The French Revolution:The Revolution Begins

Reading Assignment:

• Noble 587-95

• "The Revolution Begins" (Part 1 of "The French Revolution: A Brief Summary," BB)

• The French Revolution: Chronology (BB)

Question to be discussed:

• What was the political and financial situation in France in the late 1780s that led to the outbreak of the Revolution in 1789?

PowerPoint Presentations:

• Go to our course Blackboard site, under Course Documents → French Revolution Powerpoints for "The Third Estate" and "The Tennis Court Oath"

Outline:

I. The Outbreak of the Revolution

A.  Financial Crisis

1.  The National Debt

2.  The Assembly of Notables, 1787

B.  The Estates-Général

1.  Planning and Debate over Format, 1788-89

2.  The Meeting at Versailles:  May 1789

II.  The National Assembly, summer 1789

A.  Third Estate declares itself to be the National Assembly, 17 June 1789

B.  The Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789

C.  Reaction of the Lower Classes

1.  Storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789

2.  The Great Fear, July-Aug. 1789

Terms:

Louis XVI, r. 1774-1792
Estates-Général
Assembly of Notables
Cahiers de doléance
National Assembly
Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789
Bastille Day, 14 July 1789
The Great Fear, summer 1789

Links:

• The Origins of the French Revolution

  • Lectures on Modern Intellectual History from The History Guide by Steve Kreis)

• What is the Third Estate? Pamphleteering

  • from Univ. of MD online exhibit; includes image of Sieyès pamphlet

The French Revolution:  Home Page