The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

““The Atlantic Revolution”The Atlantic Revolution”

French Revolution was a part of a whole French Revolution was a part of a whole series of revolutions which took place series of revolutions which took place during the late 18during the late 18thth century century--Political agitation in England, Ireland, --Political agitation in England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the Germany, Hungary, Poland and the American coloniesAmerican colonies

One big movement of revolutionary One big movement of revolutionary agitationagitation

Central and South AmericaCentral and South America

Independence from Independence from Spanish ruleSpanish rule

Simon Bolivar, the father Simon Bolivar, the father of Latin American of Latin American independenceindependence

Continued dominance of Continued dominance of the white minoritythe white minority

The abolition of slave The abolition of slave trade set in motiontrade set in motion

--US --US abolishedabolished trade in trade in 18081808

Outline! Memorize!Outline! Memorize!Estates-GeneralEstates-GeneralThird Estate + Tennis Court = National AssemblyThird Estate + Tennis Court = National AssemblyBastilleBastilleGreat FearGreat FearDeclaration of the Rights of ManDeclaration of the Rights of ManWomen’s MarchWomen’s MarchFlight to VarennesFlight to VarennesWarWarConvention: TerrorConvention: TerrorLouis XVI executedLouis XVI executedThermidorThermidorDirectoryDirectoryCoup d’etat, Consulate (incl. Napoleon)Coup d’etat, Consulate (incl. Napoleon)

Causes of the French Rev: Causes of the French Rev: PoliticalPolitical

Louis XV (1714-74)Louis XV (1714-74) ••incompetent leadershipincompetent leadership ✓ ✓ great-grandson of Louis XIVgreat-grandson of Louis XIV ✓ ✓ crowned king at age 5crowned king at age 5 ✓ ✓ challenged by nobles and challenged by nobles and parlements parlements who sought to regain who sought to regain

power that had been lost under the centralizing and absolutism power that had been lost under the centralizing and absolutism policies of Louis XIII and Louis XIVpolicies of Louis XIII and Louis XIV

✓ ✓ aware of problems in government and tax systemaware of problems in government and tax system - Louis XV and ministers unable to reform system due to - Louis XV and ministers unable to reform system due to

resistance from clergy and nobilityresistance from clergy and nobility ✓ ✓ allegedly said: “après moi, le deluge” (“afterallegedly said: “après moi, le deluge” (“after me, the flood”)me, the flood”)

Louis XVILouis XVI

incompetent leadershipincompetent leadership - grandson of Louis XV- grandson of Louis XV - became king when he was 20- became king when he was 20 - lacked intelligence and ambition- lacked intelligence and ambition - married Marie Antoinette when he was 15- married Marie Antoinette when he was 15 ✓✓out of touch with French societyout of touch with French society - more interested in hunting and mechanical locks - more interested in hunting and mechanical locks

than rulingthan ruling - travelled little and rarely left Versailles- travelled little and rarely left Versailles

Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette

incompetent leadershipincompetent leadership - daughter of Maria Theresa- daughter of Maria Theresa - wife and queen consort of Louis XVI- wife and queen consort of Louis XVI ✓✓detested by French societydetested by French society - extravagant lifestyle: hair, jewelry, clothes- extravagant lifestyle: hair, jewelry, clothes - associated w/ questionable events, such as - associated w/ questionable events, such as

Diamond Necklace AffairDiamond Necklace Affair - accused of being whore and sleeping w/ son- accused of being whore and sleeping w/ son - out of touch w/ French economic and social - out of touch w/ French economic and social

realities: French believed she once said “Let them realities: French believed she once said “Let them eat cake.”eat cake.”

political abuses of French political abuses of French govtgovt

- absolutism by divine right- absolutism by divine right ✓✓bureaucrats and officeholders often received jobs bureaucrats and officeholders often received jobs

based on birth or purchase, not talentbased on birth or purchase, not talent ✓✓abuse of the royal seal (abuse of the royal seal (lettre de cachet) (lettre de cachet) (like arrest like arrest

warrant)warrant) ✓✓no freedom of speech or pressno freedom of speech or press ✓✓Estates General (parliament) not called since 1614Estates General (parliament) not called since 1614 ✓✓no right to petition government with grievances no right to petition government with grievances

((cahiercahier de doléances, or cahier)de doléances, or cahier) except if monarch asks except if monarch asks

rigid social class structure: Estate Systemrigid social class structure: Estate System Imbalanced tax systemImbalanced tax system taxes paid by Third Estate incl. taxes paid by Third Estate incl. ‣ ‣ tithe: church tax paid to Roman Catholic Churchtithe: church tax paid to Roman Catholic Church ‣ ‣ taille: tax on landtaille: tax on land ‣ ‣ corvée: forced labor on roadscorvée: forced labor on roads ‣ ‣ gabelle: tax on certain salt purchasesgabelle: tax on certain salt purchases Estates that worked the least received most privilegesEstates that worked the least received most privileges Bourgeoisie wanted liberal reforms, ideas spread Bourgeoisie wanted liberal reforms, ideas spread

through books, plays, salonsthrough books, plays, salons

bankrupt French governmentbankrupt French government

✓✓antiquated tax systemantiquated tax system - many attempts to reform tax system all failed due - many attempts to reform tax system all failed due

to resistance from nobility who did not want to pay to resistance from nobility who did not want to pay taxes without a say in government taxes without a say in government

✓✓debt from various wars of 18th century and French debt from various wars of 18th century and French support for the colonists in Amer Revsupport for the colonists in Amer Rev

- harsh winters and hot summers (most notably in - harsh winters and hot summers (most notably in the 1780s)the 1780s)

- poor harvests, rising food prices, famine, less tax - poor harvests, rising food prices, famine, less tax revenuerevenue

✓✓extravagant building projectsextravagant building projects

OriginsOrigins

Actually began as Actually began as revolt of aristocracyrevolt of aristocracy

Attempt to capitalize Attempt to capitalize on the financial woes on the financial woes of the monarchyof the monarchy

The Estates-GeneralThe Estates-General

Third EstateThird Estate

Third Estate was Third Estate was dominated by middle dominated by middle classclass

In show of solidarity, In show of solidarity, some clergy and some clergy and nobility sat with Third nobility sat with Third EstateEstate

- Abbé Sieyès- Abbé Sieyès - Marquis de Lafayette- Marquis de Lafayette

Tennis Court OathTennis Court Oath

Third Estate became Third Estate became National Assembly National Assembly in in June of 1789, proclaimed June of 1789, proclaimed power to frame power to frame constitutionconstitution

16,000 troops to 16,000 troops to Versailles to restore orderVersailles to restore order

Louis XVI lost support of Louis XVI lost support of the bourgeoisie, who for the bourgeoisie, who for centuries had supported centuries had supported the monarchythe monarchy

E. “Revolutionaries in the Streets”E. “Revolutionaries in the Streets”

““Sans-culottes” (without Sans-culottes” (without knee britches)knee britches)

Picked up ideas and Picked up ideas and slogans of Revolution slogans of Revolution from more educated from more educated leadership of lawyers leadership of lawyers and journalistsand journalists

Motivations of these Motivations of these RevolutionariesRevolutionaries

Poverty, hungerPoverty, hunger Low wages, fear of Low wages, fear of

unemploymentunemployment Strong dislike for, Strong dislike for,

distrust of wealthydistrust of wealthy The role of conspiracyThe role of conspiracy

Storming the BastilleStorming the Bastille

Fr Rev had spread to lower classes of Fr Rev had spread to lower classes of society (not just pols in National society (not just pols in National Assembly fighting political struggle)Assembly fighting political struggle)

fearing the worst, Louis XVI recognized fearing the worst, Louis XVI recognized the severity of the crisis and, as a the severity of the crisis and, as a result, ordered the First and Second result, ordered the First and Second Estates to join National Assembly in Estates to join National Assembly in order to address France’s financial and order to address France’s financial and security issuessecurity issues

G. “The Great Fear”G. “The Great Fear”

Independent agitation Independent agitation in countrysidein countryside

Rumors of Royalist Rumors of Royalist troops troops

countryside of France countryside of France completely changedcompletely changed

destruction of recordsdestruction of records Nat Assembly Nat Assembly

abolishes feudal fees, abolishes feudal fees, tithestithes

Moderate phaseModerate phase

Enlightenment inspired reformsEnlightenment inspired reforms

Nationalization of ChurchNationalization of Church

✓ ✓ used sale of former Church lands to pay off national debtused sale of former Church lands to pay off national debt ✓ ✓ government began to issues government began to issues assignats (bonds) thatassignats (bonds) that represented the value of the property; represented the value of the property; assignats wereassignats were eventually used as a de facto paper currencyeventually used as a de facto paper currency ✓ ✓ increased momentum of revolution (more people hadincreased momentum of revolution (more people had economic interest to maintain revolutionary changes)economic interest to maintain revolutionary changes) • • Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790) ✓ ✓ Roman Catholic clergy to be elected by people they served;Roman Catholic clergy to be elected by people they served; non-Catholics could take part in electionsnon-Catholics could take part in elections ✓ ✓ clergy received pay from stateclergy received pay from state ✓ ✓ clergy took an oath of allegiance to French state and Civilclergy took an oath of allegiance to French state and Civil Constitution of the ClergyConstitution of the Clergy

• • abolished provincial boundaries and established abolished provincial boundaries and established départmentsdépartments

• • increased economic integration by eliminating increased economic integration by eliminating many internal tariffsmany internal tariffs

• • introduced the metric system to France (officially introduced the metric system to France (officially 1799)1799)

• • introduced guillotineintroduced guillotine ✓ ✓ supposed to be a painless and humane executionsupposed to be a painless and humane execution ✓ ✓ ended social distinctions in executionended social distinctions in execution ✓ ✓ abused later by the National Convention (1792-95)abused later by the National Convention (1792-95)

The Court Returns to ParisThe Court Returns to Paris

Mounting unemployment Mounting unemployment and hunger in Paris and hunger in Paris “October Days”“October Days”

-- “The point is that we want -- “The point is that we want bread!”bread!”

Women nearly killed QueenWomen nearly killed Queen Royal Family returns to Royal Family returns to

Paris October 1789Paris October 1789 Moderates losing controlModerates losing control

Sales of church land and émigrés’ land widespread redistribution of land in France 20%? Or more?

New owners have direct interest in success of Revolution, otherwise may lose land

The Consolidation of the Liberal The Consolidation of the Liberal RevolutionRevolution

Abolition of French nobility as a legal orderAbolition of French nobility as a legal order Constitutional Monarchy establishedConstitutional Monarchy established

K. Growing RadicalismK. Growing Radicalism

-- Paris mob-- Paris mob

--Snowball Effect--Snowball Effect

--expectations--expectations

-- Jacobins want to -- Jacobins want to spread rev to protect spread rev to protect FranceFrance

--Outbreak of War--Outbreak of War

L. Robespierre’s Reign of TerrorL. Robespierre’s Reign of Terror

Committee of Public Committee of Public SafetySafety

““Total War”Total War” Republic of VirtueRepublic of Virtue reorganization of Fr langreorganization of Fr lang Calendar adoptedCalendar adopted levée en masse: levée en masse:

conscription army & conscription army & societysociety

L. The Reign of Terror (cont)L. The Reign of Terror (cont)

Guillotine of 40,000 Guillotine of 40,000 “Enemies of the Nation”“Enemies of the Nation”

More deaths from other More deaths from other means of execution, means of execution, counterrevolutionary counterrevolutionary movements like Vendeemovements like Vendee

Stress on radical Stress on radical definition of equalitydefinition of equality

Wanted limit on personal Wanted limit on personal wealthwealth

Wanted regulation of Wanted regulation of commercial profitscommercial profits

De-Christianization of France: The De-Christianization of France: The Religion of ReasonReligion of Reason

✓ ✓ argued Christian church was irrational, feudalargued Christian church was irrational, feudal

introduced a deistic “Cult of the Supreme Being”introduced a deistic “Cult of the Supreme Being” Notre Dame Cathedral re-named “Temple of Reason” Notre Dame Cathedral re-named “Temple of Reason” closed churches throughout Franceclosed churches throughout France priests forced to marrypriests forced to marry secular holidays establishedsecular holidays established

✓ ✓ more popular in Paris than in provincial Francemore popular in Paris than in provincial France ✓ ✓ alienated many citizens in countryside and weakened alienated many citizens in countryside and weakened

support for the National Conventionsupport for the National Convention

discovery of letters to Austrian monarchy sympathetic to discovery of letters to Austrian monarchy sympathetic to antirevolutionary causeantirevolutionary cause

✓ ✓ Louis and Marie arrested on so-called “Flight to Varennes” Louis and Marie arrested on so-called “Flight to Varennes” (1791)(1791)

✓ ✓ both Louis and Marie eventually would be put on trial for both Louis and Marie eventually would be put on trial for treasontreason

anti-revolutionary Europeanti-revolutionary Europe

✓ ✓ monarchies and aristocracies viewed ideas and monarchies and aristocracies viewed ideas and reforms of French Revolution as threat to power, wealth reforms of French Revolution as threat to power, wealth statusstatus

emigrés: nobles who fled France told horror stories and emigrés: nobles who fled France told horror stories and pleaded for Europe to crush revolutionpleaded for Europe to crush revolution

✓ ✓ Edmund Burke in Reflections on the Revolution in Edmund Burke in Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790)France (1790)

- French had gone too far- French had gone too far - French Revolution would lead to anarchy and - French Revolution would lead to anarchy and

dictatorshipdictatorship

M. The Directory and Napoleon M. The Directory and Napoleon BonaparteBonaparte

ThermidorThermidor The Directory (1794-The Directory (1794-

1799) ineffective, corrupt1799) ineffective, corrupt Napoleon’s Rise to Power Napoleon’s Rise to Power

and coup d’etat 1799and coup d’etat 1799 The Napoleonic CodeThe Napoleonic Code Establishment of the Establishment of the

Bank of FranceBank of France Reconciliation with the Reconciliation with the

Catholic ChurchCatholic Church--Concordat of 1801--Concordat of 1801

Heavy CensorshipHeavy Censorship Napoleon’s “Art of War”Napoleon’s “Art of War”