The French Revolution

Threat or Promise?

Causes for Revolution

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke– Lost Seven Years War

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke– Lost Seven Years War– Barrowed cash from Nobles

that it couldn’t pay back

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke– Lost Seven Years War– Barrowed cash from Nobles

that it couldn’t pay back– Higher taxes on Third Estate

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke• French Soldiers Return

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke• French Soldiers Return– Introduction of

Revolutionary ideas

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke• French Soldiers Return• Estates General outdated

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke• French Soldiers Return• Estates General outdated– Third Estate carries the

other two

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke• French Soldiers Return• Estates General outdated– Third Estate pays the tax– Revolts

Causes for Revolution

• France is near broke• French Soldiers Return• Estates General outdated– Third Estate pays the tax– Revolts– Tennis Court Oath

Tennis Court Oath 1789

Fall of the Bastille 1789

Great Britain

• 1763 Became top dog– At the height of its

power– Powerhouse of trade

Great Britain

• John Wilkes 1760’s– Writing seditious libel– Attacking King’s lack of

boundaries

French Revolution

• Paris is divided into districts

• Fighting in the streets• Paris falls under Rebel

control

Reaction to Revolution

• Edmund Burke– 1790 Writes Reflections on the

French Rev.

Reaction to Revolution

• Edmund Burke– 1790 Writes Reflections on the

French Rev.• Denounces the revolution• Compares French to the insane • Tells of violent anarchy and warns

against unrestrained liberty • Predicts end of civilization in France

and war throughout Europe• Pro-Monarch

Reaction to Burke

• Thomas Paine– 1791 writes The Rights of Man

Reaction to Burke

• Thomas Paine– 1791 writes The Rights of Man

• Debunks rumors of violence• People have right to change

government• Attitude that a dead generations

actions force those of the living is “darkness trying to illuminate light.”

• Anti-absolutism

Reactions to Paine

• Hannah More– 1793 writes Village Politics

Reactions to Paine

• Hannah More– 1793 writes Village Politics

• A dialog between two Englishmen discussing liberty and monarchy

• Compares the English Gov. to a medieval castle

• Ends not blaming people for thinking about their rights but its is better to leave it up to the King

Glorious First of June

Glorious First of June

• June 1, 1794– First battle between the

Kingdom of Great Britain and new Republic of France

– Both sides claim victory

Europe at War

• Austria • Great Britain• Prussia• Russia• Spain• Holland• Ottoman Empire• French Royalist

• French Republic• French Satellites• United Irishmen• Polish Legions • Denmark-Norway

Europe at War

• Conservative Backlash– Support for Revolution

disappears

• Paine put on trail– Burke is the prosecutor– Flees to Paris

• Young; Defense of the Country

Ireland

• France lands troops on Ireland 1798– Sends message to G.B.– Formation of U.K. 1800

• Irish representation• Irish rights• British control?• France beaten back to the

sea

Abroad

• 1798– Battle of the Pyramids;

invasion of Egypt

Abroad

• 1798– Battle of the Pyramids;

invasion of Egypt– Battle of the Nile; Kicked

out of Egypt

Wars End

• Treaty of Amiens 1802– Ends war between

France and the U.K.– U.K. recognizes France’s

conquests

Threat or Promise

• Threats– Questioned Monarchy

• Divided Parliament and everyone else

• Threat of British Revolution

– Threat of invasion – Pulled Britain into war

• Cost of life• Strained British military

• Promises– Brought need for change

to center stage• Revision in Gov.

– Expanded British rule– Gained control of

Mediterranean– Formed new alliances

• Formation of UK