French Revolution:
Causes:
Economic Issues:
- French was in huge debt and nearly bankrupt
- France had been involved in the Seven Years War, the American Revolution made
lots of debt
- Nobles refused to give up power or change the system
- Inflation through the 1780s caused lots of famine, making most people starve and spend
most of their money on bread. Many people did not have work because guilds controlled
everything.
- The rich/nobles were spending as usual, and their extravagant spending did not stop even
if the poor are suffering
Equality:
- Nobles were exempt from heavy taxes and labor that the lower classes had to endure
- Unequal distribution of power and taxation between the first, second and third estates,
with the third carrying most of the burdens
- The first and second estate with half of the people can outvote the entire third
estate with double the people; unfair representation
- Most people did not get a say at all in the government
- Many peasants did not live a good life, as they were mostly farmers who were paid very
little, horrible efficiency from farming, and suffered the most during famines, epidemics,
etc.
People:
- People were dying of hunger
- The nobles kept partying and ignoring the problems
Power and the Bourgeoisie:
- Small groups of nobility (ancient families and those close to the king) held most of the
power in france, and refused to give up any of their power
Louis XIV:
- One of the Bourbon kings, ruled for 72 years (1643 - 1715)
- Believed he was the source of all light in the nation, and ruled on his own judgment
- Spends a large amount of money to build Versailles in 1661, 22 kms away from France in
an isolated, luxurious, and beautiful area.
- Fought wars with the Spanish and Dutch in the late 1660s, gained land but depleted
treasury
- Allies start to turn on France
- Supported arts and French culture, including food and music
- Very close with the Church
Enlightenment Thinkers:
- Leaders of the revolution idolized Rousseau, whose ideas had also influenced the
Americans. Two of Rousseau’s political theories that had a major impact were the “Social
Contract” (outlining how everyone would enjoy the same rights, the same duties, and
same rules) and “General Will” (which outlined the will of the people as a whole to want
what is best for everyone).
King Louis XVI: 1774
- Things were too much for Louis XVI to fix: economic issues with inflation & laws being
inconsistent
- Many blamed the king for a lack of action, although some were more reasonable and
seemed the king as less of a threat.
Marie Antoinette:
- Promoted people she liked and dismissing those she despised
- Was falsely accused of purchasing an extravagant necklace during a famine, but her
public image was already ruined
Problems & Crisis:
- France was almost bankrupt as a result of involvement in wars and support for the
American Revolution, and the nobility still did not want to change the system.
- Much of the French society, including mostly the middle class and working class
demanded more control and say in the government
- The English and American Revolutions were used as examples
Wars, Famines, and Unemployment:
- Famines and other diseases in the 1780s caused a food crisis
- More than 40,000 children were abandoned during this decade because of a lack of food
- Textiles was a major part of the French employment, and the England Revolution made
many textile makers go out of business
- Unemployed people began to riot and protest. When one riot broke out in Paris over food
prices, the king’s troops opened fire, and the popularity of the king fell even lower.
Factors that Contributed to the Revolution in France:
- Killing or imprisoning those who criticized him
- Desperate for money and ideas, he called upon the Estates General
Estates General:
- Estates general held representatives from all three estates
- However, the two upper classes could outvote the lower Third Estate even though
they only had half of the people
- Called only by royal command, and called upon in May, 1789
- The King wanted to simply trade small token responsibilities for helping him, but the
Estates General quickly showed that they did not care for such small changes: they
wanted big steps towards democracy
Third Estate’s breakage:
- After not being able to agree with the other estates, the Third Estate broke away into its
own government
- Formed the National Assembly; wanted to rewrite the French Constitution
- Louis replied by locking them out of their meeting rooms, forcing them to go to
the Royal Tennis Courts, where they took the Tennis Court Oath, a pledge that
they would continue to meet until a new government was formed
- Louis was forced to order the First and Second Estates to join the National Assembly
The Fall of the Bastille:
- The National Assembly did not solve the problems with poverty and starvation, so riots
and protests continued over high prices
- Many tried to attack the city’s prisons to free political prisoners
- Louis responded by sending mercenaries to Versailles and Paris, which only
involved more fear
- On July 14, 1789, a mob attacked the Bastille to free prisoners and attack the prison
governor, whose head was paraded through the streets.
- Forces sent to stop the protestors joined them instead
- A new army called the National Guard was formed after Louis was forced to dismiss his
mercenary soldiers
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen:
- Passed on August 26, 1789, it sets out basic rules that the government must follow
- Guaranteed freedom of thought, speech, religion, security, property, etc to all citizens,
and ended many noble rights such as tax exemption
- These rules were “natural rights” that cannot be taken away
Equality:
- Not equal to everyone
- Only citizens above the age of 25, owned land, and were males were considered the
“Active citizens” that gained these rights
- Woman were excluded, which led to the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the
Female Citizen in 1791
Timeline:
1643
- Louis XIV (14) becomes king of France
1763
- End of the Seven Years War
1774
- Louis XVI (16) becomes king of France
1789
- June: Tennis Court Oath
- July: Fall of the Bastille
- August: Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
- October: The March on Versailles
1791
- Legislative Assembly convened
1792
- French Monarchy overthrown
1793
- January: Louis XVI executed
- July: Jean-Paul Marat murdered by Charlotte Corday
- September: Reign of Terror begins
- October: Marie Antoinette executed
1794
- Maximilien de Robespierre executed
1795
- Directory established
Industrial Revolution:
Where Did It First Start?
- First started in the 17th century in England
- Believed in a laissez-faire policy (one that prevents lots of government
regulations on business)
- It first started in England because conditions were just right
- England has lots of resources and fuels such as coal
- The government was heavily influenced by business people who wanted more
profits
- Internal political stability that allowed people to get comfortable
-
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Sweatshops
- Workplaces that has socially unacceptable working conditions and/or violates labor laws
- Poor working conditions
- Low/unfair wages
- Unreasonable hours (12+)
- Child labor
- Lack any worker benefits/protection
- Mass-produced items can come from sweatshops
- Shoes
- Clothing
- Toys
- Very common during the early industrial revolution, developing countries, and corrupt
countries
