AP EURO Unit #4 French Revolution and the Era of Napoleon Lesson #401 Causes of the French Revolution Essential Questions 3. How is the personality of Louis XVI likely to cause issues in governance of France? 4. What are the main contributors to the start of the French Revolution? What WAS the French Revolution? 1.What was revolutionary? 2.What changed? 3.Textbook Definition: The French Rev. was a period of far- reaching social and political upheaval in France from 1789 until 1799, and was partially carried forward by Napoleon during the later expansion of the French Empire. 4.The Revolution overthrew the monarchy, established a republic, experienced violent periods of political turmoil, and finally culminated in a dictatorship by Napoleon that rapidly brought many of its principles to Western Europe and beyond. 5.Inspired by liberal and radical ideas, the Revolution profoundly altered the course of modern history, triggering the global decline of absolute monarchies, absolute monarchies, replacing them with elected republics. 6.This revolution unleashed a wave of global conflicts. French Society Before the revolution began in 1789, French people were divided into four social classes the peasantry the town working class the middle class or bourgeoisie the nobility. According to this division, certain people had privileges that provided them advantage, while some had none. Some of the nobles and the bourgeoisie were incredibly rich, but most people suffered from poverty and unequal rights. The nobles and clergy owned certain rights and were free from taxes, however, the peasants had to pay more taxes even though they were poor. Nobles owned winepress; peasants had to pay to use Nobles owned gristmill; peasants had to pay to use Nobles could hunt, and freely trample crops of peasants Nobles could demand a talle (a tax of labor on their land) Most French people did not think to question the way their society was organized. Until, the enlightenment encouraged such thinking. France also had an Estates General THREE ESTATES First Estate Clergy Second Estate Nobility Third Estate Middle Class City Workers Peasants ESTATES GENERAL A convocation of reps from all three estates could be called by the king Created in 1302 to advise the king Sometimes used to raise $$ for the king No real power Last met 1614 First Estate Clergy High Clergy Low Clergy.05 % of population (~10,000) 5-10% of land No taxes on person or land Not really accountable to laws Second Estate Nobility Nobility of the Sword (old $$) Nobility of the Robe (purchased their position) 1 % of population (~400,000 people, including families) All powerful jobs in government and military 30% of land Proud to let the land do the work for them Rented land; charged dues and rents to peasants Almost no taxes (exempt from all direct taxes) Not really accountable to laws (could avoid) Top 200 families ran everything Third Estate Everyone else 28, 000,000 Bourgeois city people (14% of population) Haute: wealthy land owners, financiers, bankers Petit: professionals: lawyers, merchants, doctors (2 million) artisans, shop keepers (guildsmen), City workers (2 million) Peasants (85% of society) Owned majority of land Paid most of income to taxes and dues 1.Tithe to Church 2.Dues and rent to landlords 3.Direct and indirect taxes (land) Louis XV Raised in magnanimous privilege and pomp Saw his life meaning in the splendor and ceremony established at Versailles by Louis XIV Lost wars to British Lost most of colonies to British Lost $$ to Mississippi Bubble debacle Lost trust and admiration to poor attitude Enlightenment created question to Divine Right and power centered on one man Died in 1774 to smallpox Power passed to young Louis August (the Dauphin) Louis XVI 20 years old at ascension to throne Good intentioned but indecisive Raised in the shadow of a frivolous king 4 th in line his dad and older brothers died Reclusive and shy; unable to assert power Forced to marry 16 th child of Maria Theresa, Marie Antoinette of Austria Marie Antoinette Forced marriage to Louis August (she was 14, he was 15) She was young, spoiled and sweet She was used to living in private splendor She was forced to the very public and ceremonial life of Versailles Not much help from Louis She proved to be sweet and kind, but Completely out of touch with society Blamed for overspending (madam deficit) Loved to look regal and wildly fancy 3 ft. high hairdos Expensive dresses and jewelry 15 sec let them eat cake 4m arrival to Versailles Louis, Dauphin becomes Louis XVI Was only 20 not ready to rule Took job seriously, but took advice too freely, and rarely stuck with a decision Unpopular with Versailles crowd Set goals: Solve debt problem Get $$ from where the $$ was Revenge on Britain for losses Causes of Revolution Massive debt Mid-century wars Maintaining Versailles Nobles lived for free Mississippi Bubble American Revolution Class Conflict Bourgeois jealous of privileges of Nobles Enlightenment and American Revolution: liberty Poor leadership Nobles unwilling to take responsibility Famines went unnoticed in Versailles Financial Crisis Treasury was gone at start of American Revolution financed with debt 50% of all tax income went to interest on loans Louis intended to restructure tax system Looked for advisors to make this happen Advisors suggested the only way to restructure was to get buy-in from all levels of society Suggested reconvening meeting of Estates General Once together, the king could force Nobles to pay their fair share Most popular advisor: Jacques Necker The start of the American Revolution Lord North suggested to increase tax burden on colonies to pay for British debt from wars Colonies refused to pay to a government that didnt represent them (Lockes ideas) English Civil War taught them to replace a government War made sense War of liberty French financed The American Revolution Fight over taxation Sugar tax (1764) Stamp Act Crisis and Independence Customs laws (1767) British East Indian Company (1773) Boston Tea Party (1773) 92,000# of tea Coercion Acts (Intolerable Acts) (1774) First Continental Congress (1774) Lexington and Bunker Hill (1775) Second Continental Congress (1776) Roots of conflict English Civil War John Locke Patronage System immoral Impact of the American Revolution France supported the war from the beginning Louis XVI was looking for something positive The Americans handed him the opportunity Sending $$ for munitions and cannon immediately Soon after, France sent key advisors Then, troops Then, the French Navy Finally, a full alliance was signed France was committed to victory. French troops were fighting for their lives for the CAUSE OF LIBERTY French monarchy was borrowing far more that it had for the purpose of revenge this would push France deep into FINANCIAL CRISIS