1. The French Revolution
The opposite of the American
Revolution

2. The Beginning
• The French social system—their society was
set up unfairly—they had something called
the Estate System—a caste like system
• .05% Clergy______________________
1.05% Nobility_________________
98% everyone else-serfs,_______
Peasants, Bourgeoisie-the Middle
Class, merchants, artisans, etc.

3. Causes of the French Revolution
• Absolutism—King Louis XVI

4. • Social Inequalities with the Estate System

5. • Inequalities with the High Tax(es) System

6. • The Enlightenment
• Locke—natural rights
• Montesquieu- checks and balances

7. • The example of the American Revolution

8. Ideas
• Famine: No Food
• Social Inequality
• Estates

9. Middle
• 3 Stages of the French Revolution
• 1st –King Louis had a Estates General Meeting
• When the King didn’t really do anything, the
people stormed the Bastille

10. 1792
• The people rose up and wrote The French
Declaration of the Rights of Man
• Lots of Chaos
• Leaders fear other countries wanted to invade
• The Reign of Terror—Radicals take control of
the government and sent thousands to the
guillotine.

11. Ideas
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen—
basic Human Rights are listed—freedom of
religion, speech, equal justice to
all, government protects rights
• Parliament-Congress

12. End 1799
• Moderates come into power and stop riots—
give people peace, bread and land.
• But government gets too weak
• A General Napoleon comes into power in a
coup d'état—a takeover.

13. Effects
• Positive: Restores order in France
• Napoleonic Codes: uniform set of laws
• Public schools for all
• Invests $$$ into France
• Negative: Tries to take over the world—
Germany, Prussia—never gets England and
tries Russia—big mistake—Battle of Waterloo
• King comes back to power

14. Effects
Spread of the Ideals of Democracy
Growth of Nationalism