HTAVHTAV

FRANCE: 1789: A Revolution FRANCE: 1789: A Revolution of the People?of the People?

24 February 201224 February 2012

Peter McPheePeter McPheeUniversity of Melbourne University of Melbourne

What was the Revolution of 1789?What was the Revolution of 1789?

Estates-General – 5 May 1789

‘Tennis Court Oath’ – 20 June 1789

Bastille

‘GrandePeur’

National Assembly 4 August 1789

1010

1. absolute monarchy → constitutional 1. absolute monarchy → constitutional monarchymonarchy

divine right → popular sovereigntydivine right → popular sovereignty 2. privilege → civil equality in taxes, law, 2. privilege → civil equality in taxes, law,

beliefsbeliefs 3. hierarchy of birth → merit, talent3. hierarchy of birth → merit, talent 4. partial abolition of feudalism4. partial abolition of feudalism

‘‘cahiers de dolcahiers de dolééances’ances’

Essentials of France in the Essentials of France in the eighteenth century (the ‘Ancien eighteenth century (the ‘Ancien RRéégime’)gime’)

Languedoc

‘‘les Grands’: 4,000 families at Versaillesles Grands’: 4,000 families at Versailles

‘‘hobereauxhobereaux’’

‘‘d’épée’ d’épée’ vs ‘de vs ‘de robe’robe’

Le Bret by Rigaud

‘bourgeoisie’

Artisans‘menu peuple’

What were the causes of the What were the causes of the Revolution of 1789?Revolution of 1789?

‘philosophes’

Diderot, 1771Diderot, 1771

““Every century has its own characteristic spirit. Every century has its own characteristic spirit. The spirit of ours seems to be liberty. The first The spirit of ours seems to be liberty. The first attack against superstition was violent, attack against superstition was violent, unchecked. Once people dared in whatever unchecked. Once people dared in whatever manner to attack the barrier of religion, this manner to attack the barrier of religion, this barrier which is the most formidable as well as barrier which is the most formidable as well as the most respected, it was impossible to stop. the most respected, it was impossible to stop. From the time when they turned threatening From the time when they turned threatening looks against the heavenly majesty, they did looks against the heavenly majesty, they did not fail the next moment to direct them against not fail the next moment to direct them against the earthly power. The rope which holds and the earthly power. The rope which holds and represses humanity is composed of two represses humanity is composed of two strands: one of them cannot give way without strands: one of them cannot give way without the other breaking”.the other breaking”.

Rousseau

1762

Social ContractEmile

Maximilien RobespierrebyLéopoldBoilly,1783

Declaration of Independence 4 July 1776

““We hold these truths to be self-evident, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

to secure these rights, governments are to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” powers from the consent of the governed.”

((American Declaration of IndependenceAmerican Declaration of Independence, 4 , 4 July 1776)July 1776)

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the CitizenDeclaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, , 27 August 178927 August 1789

““1. Men are born and remain free and equal 1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights ...in rights ...

2. ... these rights are liberty, property, 2. ... these rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.security, and resistance to oppression.

3. The principle of all sovereignty resides 3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body, or essentially in the nation. No body, or individual may exercise authority that does individual may exercise authority that does not expressly emanate from it.not expressly emanate from it.” ”

‘cahiers de doléances’

Arthur Young in Lorraine, 12 July 1789:Arthur Young in Lorraine, 12 July 1789:

Walking up a long hill, to ease my mare, I was joined by a Walking up a long hill, to ease my mare, I was joined by a poor woman, who complained of the times, and that it was a poor woman, who complained of the times, and that it was a sad country. On my demanding her reasons, she said her sad country. On my demanding her reasons, she said her husband had but a morsel of land, one cow and a poor little husband had but a morsel of land, one cow and a poor little horse, yet he had a horse, yet he had a francharfranchar (20 kg) of wheat and three (20 kg) of wheat and three chickens to pays as a quit-rent to one Seigneur; and four chickens to pays as a quit-rent to one Seigneur; and four franchar franchar of oats, one chicken and 1 of oats, one chicken and 1 soussous to pay to another, to pay to another, beside very heavy beside very heavy taillestailles and other taxes. She had seven and other taxes. She had seven children, and the cow's milk helped to make the soup .... It children, and the cow's milk helped to make the soup .... It was said, at present, that was said, at present, that something was to be donesomething was to be done by some by some great folks for such poor ones, but she did not know who or great folks for such poor ones, but she did not know who or how,how, but God send us better, car les tailles et les droits nous but God send us better, car les tailles et les droits nous écrasent.écrasent. This woman, at no great distance, might have been  This woman, at no great distance, might have been taken for sixty or seventy, her figure was so bent, and her taken for sixty or seventy, her figure was so bent, and her face so furrowed and hardened by labour; but she said she face so furrowed and hardened by labour; but she said she was only twenty-eight.was only twenty-eight.

6 October

The historians’ debateThe historians’ debate

Georges Lefebvre, Albert Soboul, George RudGeorges Lefebvre, Albert Soboul, George Rudéé

William Doyle, Simon Schama, Peter CampbellWilliam Doyle, Simon Schama, Peter Campbell

Norman Hampson, Sarah Maza (Norman Hampson, Sarah Maza (causes célèbrescauses célèbres), ), Colin JonesColin Jones