On the eve of the French Revolution, France was the wealthiest, most influential, and most populous nation in Europe! It’s population was 25 million people!

Our goal will be to interpret this quote by the end of this unit!

It was the best of times, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of it was the age of foolishness, foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of it was the epoch of incredulity…incredulity…

-- Charles Dickens-- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities

Monarchy on the eve of the Revolution

Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI

Let Them Eat Let Them Eat Cake! Cake!

Y Marie Antoinette NEVER Marie Antoinette NEVER said that!said that!

Y ““Madame Deficit”Madame Deficit”

Y ““The Austrian Whore”The Austrian Whore”

Causes of Revolution Inspired by Enlightenment ideas

Motto: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” Inspired by the success of American

Revolution Financial difficulties

Debt & heavy taxation Weak leadership Three Estates

Voting inequity Lattre de cachet

Lettres de Cachet:Lettres de Cachet:letter of the sign [or signet]”

Y The French king could The French king could warrantwarrantimprisonment or death in aimprisonment or death in asigned letter under his seal.signed letter under his seal.

Y A A carte-blanchecarte-blanche warrant. warrant.

Y Cardinal Fleury issued 80,000Cardinal Fleury issued 80,000during the reign of Louis XV!during the reign of Louis XV!

Y Eliminated in 1790.Eliminated in 1790.

1789:ancien regime= Old Regimepg. 620

3 Large social classes (estates)

1st Estate: Clergy 2nd Estate: Nobility

Paid no taxes

3rd Estate: Commoners 98% of population Heavily taxed Discontented & Angry

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting Pattern:The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by EstatesVoting by Estates

1

1

1

Louis XVI insisted that Louis XVI insisted that the ancient distinction of the the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.three orders be conserved in its entirety.

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of RepresentativesThe Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by in the Estates General: Vote by Head!Head!

300

300

648

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes(See-Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes(See-ya yes!)—listening to the ya yes!)—listening to the past-pg. 626)past-pg. 626)11stst What is the Third What is the Third Estate? Estate? ( (Qu'est-ce que le tiers état?) Everything!Everything!22ndnd What has it been What has it been heretofore in the heretofore in the political order? political order? Nothing! Nothing!33rdrd What does it What does it demand?demand? To become To become somethingsomething therein! therein!

Abbé SieyèsAbbé Sieyès1748-18361748-1836

3 Stages of French Revolution 1st Stage: 1789-1792: Absolute Monarchy

Constitutional Monarchy Meeting of Estates General(parliament) May 5, 1789

1st time called into

session since 1614

Oath of the Tennis Court June 20, 1789

Jacques Louis David

Meeting of the National Assembly June 30, 1789

The Palais Bourbon

... seat of the French National Assembly, the lower legislative chamber of the French government.

Storming of Bastille July 14, 1789

Rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the National Assembly

French “motto” 1st act of violence July 14 = French day of Independence18 died73 wounded7 guards killedIt held 7 prisoners ( 5 ordinary criminals & 2 madmen)

Great Fear-pg. 629

The fear of noble reprisals against peasant uprisings that seized the French countryside and let to further revolt.

August DecreesAugust DecreesAugust 4-11, 1789August 4-11, 1789

A renunciation of aristocratic A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!!!Abolishment of feudal privileges!!!Abolishment of feudal privileges!!privileges!!

Liberté!Liberté!Egalité!Egalité!

Fraternité!Fraternité!

The Tricolor (1789)The Tricolor (1789)

•The WHITE of the The WHITE of the Bourbons + the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of RED & BLUE of Paris.Paris.

•11stst used in 1789 used in 1789

•Officially adopted Officially adopted February 15, 1794February 15, 1794

Citizen!Citizen!

The “Liberty Cap”: The “Liberty Cap”: Bonne Bonne RougeRouge

Revolutionary SymbolsRevolutionary Symbols

CockadeCockade

RevolutionarRevolutionary Clocky Clock

Marianne-Marianne-symbol of the symbol of the Fr. Republic Fr. Republic adopted by the adopted by the Nat. ConventionNat. Convention

Liberté-”motLiberté-”mother of her of France”-France”-pg.629pg.629

Liberty cap

Declaration of the Rights of Man August 26/27, 1789

Liberty, Property, Resistance to Liberty, Property, Resistance to oppression!oppression!

Thomas Jefferson was in Paris at this Thomas Jefferson was in Paris at this time.time.

V Women played a vital Women played a vital role in the role in the Revolution.Revolution.

V But, But, The Declaration The Declaration of the Rights of Manof the Rights of Man did NOT extend the did NOT extend the rights and rights and protections of protections of citizenship to women.citizenship to women.

V ““Declaration of the Declaration of the Rights of Women” by Rights of Women” by de Gougesde Gouges

Olympe de Gouges

Women’s March(pg. 630) October 5, 1789 A spontaneous demonstration A spontaneous demonstration

of Parisian women for bread.of Parisian women for bread.

““We want the We want the baker, the baker, the baker’s wife,baker’s wife,and the and the baker’s boy!”baker’s boy!”

Louis XVI & the royal family attempts to escape(pg. 635)

June 26, 1791

Headed toward the Luxembourg Headed toward the Luxembourg border.border.

The King was recognized at Varennes, The King was recognized at Varennes, near the border.near the border.

This sealed the fate of he, and his This sealed the fate of he, and his family.family.

Flight to Varennes

Constitutional/Limited monarchy is established

1791 La Maresillaise

French National AnthemComposed by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle on April 24, 1792

This was adopted July 14, 1795. Banned by Napoleon because of its revolutionary ideals. Reinstated in 1879.

3 Stages of French Revolution 2nd Stage: 1792-1795: Republic Anarchy “Second Revolution” Emigries VS. Sans-culottes The position of the monarchy is abolished September 21, 1792 All documents henceforth will be dated,

“Year One of the French Republic” September 22, 1792

National Convention Sept. 22, 1792 1st act was the formal abolition of the

monarchy on this date Decree of Fraternity: Offered French assistance to any

subject peoples who wished to overthrow their governments.

“When France sneezes, all of Europe catches cold!”(Klemens von

Metternich)

Louis XVI executed January 21, 1793; he was 38 years

old.'I die innocent of all the crimes laid to my charge; I Pardon those who have occasioned my death; and I pray to God that the blood you are going to shed may never be visited on France.'

Guillotine

Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin Total weight was about 1278 pounds Blade weighed over 88 pounds Height of side posts was just over 14 feet Distance the blade dropped was 88 inches Blade fell at 21 feet a second taking 1/70 of a

second to fall Took 2/100 of a second for the head to be cut

off Power at impact was 888 pound per square

inch

Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin 1738 - 1821 French physician, president of the

Chamber of the Provinces in 1775, founder of the French Academy of Medicine, and deputy to the French assembly in 1789..

Killed over 15,000 people by the end of the Revolution

Basket by guillotine for fallen heads Method of execution was seen as

being more humane than earlier forms

Symbol of cruelty

Guillotine

LAST OF THE EXECUTIONS Last public execution was in 1939

Eugene Weidmann convicted for six murders, was

guillotined on June 17th 1939,outside the prison Saint Pierre at rue Georges Clémenceau in Versailles. Conspiracy, ---kidnapping, fraud, robbery, murder, resisting arrest

1939

“Madame Guillotines Last Kiss” Hamida Djandoubi—a Tunisian

Immigrant was the last to die at the hands of the Maiden in 1977!!!!!

He was convicted of the torture & murder of 21 year old ElisabethBousquet, his former girlfriend, in Marseille.

Though the death penalty was grinding to a halt in 1970’s France, Djandoubi was not the last person condemned ; the guillotine was only abolished with the election of the Francois Mitterand government in 1981!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Marie Antoinette on her way to her execution!

Execution of Marie Antoinette

Was tried, convicted of treason and executed by guillotine on 16 October 1793, nine months after her husband. Her last words were, "Pardon me Sir, I did not mean to do it," to Sanson the executioner, whose foot she accidentally stepped on before she was executed by guillotine.

She was 37 years old.

Committee of Public Safety Revolutionary Tribunal 300, 000 arrested

Committee of Public Safety1793 Created in April 1793 by the National

Convention “second revolution!” Supervised trials & executions The committee was responsible for

thousands of executions, with many high-profile executions at the guillotine, in what was known as the "Reign of Terror."

Dechrisitanization!

The Reign of TerrorThe Reign of TerrorTerror is nothing other than Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.justice, prompt, severe, inflexible. -- Robespierre(pg. 637)-- Robespierre(pg. 637)

Let terror be Let terror be the order of the order of

the day!the day!c The Revolutionary The Revolutionary

Tribunal of Paris alone Tribunal of Paris alone executed 2,639 executed 2,639 victims in 15 months.victims in 15 months.

c The total number of The total number of victims nationwide victims nationwide was over 20,000!was over 20,000!

Reign of TerrorJune 1793 – 27 July 1794

Period of violence Mass executions of "enemies of the

revolution.” Maximilien François Marie Isidore de

Robespierre Guillotine became the killingMachine. Called, “The Incorruptible” because of his austere moral devotion to revolutionary political change.

The “Thermidorean The “Thermidorean Reaction,” Reaction,” 17941794

P July 26 July 26 Robespierre gives a Robespierre gives a speech illustrating speech illustrating newnew plots & conspiracies. plots & conspiracies.

many felt threatened by his many felt threatened by his implications.implications.

P July 27 July 27 the Convention arrests the Convention arrests Robespierre. Robespierre.

P July 28 July 28 Robespierre is tried & Robespierre is tried & guillotined! guillotined!

Execution of Robespierre 28-Jul-1794 Pg. 643-Illustration Most revolutions devour their own”

3rd Stage - Thermidorian Reaction: DirectoryDictatorship

Directory is set up 1795 Napoleon leads a coup d’etat vs.

Directory

18 Brumaire 18 Brumaire (Nov. 9, (Nov. 9, 1799)1799)

Coup d’Coup d’éétattat by Napoleon.by Napoleon.

Approved by a Approved by a plebiscite in plebiscite in December.December.

Abbe Sieyès: Abbe Sieyès: Confidence Confidence from below; from below; authority authority from above.from above.

Brumaire was the second month in the French Republican Calendar. Brumaire often refers to the coup d'état of 18 Brumaire in the year VIII (November 9, 1799), by which General Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the government of the Directory to replace it with the Consulate.

Napoleon sets up the Consulate with himself as First Consul

1799—The Revolution is coming to an end.

Napoleon becomes Emperor of France 1804

Cycle of the French Revolution

So…what was the significance of the French Revolution?

Started with one-man rule and ended with one man rule???

Napoleon becomes Emperor of France 1804:

Took place in cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, France on December 2nd, 1804.Crowned himself emperor in presence of Pope Pius VII to send a message that the Church will be excluded from all political affairs.

An unmanned balloon, ablaze with three thousands lights in an imperial crown pattern was launched from the front of Notre Dame during the celebration.

Crown of Napoleon

Napoleon called his new crown the Crown of Charlemagne, the name of the ancient royal coronation crown of France that had been destroyed in the French Revolution

Crane Brinton’s Crane Brinton’s Anatomy of a RevolutionAnatomy of a RevolutionY He borrowed his terms from He borrowed his terms from

pathology.pathology.

Y Compares a revolution to a Compares a revolution to a fever or a disease:fever or a disease:

The revolutionary “fever” The revolutionary “fever” begins with the appearance begins with the appearance of certain “symptoms.”of certain “symptoms.”

It proceeds by advances and It proceeds by advances and retreats to a crisis stage, or retreats to a crisis stage, or “delirium.”“delirium.”

The crisis ends when the The crisis ends when the “fever” breaks.“fever” breaks.

A period of convalescence A period of convalescence follows, interrupted by a follows, interrupted by a relapse or two before the relapse or two before the recovery is complete.recovery is complete.

Crane Brinton: Crane Brinton: Conditions Present Conditions Present Before a Revolution Before a Revolution

OccursOccurs1.1. People from all social classes are People from all social classes are discontented.discontented.

2.2. People feel restless and held down by People feel restless and held down by unacceptable restrictions in society, religion, unacceptable restrictions in society, religion, the economy or the govt.the economy or the govt.

3.3. People are hopeful about the future, but they People are hopeful about the future, but they are being forced to accept less than they had are being forced to accept less than they had hoped for.hoped for.

4.4. People are beginning to think of themselves People are beginning to think of themselves as belonging to a social class, and there is a as belonging to a social class, and there is a growing bitterness between social classes.growing bitterness between social classes.

5.5. The social classes closest to one another are The social classes closest to one another are the most hostile.the most hostile.

Crane Brinton: Crane Brinton: Conditions Present Conditions Present Before a Revolution Before a Revolution

OccursOccurs6.6. The scholars and thinkers give up on the way The scholars and thinkers give up on the way their society operates.their society operates.

7.7. The government does not respond to the The government does not respond to the needs of its society.needs of its society.

8.8. The leaders of the government and the ruling The leaders of the government and the ruling class begin to doubt themselves. Some join class begin to doubt themselves. Some join with the opposition groups.with the opposition groups.

9.9. The government is unable to get enough The government is unable to get enough support from any group to save itself.support from any group to save itself.

10.10. The government cannot organize its finances The government cannot organize its finances correctly and is either going bankrupt or trying correctly and is either going bankrupt or trying to tax heavily and unjustly.to tax heavily and unjustly.