The French Revolution

Part Un

Emmanuel Joseph Emmanuel Joseph SieyesSieyes

11stst What is the Third What is the Third Estate? Estate? Everything!Everything!22ndnd What has it been What has it been heretofore in the heretofore in the political order? political order? Nothing! Nothing!33rdrd What does it What does it demand?demand? To become To become somethingsomething therein! therein!

Abbé SieyèsAbbé Sieyès1748-18361748-1836

Intervention of the Common People

• Series of uprising in the name of the 3rd Estate• Wage war on the rich accusing them of various

plots• King increased troops at arsenals and near

Versailles• This angers the public and leads to an increase

in mob activity• Parisian leaders form “Permanent Committee”• Capture Invalides from royal army

Storming the Bastille, Storming the Bastille, July July 14, 178914, 1789

Y A rumor that the king was planning a military A rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the National Assembly.coup against the National Assembly.

Y 18 died.18 died.

Y 73 wounded.73 wounded.

Y 7 guards 7 guards killed.killed.

Y It held 7 It held 7 prisoners prisoners [5 ordinary [5 ordinary criminals & 2 criminals & 2 madmen].madmen].

This becomes the symbol of popular triumph over despotismThis becomes the symbol of popular triumph over despotism

Further downhill• Paris abandoned• Louis XVI suffers collapse

of royal authority seeing his troupes are unreliable

• Lafayette commands new citizen’s militia aka National Guard

• Save the National Assembly

• Nantes – mobs seized citadels = Permanent Committee and National Guard keep orderMarquis de LafayetteMarquis de Lafayette

Peasant Revolt due to growing Peasant Revolt due to growing

ResentmentResentment and rumors that there was to and rumors that there was to

be a foreign invasion plotted by aristocratsbe a foreign invasion plotted by aristocrats

• Forced lords to renounce dues and tithesForced lords to renounce dues and tithes

• Burned charters – renouncing obligationsBurned charters – renouncing obligations

• Many thought they had the king’s supportMany thought they had the king’s support

The The PathPath

of theof the“Grea“Grea

ttFear”Fear”

Down with the Old Regime!!

• Abolish seigniorial rights

• Fiscal privileges of nobles, towns, clergy, province

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

the Citizen the Citizen August 26, 1789August 26, 1789V Ideological Ideological foundationfoundation

V ““the Natural and the Natural and imprescriptible imprescriptible rights of man”rights of man”

V Liberty!Liberty!

V Property!Property!

V Resistance to Resistance to oppression!oppression!

V Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was in Paris at was in Paris at this time.this time.

• 1. men are born and remain free and equal

• 2. aim of politics should be to preserve; liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression

• 3. all sovereignty come from the people, no individuals

• 4. liberty = harming no others

• 6. law = general will with all equal

• 7. no accusation, arrest, or detention w/o cause

• 10. opinions and religious toleration

• 11. freedom of speech, writing and printing

• 12. force (police/army) is to protect rights

• 14. citizens have final voice in taxes

• 15. society can demand accounting from administration

• 16. constitution guarantees rights and separation of powers

• 17. right to property (can’t take it away w/o good reason

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

the Citizen the Citizen Posed New DilemmasPosed New Dilemmas

1.1. Did women have equal rights with Did women have equal rights with men?men?

2.2. What about free blacks in the What about free blacks in the colonies?colonies?

3.3. How could slavery be justified if all How could slavery be justified if all men were born free?men were born free?

4.4. Did religious toleration of Protestants Did religious toleration of Protestants and Jews include equal political and Jews include equal political rights?rights?

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

Declaration of Declaration of the Rights of the Rights of

WomanWomanand of the and of the

Citizen Citizen (1791)(1791)

Declaration of Declaration of the Rights of the Rights of

WomanWomanand of the and of the

Citizen Citizen (1791)(1791)

V Women played a Women played a vital role in the vital role in the Revolution.Revolution.

V But, But, The Declaration The Declaration of the Rights of Manof the Rights of Man did NOT extend the did NOT extend the rights and rights and protections of protections of citizenship to citizenship to women.women.

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

We ware bringing We ware bringing back the baker, the back the baker, the

baker’s wife baker’s wife and the baker’s and the baker’s

boy!boy!King was inactive12 miles to Versailles

King was inactive12 miles to Versailles

King meets with leaders, hears of starving children, and promises grain

National Guard insists king return to ParisHe returns with wagons of flour escorted by women

King is now “prisoner” in Paris

King meets with leaders, hears of starving children, and promises grain

National Guard insists king return to ParisHe returns with wagons of flour escorted by women

King is now “prisoner” in Paris

New Relations New Relations Between Church & Between Church &

StateStateV Government paid the salaries of the Government paid the salaries of the

French clergy and maintained the French clergy and maintained the churches.churches.

V The church was reorganized:The church was reorganized: Parish priests Parish priests elected by the district elected by the district

assemblies.assemblies. Bishops Bishops named by the named by the

department assemblies.department assemblies. The pope had NO The pope had NO

voice in the voice in the appointment of appointment of the French clergy.the French clergy.

V It transformed France’sIt transformed France’sRoman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic Churchinto a branch of the state!!into a branch of the state!!

How to Finance the How to Finance the New Govt.?New Govt.?

1.1. Confiscate Church Confiscate Church Lands Lands (1790)(1790)

One of the most controversial decisions of the One of the most controversial decisions of the entire revolutionary period.entire revolutionary period.

2.2. Print Print AssignatsAssignats2.2. Print Print

AssignatsAssignats

V Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.V Interest-bearing notes which had the church lands Interest-bearing notes which had the church lands

as security.as security.

The Civil The Civil Constitution Constitution

of the of the ClergyClergy

July 12,July 12,17901790

Pope forbade Pope forbade oath of oath of

allegiance allegiance 54% of clergy 54% of clergy

took ittook itMajority of the Majority of the bishops said bishops said

“NO”“NO”The oath of allegiance The oath of allegiance

permanently divided the Catholic permanently divided the Catholic population!population!

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution Constitution

& the National Assembly. & the National Assembly. 17911791

The French Constitution The French Constitution of 1791:of 1791:

A Bourgeois A Bourgeois GovernmentGovernment

• Constitutional Monarchy

• 745 Representatives serve 2 year terms

• Indirect elections keeping wealthy in power

• All citizens had the same civil rights

• 50,000 electors (men paying taxes = 10 days unskilled labor) chose

• Deputies (must pay “silver mark” in taxes = 45 days unskilled labor)

The French Constitution The French Constitution of 1791:of 1791:

A Bourgeois A Bourgeois GovernmentGovernment

V ““Active” CitizenActive” Citizen [male over 25 who [male over 25 who pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] could vote vs. could vote vs. “Passive” Citizen“Passive” Citizen..

1/3 of adult males were denied the 1/3 of adult males were denied the franchise.franchise.

Domestic servants were also Domestic servants were also excluded.excluded.V A newly elected A newly elected LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE

ASSEMBLYASSEMBLY..

GOALGOAL Make sure that the country Make sure that the country was not turned over to the mob!was not turned over to the mob!

GOALGOAL Make sure that the country Make sure that the country was not turned over to the mob!was not turned over to the mob!

Administrative Restructuring

• 83 departments = in size and population

• Divided into districts and communes

• Supervised by elected counsels and officials who

• Oversaw finances, administration, judicial and ecclesiastical institutions

• Often bourgeoisie lawyers were elected

83 Revolutionary 83 Revolutionary DepartmentsDepartments

February 26, 1790February 26, 1790

Problems

• Clerics angered by Civil Constitution of the Clergy

• Lower classes hurt by increase in cost of living• Peasants still had dues• Political clubs with radical ideas sprouted

– Jacobins were most widespread

• Finances

tax evasion and more

Depreciation of the Depreciation of the AssignatAssignat

V Whoever acquired them were entitled to Whoever acquired them were entitled to certain privileges in the purchase of church certain privileges in the purchase of church land.land.

V The state would retire the notes as the land The state would retire the notes as the land was sold.was sold.

V They began circulating as paper currency.They began circulating as paper currency. Government printed more Government printed more INFLATIONINFLATION [they [they

lost 99% of their value ultimately].lost 99% of their value ultimately]. Therefore, future governments paid off their Therefore, future governments paid off their

creditors with cheap money.creditors with cheap money.

The Royal Family The Royal Family Attempts Attempts

to Fleeto FleeY June, 1791June, 1791

Y Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Axel von Fusen [Marie Antoinette’s Axel von Fusen [Marie Antoinette’s lover].lover].

Y Headed toward the Headed toward the LuxembourgLuxembourgborder.border.

Y The King wasThe King wasrecognized atrecognized atVarennes, nearVarennes, nearthe borderthe border

Y Boureoisie still trust him and many Boureoisie still trust him and many say “kidnapped”say “kidnapped”

Opposition from Abroad• Emperor Leopold II of Austria and King Frederick

William of Prussia issue• “Declaration of Pillnitz” to try and strengthen

French Monarchy• European countries didn’t trust each other enough

to work together• France declares war on Austria

– Want to keep revolution alive– France fights very badly

French Soldiers & the French Soldiers & the Tricolor:Tricolor:

ViveVive Le Patrie!Le Patrie!V The French armies The French armies were ill-prepared for were ill-prepared for the conflict.the conflict.

V ½ of the officer ½ of the officer corps had corps had emigrated.emigrated.

V Many men disserted.Many men disserted.

V New recruits were New recruits were enthusiastic, butenthusiastic, butill-trained.ill-trained.

V French troops often French troops often broke ranks and fled broke ranks and fled in disorder.in disorder.

Results from war against Austria• More economic shortages• More radical behavior

– Mobs– Communes (radical

political groups – Paris)– A plot to capture the king– Desire for universal male

suffrage– Enter the “sans culottes”

ordinary patriots w/o fine clothes (although still not the very poor)