French Revolution 1789-1815. Preview to the French Revolution.
French Revolution - 1789_1795
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French Revolution 1789–1795 THE THREE ESTATES Before the Revolution of 1789, French society was divided into three classes called estates. Members of the 3rd Estate were denied the privileges of the 1st and 2nd estates. Revolutionaries fought against the injustice of this system, known as the “Old Regime.” 1st Estate Clergy of the Catholic Church (about 1% of population) ● Exempt from taxation ● Owned 20% of the land ● Received annual payment of 10% of all citizens’ income 2nd Estate Members of the nobility (about 2% of population) ● Little or no taxation ● Owned most of the land ● Exclusively entitled to all powerful positions in government and army ● Received money and crops (called feudal dues) from people who farmed their lands 3rd Estate Everybody else, from peasants to wealthy, middle-class merchants and professionals (more than 97% of population) ● Subject to taxation, high rents, and payment of feudal dues ● No voice in government MAIN REPUBLICAN GROUPS OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION The Mountain (Members sat on high benches at back of the assembly) ● Radical republicans advocating centralized, republican government and redistribution of wealth ● Dominated by members of radical Jacobin Club (called “Watchdogs of the Revolution”), including Maximilien Robespierre ● Came to dominate the Convention The Plain (Members sat on main floor of the assembly) ● Moderate republicans opposed to central government and redis- tribution of wealth ● Dominated by Girondists (members from the Gironde region of France) and later by the Mountain, under Robespierre 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 May 1789 King Louis XVI of France calls a meeting of the Estates General (elected body of representatives from the three estates of French society; last convened in 1614) to solve financial crisis. Dispute begins over members’ powers Jun 1789 Representatives of 3rd Estate declare themselves a National Assembly and swear, in the Tennis Court Oath, to draw up a new constitution for France. Members of 1st and 2nd Estates join the National Assembly Oct 1791 Rule of Legislative Assembly begins (to Sep 1792) – first elected body to rule France. Main parties on left include Girondists and Jacobins; and on right, Royalists Aug 1789 Rule of National Assembly begins (to Oct 1791) Aug 1789 Assembly issues the Declaration of the Rights of Man (revolutionary manifesto and bill of human rights). Nobles and clergy agree to give up special feudal privileges Oct 1789 Royal family is forced to move to Paris under custody of the National Guard; the King withdraws opposition to the Declaration of the Rights of Man From 1789 Radical political clubs are established in Paris, e.g., the Jacobin Club and the Cordeliers’ Club Aug 1792 The Tuileries (Louis’s Parisian palace) is stormed by revolutionary mob. Louis’s constitutional authority is suspended; Royal family is imprisoned Sep 1792 September Massacres. Nobles held in Parisian prisons are executed without trial Sept 1792 Rule of National Convention begins (to Oct 1795) – new assembly composed of republicans. Convention abolishes the monarchy and declares France a republic Jan 1793 Louis XVI is tried and executed. Royalist peasant rebellions break out in rural areas 1793–1794 The Reign of Terror (height of the Revolution). Convention gives dictatorial powers to nine-member Committee of Public Safety (dominated by Maximilien Robespierre, leader of Jacobins). Commissars of Committee suppress counterrevolutionary movements by force; widespread execution of political opponents and nobles 1794–1795 National Convention denounces and executes Robespierre and followers. Public opinion forces Convention to adopt more moderate policies and end the Terror. Power of Jacobin Club is broken; Paris Commune closes 1795 Rule of Directory begins (to 1799) – an executive of five directors and two elected legislative bodies – under a new constitution agreed by the Convention. Opposition to new constitution is put down by young army officer Napoleon Bonaparte Sep 1791 National Assembly issues a new constitution specifying a constitutional monarchy with an elected legislative body (Legislative Assembly), an elected judiciary, and laws based on the Declaration of the Rights of Man Jul 1789 The Bastille (armory and political prison in Paris) is stormed by citizens after rumors that the King intends to suppress the National Assembly. Radicals form Paris Commune (to govern city) and National Guard volunteer force (to protect revolution). The Great Fear: peasant mobs overrun rural estates; many nobles leave France (they are known as émigrés) EVENTS
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The French Revolution
Transcript of French Revolution - 1789_1795
French Revolution 1789–1795
THE THREE ESTATES
Before the Revolution of 1789,French society was divided intothree classes called estates.Members of the 3rd Estate weredenied the privileges of the 1st and2nd estates. Revolutionaries foughtagainst the injustice of this system,known as the “Old Regime.”
1st EstateClergy of the Catholic Church(about 1% of population)● Exempt from taxation● Owned 20% of the land● Received annual payment of
10% of all citizens’ income
2nd EstateMembers of the nobility (about 2%of population)● Little or no taxation● Owned most of the land● Exclusively entitled to all
powerful positions in government and army
● Received money and crops(called feudal dues) from peoplewho farmed their lands
3rd EstateEverybody else, from peasants towealthy, middle-class merchantsand professionals (more than 97%of population)● Subject to taxation, high rents,
and payment of feudal dues● No voice in government
MAIN REPUBLICAN GROUPS OFTHE NATIONAL CONVENTIONThe Mountain(Members sat on high benches atback of the assembly)● Radical republicans advocating
centralized, republicangovernment and redistribution of wealth
● Dominated by members ofradical Jacobin Club (called“Watchdogs of the Revolution”),including Maximilien Robespierre
● Came to dominate theConvention
The Plain(Members sat on main floor of theassembly)● Moderate republicans opposed
to central government and redis-tribution of wealth
● Dominated by Girondists(members from the Gironderegion of France) and later by the Mountain, underRobespierre
1789
1790
1791
1792
1793
1794
1795
May 1789 King Louis XVI of France calls a meeting of theEstates General (elected body of representatives from thethree estates of French society; last convened in 1614) tosolve financial crisis. Dispute begins over members’ powers
Jun 1789 Representatives of 3rd Estate declare themselves aNational Assembly and swear, in the Tennis Court Oath, todraw up a new constitution for France. Members of 1st and2nd Estates join the National Assembly
Oct 1791 Rule of Legislative Assembly begins (to Sep1792) – first elected body to rule France. Main parties on leftinclude Girondists and Jacobins; and on right, Royalists
Aug 1789 Rule of National Assembly begins (to Oct 1791)Aug 1789 Assembly issues the Declaration of the Rights ofMan (revolutionary manifesto and bill of human rights).Nobles and clergy agree to give up special feudal privileges Oct 1789 Royal family is forced to move to Paris undercustody of the National Guard; the King withdraws oppositionto the Declaration of the Rights of ManFrom 1789 Radical political clubs are established in Paris,e.g., the Jacobin Club and the Cordeliers’ Club
Aug 1792 The Tuileries (Louis’s Parisian palace) is stormedby revolutionary mob. Louis’s constitutional authority issuspended; Royal family is imprisoned
Sep 1792 September Massacres. Nobles held in Parisianprisons are executed without trialSept 1792 Rule of National Convention begins (to Oct1795) – new assembly composed of republicans. Conventionabolishes the monarchy and declares France a republic
Jan 1793 Louis XVI is tried and executed. Royalist peasantrebellions break out in rural areas
1793–1794 The Reign of Terror (height of the Revolution).Convention gives dictatorial powers to nine-memberCommittee of Public Safety (dominated by MaximilienRobespierre, leader of Jacobins). Commissars of Committeesuppress counterrevolutionary movements by force;widespread execution of political opponents and nobles
1794–1795 National Convention denounces and executesRobespierre and followers. Public opinion forces Conventionto adopt more moderate policies and end the Terror. Power ofJacobin Club is broken; Paris Commune closes
1795 Rule of Directory begins (to 1799) – an executive offive directors and two elected legislative bodies – under anew constitution agreed by the Convention. Opposition tonew constitution is put down by young army officer Napoleon Bonaparte
Sep 1791 National Assembly issues a new constitutionspecifying a constitutional monarchy with an electedlegislative body (Legislative Assembly), an elected judiciary,and laws based on the Declaration of the Rights of Man
Jul 1789 The Bastille (armory and political prison in Paris) isstormed by citizens after rumors that the King intends tosuppress the National Assembly. Radicals form ParisCommune (to govern city) and National Guard volunteer force (to protect revolution). The Great Fear: peasant mobsoverrun rural estates; many nobles leave France (they areknown as émigrés)
EVENTS
