Wynberg girls high-lynne martin-history-grade8-french revolution quest for liberty

WHY WERE THE FRENCH SO UNHAPPY BY 1789?

Political causes

Social causes

Economic causes

The spread of alternative ideas

WHAT WAS THE “OLD WHAT WAS THE “OLD ORDER”?ORDER”?

►France and the rest of Europe were France and the rest of Europe were ruled under the ruled under the “Ancien Regime”“Ancien Regime”

►Conservative ( resists change )Conservative ( resists change )►Been like that for centuriesBeen like that for centuries►Not challenged by the peopleNot challenged by the people►No democracyNo democracy►Feudal systemFeudal system

WHO RULED FRANCE?WHO RULED FRANCE?Louis 16th – kings inherited their positions

He was an autocrat

He believed that he ruled by ”divine right”

He appointed and dismissed ministers ( govt officials) at will

He could detain anyone without trial

He was unaware of the needs of his subjects( people)

WHAT WAS SOCIETY LIKE IN WHAT WAS SOCIETY LIKE IN FRANCE?FRANCE?

CHURCH

NOBLES

BOURGEOISIEWORKERS /PEASANTS/AND ALL THE REST!!

1ST ESTATE

2ND ESTATE

3RD ESTATE

French society was divided into social groups based on birth.

You could not move from one social group to the next

It was a hierarchical system

WHY WAS THE ESTATE SYSTEM WHY WAS THE ESTATE SYSTEM SO UNFAIR?SO UNFAIR?

The 1st and 2nd estates were privileged ( wealthy, paid no taxes and held all the high offices in the government and army)

The 3rd estate could not hold office although members of the Bourgeoisie were educated

The 3rd estate bore the burden of the taxes for the county but had no say in the way in which the country was run

WHAT WAS THE ECONOMY OF WHAT WAS THE ECONOMY OF FRANCE LIKE?FRANCE LIKE?

► By 1789 France was By 1789 France was bankrupt bankrupt

► France had borrowed France had borrowed money but by 1789 the money but by 1789 the interest on the debt interest on the debt exceeded the GNPexceeded the GNP

► The tax system needed The tax system needed overhauling, but the overhauling, but the Church and Nobles Church and Nobles resisted thisresisted this

► The King called his The King called his minister of finance to minister of finance to advise him as France advise him as France was in crisiswas in crisis

wars

taxation debt

HOW DID ORDINARY PEOPLE HOW DID ORDINARY PEOPLE INTERPRET THE SITUATION?INTERPRET THE SITUATION?

The palace at Versailles had been built at huge cost by Louis 14th, the Grandfather of Louis 16th and it was expensive to run

EXPENSES…EXPENSES…

Louis and Marie Antoinette entertained lavishly at the Court of Versailles

Sometimes Nobles and their families and entourage would spend as long as half a year being entertained there at the taxpayers’ expense.

The Hall of Mirrors

COURT EXPENSES…COURT EXPENSES…Marie Antoinettepampered andaddicted togambling

Trianon

TrianonM-A dresses As a rural shepherdess

She loved fashionable clothes

ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC ADDITIONAL ECONOMIC PROBLEMS…PROBLEMS…

The harvests of 1788 and 1789 had The harvests of 1788 and 1789 had been bad and people were starvingbeen bad and people were starving

Bread prices had risen, but wages had Bread prices had risen, but wages had not kept pace with inflation. not kept pace with inflation.

Ordinary people were disturbed to hear Ordinary people were disturbed to hear rumours that the King intended to rumours that the King intended to increase taxes.increase taxes.

WHO COULD SPEAK FOR THE WHO COULD SPEAK FOR THE PEOPLE?PEOPLE?

► The king decided to call the ESTATES GENERAL.The king decided to call the ESTATES GENERAL.► This body technically represented the whole of This body technically represented the whole of

France but it hadn’t met for over 175 years.France but it hadn’t met for over 175 years.►Deputies representing the estates of France Deputies representing the estates of France

were told to draw up were told to draw up cahiers – a list of demandscahiers – a list of demands► The people waited with expectation that there The people waited with expectation that there

might be reforms to come.might be reforms to come.► The calling of the Estates General is seen as the The calling of the Estates General is seen as the

beginning of the revolution.beginning of the revolution.

WHO WERE THE TRUE WHO WERE THE TRUE REPRESENTATIVES OF FRANCE?REPRESENTATIVES OF FRANCE?

Estates General

1st estate 2nd estate 3rd estate

It was soon clear to the Third estate that the king wanted them to vote as a single entity. This would give the 1st and 2nd estates a 2/3 majority.

The third estate believed that as they were the largest estate, they represented the “voice of the people” ( vox populi)

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS BORN!BORN!

The 3rd Estate left the proceedings and adjourned to a nearby indoor ballcourt. Here they swore the famous ”Tennis Court Oath” in which they promised not to disband until a new constitution had been drawn up for France.

This action is significant as it is the first time that ordinary people have challenged the authority of the King.

It becomes know as the Revolt of the Bourgeoisie and some historians regard it as the beginning of the revolution.

WHAT HAPPENED IN PARIS ON WHAT HAPPENED IN PARIS ON 1414THTH JULY? JULY?

Mobs storm the Bastille in search of gun powder.

They attack the Gov-general and behead him

This is the first act of violence in the Revolution.

In the countryside, peasants attack the estates of their landlords, believing that they are storing grain.

Many Nobles flee to neighbouring countries.

The Revolution has begun…The Revolution has begun…►Once the first acts of violence had Once the first acts of violence had

started it was impossible to put back started it was impossible to put back the clock.the clock.

►The people of Paris set up their own The people of Paris set up their own army called the Revolutionary Guardarmy called the Revolutionary Guard

►They begin to call for “Liberty, They begin to call for “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity”Equality, Fraternity”

►The National Assembly is reconstituted The National Assembly is reconstituted as the National Convention and begin as the National Convention and begin a process of reformsa process of reforms

Reform begins…Reform begins…

The declaration of the rights of man and citizen

We declare that all men are born free and have equal rights

We declare that…

New reforms benefitted peasant and workers by removing privileges, feudal rights and limiting the rights of the Clergy