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Louis XV
Louis left france deeply in debt, there were many financial troubles that he encountered. -
Fracnce's population was divided into 3 sections
France was divided up into three estates. The Clergy was the first estate, the Nobility was the second estate, and the rest of the population was the third estate. -
Clergy/ First estate
This estate was very wealthy and paid no taxes. It included church leaders, bishops, abbots, and nobels who lived very well. -
Nobility/ Second estate
This estate was also didn't pay taxes. It was under strict royal control, and was far from the center of power. The Second estates' jobs were mostly involved in the government, army, courts, and churches. The people owned land but had little income. The second estate hated absolutism, and feared loosing their privledges as the Second estate. -
Third estate
The third estate was a very diverse social class. Towards the higher end of the Third estate was more of the middle class/ bourgeoisie which included bankers, merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, doctors, journalists and professors, but most of them were royal peasants that had low salaries. They were the only estate that paid taxes. If salaries dropped in any way, they worried that they would reach starvation. -
Paying off debt
At least half of the governments income went to paying off enourmous debt. -
Cashiers
Louis XVI had all three estates list their greivances (fair taxes, freedom of press, and making these meetings of the estates Gernerals regular. -
Jacques Necker
This financial expert urged the King to stop spending money so they could pay off the debts that they had and try to reform the government. He brought up the idea of taxing the first and second estates, and was immediately fired. There was a meeting called upon for the Estates generals to get together and meet for the first time in over a hundred years. -
National Assembly
This group consisted of mostly the third estate but then grew and gained more second and third estate members. They had many meetings to talk and try to establish a sound and just constitution. Louis XVI accepted it, but somewhat felt threatened, so the next time the National Assembly met, they found their meeting house locked up. -
Storming the Bastille
800 People of Paris got word that troops were coming to attack. They went to the Bastille demanding weapons and gunpowder. Bastille's commander refused to open the doors, and opened fire. -
National Assembly Acts
National Assembly voted to end some of their own privileges to better society. They gave up Manorial dues, hunting rights, and exemption from taxes. Feudalism is also abolished. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
National Assembly issued this document, basing it off of the US Declaration Of Independence in the sense of equality to all men, and the rights to liberty, property, and security. It also ensured freedom of religion and tax payments were based on one’s ability to pay. -
Women's March
Olympe de Gouges demanded equal rights for women. Anyone that spoke out with her was imprisoned and executed. October 5, 1791 6,000 women marched 13 miles in pouring rain from Paris to Versailles while shouting “Bread!” The women refused to leave Versailles until Louis XVI returned to Paris. Royal family moved to Tuileries Palace held basically prisoners. -
Church Conflicts/ Civil Constitution
National Assembly starts looking for ways to eliminate debt. They decide to sell church land. The French Catholic Church was put under State control, eliminating salaries for bishops and priests. No one liked or wanted to accept the Civil Constitution. -
Threats from abroad
The king of Prussia and the emporer of Austria wrote the Declaration of Pilnitz. This document included threats from both rulers to intervene and protect France's monarchy. France took these threats seriously and prepared for war. -
Civil War
Words of war spread quickly between French revolutionaries and European Monarchs. The goal of war was to destroy tyranny. The Legislatiove Assembly declared war, then Austria did, followed by Prussia. This war was on and off until 1815 -
Monarchy was abolished
France viewed Louis XVI as a traitor for trying to escape his own country when there were troubles. He was executed in January 1793. He tried to die with respect, but no one cared to listen, and the Monarchy was abolished. -
Reign of terror cont.
Once the people of France realized how rediculous the executions were becoming, and Robespierre was arrested July 27, 1794. The following day he was executed. -
The reign of terror
Since there was no Monarchy any more in France, there was a group created to maintain the saftey of the public. All twelve members were in charge of executions of France. Robespierre was a member of this group. He took over the group and executed over 300,000 people of France. Anyone who resisted the revolution was killed immediately. The murder weapon was the guillotin. He scared people into agreeing with him. This "Reign of Terror" lasted from September 1793 to July, 1794. -
Revolutions third stage
The third Constitution since 1789, was published in 1795. It set up a 5 man directory and a 2 house legislature. The dominant force during this period was the middle class citezens. Peace was made with Prussia and Spain. Things were good for a while, but when chaos threatned, the people of France turned to a brilliant millitary leader Napoleon Bonaparte. -
Nationalism spreads
The revolution gave France a sense of pride in their Nation. Many holidays and songs have came from the celebrations created.
