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THE FRENCH REVOLUTION: LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY - Coggle Diagram
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION: LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY
DIFFICULT TIMES FOR THE MONARCHY
FACTORS THAT TRIGGERED THE REVOLUTION
The liberal ideas of the Enlightenment
become popular amongst large segments of the population
even amongst the nobility and clergy
widespread
Criticism of absolutism
the division of society into estates of the realm
separation of powers and equality before the law
The example of the United States
French people
marquess of Lafayette
fought on the side of the colonists
American War of Independence
delegates that signed the Declaration of Independence
Benjamin Franklin
Thomas Jefferson
visited France frequently
Inequality before the law
feudal societies from the Old Regime
noblemen and clerics did not pay direct taxes
bourgeoisie and the peasantry did pay taxes
neither the nobility nor the clergy provided any economic benefit to society as a whole
Economic crisis
After the Seven Years’ War
France against Great Britain
France lost
Canada
possessions of India
possessions of Africa
affected the Royal Treasury
forced to pay the huge debts
court at Versailles did not reduce its spending on luxuries
Political unrest
great political unrest in France
propaganda pamphlets criticising the Old Regime
king and queen criticised and discredited
25,000 books of grievances
described their complaints and demands
Social inequalities
18th century
population had grown
farming production could no longer meet the demand for food during poor harvests
social inequalities became more evident
Parisians went hungry and had no resources
THE BOURGEOISIE, A REVOLUTIONARY AGENT OF LIBERALISM
Old Regime
third estate included everyone who was not part of the nobility or clergy
encompassed humble peasants and artisans
as well as the bourgeoisie
merchants
wealthy artisans
professionals from different fields
bourgeoisie grew during the Modern Age
its wealth and social influence
legal and political marginalisation compared to privileged groups, was not justified
PHASES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
THE ESTATES-GENERAL (1789)
The French Revolution
began in 1789 and finished in 1804
Napoleonic Empire was founded
King Louis XVI assembled a consultative Parliament
Estates-General
typical of the Old Regime
based on class or estates
not individuals
assembled because the Royal Treasury had problems paying its expenses
proposed that the rich pay taxes
one vote per estate
third estate wanted it to be individual
one vote per attendee
win the majority vote
nobility and clergy rejected
Estates-General were dissolved
estate delegates formed National Assembly
only representatives of the French people
not to depart until France had a Constitution
NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY (1789–1791)
social situation got worse
nobles’ homes were raided
Parisians rose up and attacked the Bastille prison
held political prisoners of the absolute monarchy
The soldiers opened the doors so they could escape
king could not dissolve the Assembly
introduced
the abolition of feudal privileges
establishment of censitary suffrage
the creation of a single direct and universal tax
he drew up the Constitution of 1791
established the division of powers
king holding the executive power
incorporated the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Louis XVI
contacted other absolute monarchies to conspire against the new regime
wanted to take advantage of the alarm in European courts about what was happening in France
he was discovered and detained
Tuileries Palace
DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND OF THE CITIZEN
set by France’s National Constituent Assembly
abolishing the Old Regime in France
inspired today’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights
most notable articles
Article 1
Men are born and remain free and equal in rights
Article 3
The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation
Article 11
The free communication of thoughts and opinions is one of the most precious rights of man
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY (1791–1792)
Once the Constitution was approved
Constituent Assembly was dissolved
elections were held following censitary suffrage
Legislative Assembly
three new political tendencies
The Plain
deputies who were in the majority
not belong to any party
The Girondins
moderates, federalists and supporters of the parliamentary monarchy
The Jacobins
radical liberals, centralists and supporters of the Republic
in the minority
NATIONAL CONVENTION (1792–1795)
After the elections
Assembly assumed legislative and executive powers
National Convention
new Constitution
priority was fighting the invaders
defeated at the decisive Battle of Valmy
Jacobins obtained more representatives
not win a majority
Convention removed and imprisoned Louis XVI
Republic was proclaimed
September 1792
Jacobins took control of the Convention
voted for more radical measures
king was tried for treason and executed by guillotine
committees carry out different tasks of government
slavery was abolished
measures were approved
support the lower classes
Constitution that was never approved
Inspired by the Jacobins
envisaged greater political democratisation
establishing universal manhood suffrage
distributing wealth
giving people the right to
food
work
education
period known as ‘the Terror’
Robespierre
led the Public Health Committee
1 more item...
ordered the execution of anti-revolutionaries
execution of anyone suspected of being an anti-revolutionary
excesses and constant instability
coup d’état in 1794
seized power and sentenced Robespierre to death
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MARIE ANTOINETTE (1755–1793)
Queen Marie Antoinette
emperor of Austria’s sister
married Louis XVI
French accused her
of defending Austrian interests
spending money on whims while the people starved
convicted and executed by guillotine
a few months after her husband
1793
LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY
French Revolution and French Republic
slogan created during the revolutionary period
simplicity and the force of its ideas made it popular
motto on documents and monuments
THE DIRECTORY (1795–1799)
new Constitution was approved
1795
less open in rights and freedoms
new legal text established an executive power
‘Directory’
new government
faced the constant threat of foreign warfare
faced internal conspiracies
faced rebellions led by monarchists and revolutionaries
instability and the lack of a definitive victory
new coup d’état
THE CONSULATE (1799–1804)
most prestigious French general
Napoleon Bonaparte
led a coup d’état in 1799
seized power and drew up another constitution
new constitutional text
established a Congress and a Senate
few powers
Consulate
the government
had executive and legislative powers
authoritarian way as the first consul of the Republic