The document summarizes the key events leading up to the French Revolution, including the rise of absolutism under Louis XIV which led to massive debt, food shortages, enlightenment ideas challenging the status quo, and discontent with the royalty. It then describes the major developments of the Revolution itself from the meeting of the Estates General to the National Assembly forming a new constitution based on liberal principles and the overthrow of the monarchy.

1. Absolutism
and the
French Revolution
Liberty Leading the People

2. Birth of Absolutism in Europe
• religious wars: 1560s-90s, 1618-1648
• decline in church power
• desire for stability and prosperity

3. Divine Right
• (sort of) Euro version of the mandate from Heaven
• bypass the power of the church
• absolutism

4. Epitome of Absolutism:
Louis XIV (1638-1715)
• becomes king at age....4!!!
• Cardinal Mazarin and the Fronde
• Louis assumes the position at age 23
• “the sun king”
• “L’état, c’est moi”

5. Louis XIV
• relished his power
• big time hunter
• enjoyed fine clothes
• patron of the arts
• mercantilism
• tried to expand
• centralized power

6. Palace of Versailles

7. Ancién Regime = Old Regime
• “great chain of being”
• feudalism + estate system
• 1) Catholic Clergy (100,000 = <1% of pop)
• 2) Nobles (400,000 = approx. 2% of pop)
• 3) bourgeoisie + peasants (24.5 million = 97%
of pop)

8. Cause #1: MASSIVE Debt
Thanks Louuuieeee’s!!
• Louis XIV (1643-1715): Versailles + Euro Wars
• Louis XV (1715-74) lost Seven Years War
• Louis XVI: supported American Rev. +
“Madame Deficit”

9. Cause #1: MASSIVE Debt cont’d
• lack of tax revenue
• massive inflation consumer good increase 65%
• rent increases

10. Cause #2: Food Shortages
• population increases
• food shortages (1780s)

11. Cause #3: Enlightenment Ideas
• American Revolution
• Voltaire--freedom of speech
• Montesquieu--equal branches of gov
• Rousseau--natural rights; social contract

12. Cause #4: Royalty
• No love for the royalty
• King Louis XVI
• Marie Antoinette

13. Attempts to quell dissent
• King has a meeting of the Estates General
• tax reform
• Tennis Court Oath

14. The Revolution Begins!
• Third Estate forms the National Assembly
• starts as a political movement
• new constitution: liberty, equality, fraternity
• the King’s reaction...
• rumors...

15. The Lower Classes take over the revolution!
• storming of the Bastille (July 14)
• the Great Fear!
• pitchforks to Versailles!
• noble’s response

16. National Assembly’s Response
• abolish taxes on peasants
• move to end feudalism
• constitution: citizens instead of subjects
• Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen
• real changes

17. The Revolution Eats Its Young
50,000!
• bon voyage Louis
• Robespierre and the CPS
• targets of the “republic of virtue”
• war against...everyone!
“I 1793
die
innocent!”

18. What did the revolution accomplish?
• Napoleon (1799-1814): legal codes, education, religion, BUT
censorship, foreign wars and dictatorship
• Louis XVIII!!! (1814-1824): brother of Louis XVI
• monarchies up to 1870; Republic formed again