second estate are

composed of the nobility. They held the
highest offices in the Church, Government,
army and many of them received generous
gifts and pensions from the king. Most of
them are the nobles who owned about a
quarter of the land in France. They are also
the Lord of every farmlands of the peasants
and they are given special privileges too.
Just like the First Estate, they are exempted
from paying taxes.
INEQUALITIES AMONG SOCIAL
CLASSES

FRENCH SOCIETY DUE TO THE LEGALITY OF

FEUDALISM IN 18TH CENTURY, WAS DIVIDED
INTO THREE CLASSES

THIRD ESTATE – the city workers,

peasants, bourgeoisie and the middle class
are included to the Third Estate. Just like
the picture depicts, they are the ones who
pay taxes for the government. These are
what we considered today as the poorest of
the poor. Even though they owned about
half a land in France, this is not enough to
support their Family needs. In paying taxes,
they are being threatened of imprisonment,
loss of their homes or forced labor if they
are not paying enough taxes.
FRANCE FACES FINANCIAL
RUIN
 FRANCE SUFFERED FROM
FINANCIAL RUINS

FRANCE IN THE 1700S WAS VIRTUALLY

BANKRUPT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
- KING LOUIS XIV, WHO DIED IN 1715, left
enormous debts created by wars and luxurious
living.
-Because of the further European wars, as well as
aid to the colonists during American Revolution.
-Louis XIV and Louis XVI borrowed heavily from
bankers and spent lavishly on luxuries and on
gifts for favorite nobles.
-France’s inefficient and unfair system of
Taxation made it impossible for the Government
to raise enough money, cover these expenses and
repay its debts.
-The only answer for this is the tax from the First
and Second Estate, so Louis XVI appealed for the
First and Second Estate to agree to a tax on their
lands, but they refused. This Financial ruin led
for the French Revolution.
FRENCH REVOLUTION
ACHIEVES REFORMS
 THE REVOLUTION

• The revolution began in France in 1789 was

supported with groups with very different motives.
 The bourgeoisie revolted because social system
kept them from having their power. (at the time of
their well –of life, they are not considered to be
nobles or even hope to hold highest positions in the
Church, the Government and the Army.)
 The peasants rebelled to escape oppressively high
taxation and their feudal obligations to the nobles.
 The poor cities were driven to rebellion due to
poverty, resentment of the wealthy minority, and
the hope of reform.
 The actions of the nobles that made these groups to
rebelled against the old regime of French Society.
 Food shortages, unemployment and high prices
had increased the resentment of people in Paris.
 THE FINANCIAL CRISIS CAUSES A
MEETING OF ESTATES – GENERAL

• By July 1788, France faced a serious financial crisis. As the

nobles refused to be taxed, Louis XVI had to call a meeting of
the Estates – General—these generals are the official
representative or delegates of each estates. to obtain
additional taxes.
• This is the first time since 1614 for the delegates to have this
assembly. The nobles, however, intended to use the Estates –
general to protect their privileges, weaken the King’s power and
give them control of the government.
• The Estates – General met at Versailles in May, 1789. but was
unable to act because the delegates could not agree on the
voting procedures.
• Traditionally, each estate had met separately and cast its vote as
a body. For an issue to be decided, two of the three estates had
to agree. The Third Estate is likely to be outvoted two to one.
 THE FINANCIAL CRISIS CAUSES A
MEETING OF ESTATES – GENERAL

• At this meeting, most of the delegates of the Third Estate are the
Bourgeoisie. They demanded that the Three Estates meet
together, with each delegate having one vote.
• Because about half of the 1,200 delegates were from the Third
Estate, they would then have a greater opportunity to bring
about reform.
• The third Estate could also count on the supporters of some
reform – minded delegates of the lower clergy and nobility.
 THE FINANCIAL CRISIS CAUSES A
MEETING OF ESTATES – GENERAL

• One clergyman, the Abbe Sieyes (syay-es) had written a famous

pamphlet called, “what is the Third Estate?” in it, he voiced his
demands in these words:
We have three questions to ask:
First, what is the Third Estate? “Everything.”
Second, what has it been heretofore in the political order?
“Nothing”
Third, what does it demand? “To become something…”
 THE TENNIS COURT OATH

• In June 17, 1789, the Third Estate led by the Bourgeoisie, who
establish the National Assembly—declaring themselves and the
whole third Estate to become part of it.
• By June 20, 1789, an oath in the Tennis court has been
established by the French Third Estate as the response from
urging King Louis XVI by the nobles to continue to meet
separately.
• The delegates from the Third Estate moved to the palace in the
indoor tennis court. Many of the clergy and some nobles joined
them. defying the king, they demanded a constitution for France
and swore not to disband the National Assembly until they had
achieved this goal—a new constitution.
• Faced with this solidarity, Louis gave in, and after a week,
ordered all the clergy and nobility to join the Third Estate in the
National Assembly. This is the start of the reforms they have
been made for France.
 MIRABEAU

• COMTE DE MIRABEAU –
A nobleman representing
the Third Estate. Mirabeau
told the King’s messenger
that the delegates would
leave only “at the point of
bayonets”
 PARISIANS STORM THE
BASTILLE

• The king was persuaded by the court nobles to send troops into
Paris and Versailles. This move, however, simply spread
rebellion and brought the first violence of the revolution.
• Food shortages, unemployment, and high prices had increased
the resentment of the people of Paris. The calling of the Estates
– General had raised their hopes for reform, but now they
feared that the King’s soldiers would crash the National
Assembly. Afraid also that the royal troops would attack the city,
the people of Paris armed themselves.
• On July 14, 1879, the Parisians massed outside the Bastille. Its
guards fired into the crowd, killing nearly a hundred people. The
angry crowd stormed into the fortress and killed the commander
and some of his men.
• Opposed by the citizens and the city militia of Paris, the
frightened king withdrew his troops.
 THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
MAKES REFORM

• There were five main areas of Change

 Equality and Individual rights – the Declaration of the
Rights of Man proclaimed a society based upon the natural rights
of liberty and equality.
 Government Administration – The reformers divided the
country into departments, which were all about the same size
and had elected officials.
 Church Influence – the National Assembly not only seized the
church but attempted to bring the church under state control.
Bishops and priests were to be elected and paid by the French
government.
 Aid to business – abolishing taxes on goods transported within
France. The use of metric system as the standard system of
weight and measures throughout France.
 Constitutional Government – the Constitution of 1791
limited the power of the king an set up a new law – making body.
 WORLD HISTORY 2

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

AND NAPOLEON

“The Revolution Turns into Violence”

by:
Willie Ceynas
 THE CONSTITUTION OF 1791 “END OF
THE FIRST STAGE OF FRENCH
REVOLUTION”

• The bourgeois – they have the

power to limit the power of the king
and have the chances to have power
in government.

• Peasants – Benefited because of

“abolition of privileges”
 END OF
REVOLUTION ?
 START OF SECOND STAGE
OF REVOLUTION

• Radicals – Group of people who

seeks to end the “Monarchy” ( Most
influential political club during the
French revolution.

• Their main goal is to defeat the king

and wanted to become a public.
 SHOPKEEPER
S “SANS-
CULOTTES “
Voice out their rights into the
government

• Raises of wages
• Lower food prices
• Find a way to prevent shortage
RADICALS IN FRENCH REVOLUTION
 HOW DID THE
RADICALS TAKE
CONTROL OF THE Louis XVII
REVOLUTION ?

• One is because the royal

family attempted to flee in
Louis XVI Maria Antoinette
Varennes (June 1791)

• They attempted to flee the

country in order to avoid
Maria Theresa and
retribution from the Hapsburg
revolutionaries.
THE ROYAL FAMILY GOT ARRESTED
• The execution of Louis XVI by means of the guillotine, a major event of the
French Revolution, took place on 21 January 1793 at the Place de la
Révolution in Paris. The National Convention had convicted the king in a
near-unanimous vote and condemned him to death by a simple majority.
• His wife, Marie Antoinette, met the same fate nine months later,
on October 16, 1793. Their young son, Louis-Charles, died in
prison where living conditions were horrible.
 END OF
MONARCHY
• KING LOUIS THE XVI
ACCEPTED THE NEW
CONSTITUTION, IT WAS
THE START OF
PARLIAMENT AND HOUSE
LORDS ARE RESPONSIBLE
AND TAKING UP THE
LAWS AND TAXES.
 FRANCE GOES
TO WAR WITH
AUSTRIA AND
PRUSSIA
• April 20, 1792 – France
declared war on Austria

Reasons :
• They believe they would unify
their country .
• Spread the ideas of the
revolution to the whole Europe
and to end monarchy.
CAUSES OF WAR

• Soared food prices

• Hungry Parisians
• Looted Stores
 RADICALS
BUILD A GROUP
WHICH CALLED
“JACOBINS”

• They formed strong

minority in the National
Convention

• Radical Minority or this

group also called “The
Mountains” Georges Daton and Maximilien Robespierre
 THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY MOBILIZES
THE FRANCE FOR WAR

• The Radicals made a committee which saw called “committee of

public safety”
They Established
• Dozen of men which serve as protection.
• They regulated the prices and supplies of bread for the poor.
• They also establish industries producing weapons and equipment
for the army.
 “AUGUST 1793” THE
COMMITTEE CALLED THE
WHOLE NATION

Because;
• Able-bodied men are for army
• Women worked at hospitals for
uniforms and hospital equipment
• Children are for collection of old
bandages
• Old people are for arouse patriotism
 THE CONSTITUTION OF
1793

• They gave men the right to vote

and to work
• They also grant political rights
to women
• They also provide pubic
education for boys and girls
 THE JACOBINS
ALSO INTRODUCE
THE “REIGN OF
TERROR”
• They arrested and
execute anyone to be an
enemy of the republic

• September 1793 up to
July ; there are 20,000 to
40,000 people was being
arrested, guillotine, and
send to jail
 ROBESPIERRE

• Maximilien François Marie Isidore de

Robespierre was a French lawyer and
statesman who was one of the best-known
and most influential figures of the French
Revolution.
CAUSES A LOT OF THE
DAMAGE TO PEOPLE
AND TO THE COUNTRY
 HOW DID
ROBESPIERRE
DIE ?

• After a year of harsh rule

by Robespierre, many of the
revolutionary leaders had
had enough of the Terror.
They turned on Robespierre
and had him arrested. He
was executed, along with
many of his supporters, by
guillotine on July 28, 1794.
“The other bourgeoise member of Jacobins want to restore the Monarchy”
 NEW CONSTITUTION WAS
MADE ; ADOPTED 1795

• The constitution was headed by 5 members of the

Jacobins called “ the directors”

• Within this constitution they manage to control the

countries crisis such as inflation and shortage.
 FRENCH
REVOLUTION
BRINGS LASTING
CHANGES

• Transformed French
society

• Feudalism and
absolute monarchy
started again.
THANK YOU !!