Life in France in 1789 Roughly 90% of France s population were poor peasants Peasants had to produce food for the entire country The king had a lavish lifestyle The king ruled as an absolute monarch The people s only source of political power The Estates General hadn t been used since 1614.
Life in France in 1789 A series of kings had gotten France deeply in debt Louis XIII 30 years war Louis XIV Palace of Versailles Louis XV Several wars against England Louis XVI American Revolution The church was exempt from taxation The king ruled as an absolute monarch
PALACE OF VERSAILLES
Life in France in 1789 Economy: 50% of France s annual budget is used to pay interest on their loans 25% of France s annual budget is used to support the military 6% of France s annual budget goes towards the king s lifestyle
Life in France in 1789 Government: Led by Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette Louis was a weak king preferred to play with toy soldiers Marie Antoinette was Austrian (a foreigner) and selfish, and spent extravagant sums of money on parties and gambling, and Utters the infamous phrase Let them eat cake
Life in France in 1789 Society: Divided into social classes called Estates 1 st Estate Clergy 2 nd Estate Land-owning nobles 3 rd Estate The other 98% of France Bourgeoisie merchants and artisans Workers cooks, servants, etc Peasants Enlightenment ideas were becoming increasingly popular with members of the lower class across Europe
The Revolution Begins Louis XVI needs more money to avoid bankruptcy Tries to tax the nobles Nobles demand a meeting of Estates General so they can vote against taxation Meeting of the Estates General First meeting in 175 years on May 5, 1789 at Versailles Disagreement on voting (Old Rules: 1 vote per Estate) 3 rd Estate wants 1 vote per person
The Revolution Begins The 3 rd Estate rebels and changes their name to The National Assembly and get locked out of building by the king so they break in to a nearby tennis court swear the Tennis Court Oath to stay until they had drawn up a new constitution
The Revolution Begins Louis XVI gives in to the 3 rd Estate orders the other 2 estates to join the new National Assembly. and calls in the army to make sure he s protected People fear the army has come to kill them, and so to defend themselves, they.
The Revolution Begins Storm the Bastille On July 14 th, 1789, citizens break into a prison known as the Bastille to get gun powder and weapons so they can fight the king s army Riots spread across Paris, leading to. The Great Fear Peasants riot in the country, looting and burning the manors of the nobles Women in Paris riot as the cost of food goes up, and in their frustration they. Kidnap the King On October, 6,000 Parisian women break into the Palace of Versailles, kill 2 guards, and kidnap the royal family
The Revolution Begins The Great Fear Peasants riot in the country, looting and burning the manors of the nobles Women in Paris riot as the cost of food goes up, and in their frustration they. Kidnap the King On October, 6,000 Parisian women break into the Palace of Versailles, kill 2 guards, and kidnap the royal family
The Revolution Begins The King escapes! June 7, 1791 the king and his family try to flee France and escape to Austria People are now convinced that the king is their enemy and cannot be trusted,
The Revolution Begins Debate over the King s fate Radicals get rid of the monarchy entirely, and give full power to the people Moderates need change, but willing to leave the king in power Conservatives determined to keep the king in power Emigres nobles that had fled France, attempted to influence decisions to return the king to power Sans-culottes members of the working class, felt they weren t being given any power in the new government
The Revolution Begins Fear of the King In September, 1791, radicals massacre anyone with connections to the king Within days over 1,000 people are killed Execution of the King - 1793 Radicals now control the government, place the king on trial, and execute him for his crimes against France Marie Antoinette executed 9 months later
The Terror Maximilien Robespierre assumes control of government Wants to wipe out all traces of the old way of life so France can start fresh Families changed their last names Replaced the jack, queen, and king in playing cards Remove Sunday from the calendar Creates a new religion Cult of the Supreme Being
The Terror Forms the Committee of Public Safety and begins the Reign of Terror Over 3,000 people executed in Paris As many as 40,000 were killed throughout France 85% were from the lower class In July, 1794, Robespierre s friends feared that they were next in line to be killed, Declare Robespierre to be an enemy of the revolution and have him executed
Revolution in Haiti Timeframe: 1791-1802 Leader: Toussaint L Ouverture Issues: Slave rebellion against French, Spanish and British white owners Rebellion against French control of the island Haitian slaves desire liberty and racial equality Outcome: Slavery is abolished Haiti gains its independence L Ouverture is sent to France and imprisoned in a mountain jail
Revolution in Venezuela Penninsulares Creoles Mestizoes Mulattoes Africans Natives
Revolution in Venezuela Timeframe: 1813-1822 Leader: Simon Bolivar Issues: Refusal to recognize Napoleon s brother as king Creole rebellion against Spanish control Joined by Mestizoes and Mulatoes Creoles desire political and economic independence Outcome: Almost all of Latin America gains its independence New countries are formed Bolivar becomes president of New Granada
Independence In Latin America
In Your Groups Which revolution was the most needed? Which revolution was the most severe? Which revolution accomplished its goals? Which revolution had the biggest impact on the world. Which revolutionary leader is the most impressive?