Humanities French

Revolution Notes

14th of July 1789- The Storming of the Bastille

The Bastilles walls were 100 feet high.

Before 1789 there were no Human Rights in France.

France was an absolute monarchy.

All of the power was in the hands of the King.

The People had no say, no vote.

The King controlled the law and if he wanted someone arrested all
needed to do was write a sealed letter de cachet and the police force
did the rest.

Joe shackle spoke out against the letter de cachet. Saying they were
unjust, a letter de cachet was written in his name and he never saw his
wife and children again.

14th of July 1789 bastille was attacked by a Paris mob.

The Kings authority was being undermined by mass demonstrations.

The King surrounded Paris with troops.

Anticipating a bloody confrontation the Paris mob seized arms from the
bastille.

98 Parisians were killed in the battle, but the hated and feared bastille
had fallen.

In 1787 an Englishman called Arthur young went to France to begin a

journey that would take him all over France. Like a modern day travel
writer he published a book A Tour of France in the year 1787, 1788
and 1789 when the French Revolution began.

Peasants were like walking dunghills.

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Members of the church didnt pay taxes.

Humanities French Revolution

Notes Contd

King Louis the 16th had total control over France.

The Palace of Versailles housed the royal court which was about 10,000
people overall.

Nobles came from far and wide to win the kings favor be a part of
government.

The Palace of Versailles was a place of intrigue, gossip and pompous

ceremony.

Palace Royale was home of the Duke doornail in the 1780s.

Liberty was a buzz word in 1789.

May the 5th the opening of the estate took place.

July 1789 news of the French Revolution Reached England.

People wanted a Constructive not Destructive Revolution.

26th of August 1789 The Declaration of Rights of Man was formed.

Peasants were bound to their land lords.

21st of January 1793 Louis the 16th was executed.

1792-1794 16 thousand people were executed in France.

Article 2 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man promised liberty,

security and freedom from oppression.

A quarter of a million van deans were killed during the aftermath.

In Late 1794 A citizen returned to Paris after an absence of 18 months

and witnessed the impact of the Terror.
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A man was arrested for wearing a green shirt.

Humanities French
Revolution Notes Contd

The Hotel Deville was the hub of power in France.

By 1794 a committee of 12 men elected to protect France from its

enemies.

The Guillotine devoured 200 victims a week.

The Terror would route the French men and women out and France
would be purged.

Moderation was a crime.

July 27th 1794 ordered Rose Pierres arrest, troops stormed the Hotel
Deville.

Rose Pierre Shot himself in the head. But he botched it he was arrested
and bandaged and he met the same fate as all the others.

Rose Pierre was put under the guillotine.

November 1799 a young army general staged a coup de ta (a complete

takeover of the government) His name was Napoleon Bonaparte.

Napoleon became sole ruler of France. In fact he left in no doubt. Five years
later he crowned himself emperor.

An Emperor is a King in everything but name.

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