THE FRENCH REVOLUTION: LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY
Difficult times for the monarchy
Phases of the French Revolution
factors that triggered the revolution
In the last half of 18th century France
was under Louis XVI
was an absolute monarchy
enlightened despotism ideas
some parts of population criticise the situation
1789 began the revolution
Liberal ideas of the Enlightenment
were popular among the citizens
criticism of
absolutism
people claimed
separation of powers
equality before the law
Example of United States
some French people fought in the American War of Independence
Some of the american delegates visited France
they thought they could also rebel
Inequality before the law
pesants and burgeoisie
payed taxes
agreed that cleregy and nobility didn't benefit economy
cleregy and nobility
did not pay taxes
were the rich part of society
Economic crisis
after Seven Years' War
France lost
Canada
territories in India+Africa
afected Royal Treasury
had to pay a lot of debts that took for the war
court of Versailles continued buying luxury items
Political unrest
a lot of propaganda criticized Old Regime
King and queen openly criticized
citizens and peasant wrote their complains in books
grievances
Social inequalities
population grew a lot in the 18th century
there wasn't enough food
inequalities became more evident
many Parisians were hungry and had no resources
The estates-general (1789)
first phase
King Louis XVI assembled a consultative Parliament
representation was based on classes
was not individual
Estates-General assembled
the Estates-General
there were problems of Royal Treasury
it proposed that rich pay taxes
voting system
one vote per class
third class wanted a vote for each attender
because they were the larger part of population
clergy and nobility regected
Estates-General disolved
National Assembly
third state delegates
they claimed that they were the representatives of France
French people wanted a Constitution
National constituent assembly (1789-1791)
National Assembly
did its work but the situation got worse
in the countyside
Parisians rose up
attacked Bastille prison
noble's homes were raided
held political prisoners of absolute monarchy
Assembly
King couldn't disolve it
introduced
abolition of privileges
censitary suffrage
universal tax
drew up the Constitution of 1791
division of powers
king executive power
incorporated the Declaration of the Rights of the Man and Citizen
Louis XVI
seemed to accept the situation
contacted other absolute monarchs to help him
other courts were afraid that what it happened in France would spread
he was discovered and detained in the Tuileries Palace
Declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen
was set by France's National Constituent Assembly
bases for abolishing the Old Regime in France
inspired today's Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Some of the most notable articles
Men are born and remain free and equal in rights
The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation
The free communication of thoughts and opinions= precious rights of man
Legislative assembly (1791-1792)
when the Constitution was approved
the Constituent Assembly was disolved
elections were held by censitary suffrage
formation of Legislative Assembly
prepared the laws
three political tendencies
The Plain (minority)
The Girondins
The Jacobins
they were deputies who didn't belong to any party
moderates, supported parliamentary monarchy
radical, supported Republic
absolutists of Prussia and Austria
attacked France
threatened Paris (1792)
sans-coulottes rose up
they suspect the king wasn't loyal
Legislative Assembly suspended the executive power of King
elections with Universal Suffrage
National Convention (1792-1795)
after elections
Assembly legislative+executive powers
National Convention
new Constitution but never aproved
war to defeat the invaders
in the Battle of Valmy
Jacobins
obtained more representatives
imprisoned Louis XVI
Republic proclamated in 1792
took control of the Convention
radical measures
was then guillotine
for treason
committes to carry out government tasks
slavery abolished+measures to support lower classes
inspired by the Jacobins
greater political democratisation
established universla manhood suffrage
distribution of wealth
giving food and education
Period of Terror
Robespierre, leader of Jacobins
Public Health Commitee
defend the revolution
ordered execution of anti-revolutionary
was sentences to dead 1794
by the deputies in the coup d’état
White Terror against Jacobins
convention drafted a new Conatitution
LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY
represented the French Revolution
later the French Republic
simplicity and force of ideas made it popular
the Convention adopted it
THE DIRECTORY (1795–1799)
new Constitution approved 1795
less open in rights+freedome
executive power "Directory"
France
constant threat of foreings wars
was a target of counter-revolutionary coaliations
internal conspirations and rebellions
inestability led to new coup d'éat
THE CONSULATE (1799–1804)
Napoleon Bonaparte
led a coup d’état in 1799
new constitution
took the power
Congress and Senate governed
executive and legislative powers
ruled in an authoritarioan way
first consul of the Republic
More infromation
Sans-culottes
MARIE ANTOINETTE (1755–1793)
identified the lower classes of Parisians
didn't wear breeches
allied with the burgeoisie
large role in the revolutionary events
Sister of Austrian Emperor
married Louis XVI
French people accused her
defending Austrian intereses
spending money when people starved
was guillotined in 1793
division of society into classes
