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Notes on the French Revolution

Storming of the Bastille

  • The Bastille was a prison, 100 ft high

  • In the cells, there was a steel pot, stale bread and stale water

  • The Bastille became a symbol of everything hated by the citizens of France

  • 98 Parisians were killed taking over 

  • Only 7 prisoners were found inside, two of them mad

France before the Revolution

  • 80% of people in pre-revolutionary France were peasants

  • Payed half of what they produced each year to local landowners

  • Payed taxes to state and church

  • Nobles and members of the Church didn't pay tax

  • 50 years before 1789, taxes rose by half

  • Louis XVI was the king; was shy

Why 1789?

  • People were ready for change

  • Pamphlets were produced that spread news

  • Monarchy questioned in pamphlets

  • French soldiers returning from America, speaking about freedom

  • Louis XVI didn't stop printing press to save face

  • By late 1780's, France was broke, parties continued

  • Louis called a meeting between clergy, nobility, and common people

  • Just wanted permission to raise taxes

  • Common people relented; thrown out

  • Regrouped a tennis court; took Tennis Court Oath 20th June 17899

A New France?

  • July 1879, news of revolution reached England

  • All over country, houses looted, aristocrats murdered

  • Became known as 'the Great Fear'

  • National Guard formed to keep the peace

  • Declaration of the Right of Man passed on 26th August, 1879

  • Abolished Feudalism, changed tax, sold church land (solving debt crisis)

What Should be Done with the King?

  • July 14th, 1789 Bastille destroyed

  • Louis XVI donned revolutionary cap 

  • Stripped of power

  • Brought back to live in Tuilerre

  • Escaped on 20th June 1791 with family

  • Dashed to border

  • 50km away from border, family recognised and re-captured

  • September 1789, the Republic formed, monarchy abolished

  • December, king o trial, guilty

  • 21st January 1793, king executed

The Terror

  • 1792- 1794 16,000 dead

  • Time known as 'the Terror'

  • French people paranoid inmates would escape aand join opposing forces

  • Slaughtered all inmates

  • The Assembly was renamed 'The Convention'

  • Paris mob main infulence on the Convention

  • Everyone paranoid 

  • Most executed were innocent

Did People Support the Revolution?

  • 1789 85% of population lived in small, rural communities

  • Communities thrived on tradition

  • Revolution destroyed this

  • Conscription- all men had to leave family for army

  • Battles against Revolution in Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseilles, Caen and Vandee

  • Spring 1793, rebels from Vendee formed 'Grand Catholic and Royal Army'

  • Early 1793, it was over

  • As revenge, Vendee burnt, townspeople slaughtered

  • Quarter of a million Vendeeans killed in revolt and aftermath

An End to the Revolution

  • 1794 Spring- everyone scared

  • 200 guillotined per week

  • Maximillion Robespierre lived simple life- no money, women, alchohol

  • Obsessed with Revolution

  • Murdered even loyal revolutionists

  • July 27th 1794, his arrest ordered

  • Shot himself in head

  • Bandaged and guilotnned

  • Napoleon became ruler of France

  • 5 years later, crowned Emeperor

© 2016 by Cheyenne Walstyn. A+ greatly appreciated.

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