The French Revolution

1. The French Revolution Why did millions of French people suddenly revolt against institutions that their ancestors accepted for hundreds of years?

2. A Breakdown of the causes Discuss

3. Formation of Classes • Since Middle Ages people divided into three large social classes (estates) • The political system before the revolution was known as the Old Regime • 1st = Roman Catholic Clergy • 2nd =Nobles • 3rd = Commoners • Collectively they met as the Estates General

4. 1st Estate • Held about 10% of the land • Archbishops, bishops and abbots enormously wealthy • Parish priests were poor • Paid no direct taxes - gave a “free gift” of about 2% of income to the government

5. 2nd Estate • Made up less than 2% of the population • Owned about 20% of the land • Held all of the highest positions in the church, army, gov’t, and courts • Had no tax burden for centuries

6. 3rd Estate • 98% of France’s population • 3 Groups • Bourgeoisie - city dwelling middle class • Wealthy - desperate for social status • Urban lower class • Hard working sans-culottes (those without knee breeches) • Ate about 3 pounds of bread a day • 1788 grain harvest were small • Peasant farmers • 4/5 of 20 million • 1/2 of income to tax & courvee (unpaid labor (as for the maintenance of roads) required by a lord of his vassals in lieu of taxes)

7. Discontent in France • Population pressures • Population increased in the 1700s - need to supply more for a larger family • Financial Crisis • Landowners pressed peasants for higher rents • Inflation - prices increase while _____ remains unchanged = hatred between the rich and poor • King is blamed for the economic situation

8. (financial continued-) • Louis XV - the Well-Beloved king ruled for 59 years • “It will survive for my time, After me the deluge” (Louis XV ) • Borrowed heavily from banks to keep the government running • Handed a nation in financial trouble over to his heir • Louis XVI - • Inherits a bankrupt nation with no one willing to lend him money • Many advisors suggest taxing the 2nd estate • Calls the Estates General to gain approval for his plan

9. Weak Leadership • Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette • Louis financed a very expensive American Revolution ----- Why? • Was indecisive and let things drift • Marie Antoinette was from the royal family of Austria - France’s longtime enemy • She spent a fortune on gowns and jewels • Louis wants to tax the nobility - must meet the demands of calling the Estates General --- Versailles May 1, 1789 • Why would he want to call the E.G. after 175 years? • Read Abbey Sieyes (handout)

10. The Estates General The Number of Representatives Clergy 1st Estate 325 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 325 325 Commoners 3rd Estate

11. The Estates General & Controversy Voting by Chamber Clergy 1st Estate 1 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 1 Commoners 3rd Estate 1

12. The 3rd estate sees that it represents the entire nation, & decides to reform unilaterally: • Calls itself the “National Assembly” • Louis closes down the meeting and members flee to a nearby tennis court • Tennis Court Oath • Pledge to stay in service until a constitution is written. • That constitution must limit king’s powers, and must require regular sitting of an elected legislative assembly with power to budget and create law

13. The Great Fear and the constitution • While the urban masses supported National Assembly • Peasants did not know what to think • They were afraid that removing power from the king would … • Began attacking aristocratic homes looking for documents & destroying homes & property • This convinced the N.A. that …

14. 3rd Estate ---- “National Assembly” • To end the Great Fear and Violence • Abolished the special privileges of the First and Second Estates • Declaration of Rights of Man & Citizen • Born and remain equal before the law • Freedom of speech, press, religion • Equal to hold public office • Fair trial • “liberty, equality, fraternity” • Adopted France’s first Constitution • Set up an elected Legislative Assembly • In what way was the Declaration a sham? • Women Excluded • Olympe de Gouges “ A Declaration of the Rights of Women and Citizenesses”

15. Legislative Assembly Continued • Constitution • Divided into 3 Branches (Montesquieu) • Weak executive • Unable to make or block laws • Tax paying males elect members of the legislative branch • How might this arrangement fail the new government and France?

16. Legislative Assembly • King tries to flee France and is captured • What does this do to the people’s confidence in the new government? • Whose voice grows in strength? • Legislative Assembly • Conservatives, Moderates, Radicals • Foreign Matters • Declaration of Pillnitz - (Leopold II & Frederick William II) • Invited European rulers to help Louis XVI restore the monarchy • Success in war would legitimize the new government • L.A. declared war on Austria • Forces invade France • Mass uprising in Paris • Commune calls for the abolition of the Monarchy and arrest Louis XVI and his family

17. Legislative Assembly • Suspends the monarchy • Needs a new constitution • Voted itself out of existence • Any adult male could vote for officials to National Convention - no property requirements (universal manhood suffrage) • National Convention • Girondists - S.W. France, middle class, feared domination by Paris • Jacobins - republicans who favored domination by Paris - Danton & Robespierre • Sans-culottes - extreme radicals who wanted reforms to benefit all class -- Jean Paul Marat

18. N.C. first order of business • Proclaim the end of the monarchy • Suppress revolts • Fight off foreign invaders • Kings Trial - execution • Decide to export the Revolution and liberate all of Europe • Successes • Executed Louis XVI (plotting against the nation) • Army fought off foreign invasion • Invaded Austrian Netherlands • 1st Coalition (G.B., Neth, Spain, Sardinia, Aust, Pr) • Created in response to the success • Set up Committee of Public Safety • Direct army in crushing foreign forces • Turned on the domestic opposition to the Revolution • Started the Reign of Terror - a program to silence the critics of the Revolution • The Law of Suspects defines in broad terms enemies of the state

19. Reign of Terror - a program to silence the critics of the Revolution • The Law of Suspects defines in broad terms enemies of the state • The Program was led by Georges-Jacques Danton and Maximilien Robespierre • The violence eventually will turn inward and the Reign of Terror will come to an end with the death of Robespierre

20. Reign of Terror • Carried out by the Jacobin Dictatorship • Robespierre and Danton • The Law of Suspects defines in broad terms enemies of the state • Committee of Public Safety and Revolutionary Tribunal • Lasted about 10 months • Execute those disloyal to the revolution regardless of class • Twice as many bourgeoisie as nobles and three times as many from peasants and laborers • Ends with Robespierre execution • How did his trial go against the ideals of the Declarations of the Rights of Man and Citizen • No freedom of speech or equality before the law

21. Napoleon Bonaparte The Napoleonic Era France

22. Napoleon • 3 Primary Goals • Win peace by military victory • Achieve steady government • Create economic prosperity

23. Institutional Changes • Created: • The Consulate • He was first Consul • Later became Emperor after a referendum • The Napoleonic Code • Organized all French laws into one code • Instituted the code on all conquered lands • Established a Centralized financial institution • A public school system • Create common ideals • A meritocracy • Signed the concordat • Acknowledged Catholicism as the religion of most French • Retained the religious freedoms granted in the D.R.M