It was the best of times, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of it was the epoch of incredulity…incredulity…

-- Charles Dickens-- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities

The French Monarchy:The French Monarchy:1775 - 17931775 - 1793

Marie Antoinette & Louis Marie Antoinette & Louis XVIXVI

Marie Marie AntoineAntoine

tte tte and the and the Royal Royal

ChildrenChildren

The Necklace The Necklace ScandalScandal

Y Cardinal Louis René Édouard de Cardinal Louis René Édouard de RohanRohan

Y The Countess de LaMotteThe Countess de LaMotte

1,600,000 1,600,000 livreslivres

[$100 million today][$100 million today]

Let Them Eat Cake! Let Them Eat Cake!

Y Marie Antoinette NEVER said Marie Antoinette NEVER said that!that!

Y ““Madame Deficit”Madame Deficit”Y ““The Austrian Whore”The Austrian Whore”

Socio-Economic Data, 1789Socio-Economic Data, 1789

The French Urban PoorThe French Urban Poor

01020304050607080

% of Income Spent on Bread

17871788

• Urban Commoner’sUrban Commoner’sBudget:Budget:– Food 80%Food 80%– Rent 25%Rent 25%– Tithe 10%Tithe 10%– Taxes 35%Taxes 35%– Clothing 20%Clothing 20%– TOTAL 170%TOTAL 170%

• King’s Budget:King’s Budget:– Interest 50%Interest 50%– Army 25%Army 25%– Versailles 25%Versailles 25%– Coronation 10%Coronation 10%– Loans 25%Loans 25%– Admin. 25%Admin. 25%– TOTAL 160%TOTAL 160%

Financial ProblemsFinancial Problemsin France, 1789in France, 1789

French Budget, French Budget, 17741774

Where is the tax Where is the tax money?money?

Convening the Estates General Convening the Estates General May, 1789May, 1789

Last time it was called into session was 1614!Last time it was called into session was 1614!

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting Pattern:The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by EstatesVoting by Estates

11

1

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of RepresentativesThe Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head!in the Estates General: Vote by Head!

300300

648

Third Estate

• Three groups– Bourgeoisie: artisans, merchants. High

income but high taxes. Educated in Enlightenment ideas

– Urban workers: poor, often unemployed, often hungry

– Peasants: half of their income was paid to nobles, paid tithes, paid taxes to King.

Europe on the Eve of theEurope on the Eve of theFrench RevolutionFrench Revolution

““The Third Estate Awakens”The Third Estate Awakens”

““The Tennis Court The Tennis Court Oath”Oath”

by Jacques Louis Davidby Jacques Louis David

June 20, 1789June 20, 1789

Lettres de CachetLettres de CachetY The French king could The French king could

warrantwarrantimprisonment or death in imprisonment or death in aasigned letter under his signed letter under his seal.seal.

Y A A carte-blanchecarte-blanche warrant. warrant.

Y Cardinal Fleury issued Cardinal Fleury issued 80,00080,000during the reign of Louis during the reign of Louis XV!XV!Y Eliminated in 1790.Eliminated in 1790.

Storming the Bastille,Storming the Bastille,July 14, 1789July 14, 1789

The Great Fear:The Great Fear:Peasant RevoltPeasant Revolt

July 20, July 20, 17891789

March of the Women,March of the Women,October 5-6, 1789October 5-6, 1789

We want the baker, the baker’s wife We want the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy!and the baker’s boy!

National Constituent AssemblyNational Constituent Assembly1789 - 17911789 - 1791

August DecreesAugust DecreesAugust 4-11, 1789August 4-11, 1789

(A renunciation of aristocratic (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!)privileges!)

Liberté!

Egalité!Fraterni

té!

V Equality & Equality & MeritocracyMeritocracy

The Tricolor (1789)The Tricolor (1789)

The WHITE of the The WHITE of the Bourbons + the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of RED & BLUE of

Paris.Paris.

Citizen!

The Tricolor is the Fashion!The Tricolor is the Fashion!

The “Liberty Cap”: The “Liberty Cap”: Bonne RougeBonne Rouge

Revolutionary Playing CardsRevolutionary Playing Cards

The Declaration of the The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Rights of Man and of

the Citizenthe Citizen

August August 26, 26, 17891789

Planting the Tree of LibertyPlanting the Tree of Liberty

17901790

The Confiscation of Church LandsThe Confiscation of Church Lands

17901790

The Civil The Civil Constitution Constitution

of the of the ClergyClergy

July 12,July 12,17901790

JuryingJurying

vs.vs.

Non-JuryingNon-Jurying[refractory][refractory]

ClergyClergy

AssignatsAssignats

V Issued by the National Constituent Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.Assembly.

Depreciation of the AssignatDepreciation of the Assignat

f They were backed by the sale of They were backed by the sale of Church lands.Church lands.

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly. 1791& the National Assembly. 1791

The French Constitution of 1791:The French Constitution of 1791:A Bourgeois GovernmentA Bourgeois Government

Y The king got the The king got the “suspensive” veto“suspensive” veto [which prevented the passage of laws [which prevented the passage of laws for 4 years].for 4 years]. ** he could not pass laws. he could not pass laws. ** his ministers were responsible his ministers were responsible for their own actions. for their own actions.Y A permanent, elected, single chamber A permanent, elected, single chamber

National Assembly.National Assembly. ** had the power to grant taxation. had the power to grant taxation.

Y An independent judiciary.An independent judiciary.Y ““Active” CitizenActive” Citizen [who pays taxes [who pays taxes

amounting to 3 days labor] vs. amounting to 3 days labor] vs. “Passive” Citizen“Passive” Citizen..Y A newly elected LEGISLATIVE A newly elected LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.ASSEMBLY.

Olympe de Gouges Olympe de Gouges (1745-1793)(1745-1793)

Declaration of the Rights of Declaration of the Rights of WomanWoman

and of the Citizen and of the Citizen (1791)(1791)

““Must” Reads:Must” Reads:Important Books & Pamphlets Important Books & Pamphlets

of the French Revolutionof the French Revolution