the old regime: the three estates

1. The Old Regime: the Three Estates Legally aristocratic and some ways feudal Social and economic distinctions were obsolete First estate- The Church-owned 5-10% Second estate-the nobility Monopolized positions of influence Great resurgence since death of Louis XIV(1715) Blocked tax reform through parlement

3. Collision of Interests “The Revolution was the collision of two moving objects, a rising aristocracy and a rising bourgeoisie.” Palmer

4. Agrarian System Peasants worked for themselves on their own land or rented land, or they hired themselves out to others Manors still somewhat feudal “Hunting rights” Banalities Seigneurial privileges “Eminent property” but . . . landownership was widespread

5. Revolution changes the law of property Frees the private ownership of land from indirect “exuberances” (manorial fees, eminent property rights, communal village practices, and church tithes) and establishes property in the modern sense. It most especially benefited the landowning peasants and the bourgeoisie.

6. Prerequisite of political unity Unity gave rise to nationwide public opinion, nationwide agitation, nationwide policies, and nationwide legislation Unity a prerequisite AND a cause of the Revolution Central Europe lacked these conditions People saluted eachother as citizen and shouted viva la nation!

7. “Feudal reaction” In the 18th century, as a consequence of the resurgence of the aristocracy, manorial lords collected their dues more rigorously or revived old ones that had fallen into disuse Main problem was that the property system no longer bore any relation to real economic usefulness or activity

8. Critical spirit of public opinion Developed in salons, coffeehouses, and literary arguments spread rapidly into a developing public sphere of political debate Campaigns appealed for public support in the name of reason, rights, or justice In these ways the critical thought of Enlightenment culture entered into the political conflicts during the Old Regime

9. Revolution precipitated by a Financial Crisis War costs overloaded the government Although French debt was only half that of Great Britain, less than that of the Dutch Republic, and no greater than 1715, it could not be carried because revenues fell short of necessary expenditures Repudiation of the debt was no longer an option, sure sign of the economic progress of well-to-do classes

10. The Calonne plan Proposed a general tax to fall on all landowners, without exemption, instead of the taille Lightening of indirect taxes and eliminating internal tariffs to stimulate the economy Confiscation of some properties of church Establishment of provincial assemblies of landowning interests without regard to estate

11. Calonne and Brienne plans fail “assembly of notables” convened in 1787 but deadlocked over concessions, and king dismisses Calonne Parlement of Paris blocks similar plan by Brienne Brienne and Louis XVI try to replace the parlements which leads to revolt of nobles and their demand that the Estates General decide the issue of taxes Provincial estates and parlements refuse to cooperate and government brought to standstill, political clubs active King promises to call Estates General on July 5, 1788

12. Aims of Nobility By forcing the summoning of Estates General, the nobility actually initiated the Revolution King requests advice on how Estates General should be organized, led to outburst of public discussion Revolution begins as another aristocratic resurgence against the absolutism of the king Although the nobles had a LIBERAL program, they hoped to govern France permanently through a Estates General, unthinkable to THIRD ESTATE

13. Third Estate Wanted to avoid a permanent Estates General Abbe Sieyes “What is the Third Estate” Argued Nobility a “useless caste” and could be abolished without loss Ideas of Rousseau’s Social Contract entered thought of the Revolution Class antagonisms “poisoned” the revolution and France has suffered from them over since

14. National Assembly Formed over deadlock over bloc voting June 17th Third Estate declares itself National Assembly Tennis Court Oath June 20th (promise to write constitution) Revolutionary act of assuming sovereign power!

15. Weakness of Louis XVI Attempted to compromise and postpone a crisis Failed to make use of the profound loyalty felt by the bourgeoisie and common people Ultimately he chose to side with nobles, a break with tradition Third Estate did not fear a return to the absolute monarchy, but a country controlled by nobility

16. Revolution spreads to lower classes Bad harvests led to higher price of bread Government paralyzed and unable to take measures of relief Fear of “brigands” Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) saves Assembly King now accepts situation orders nobles and clergy to join the National Assembly

17. The Great Fear of 1789 “the brigands are coming” Great Fear became part of a general agrarian insurrection, in which peasants intended to destroy the manorial regime by force

18. Reforms of National Assembly “Night of August 4” Feudalism was abolished Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen established principles of Rule of law Equal individual citizenship (except women) Collective sovereignty of the people

19. Further reforms included in Constitution of 1791 1789-1791 (also known as constituent assembly) Abolishes Old Regime Creates 83 equal departments, administration decentralized in reaction to royal bureaucracy Local officials were to be elected Created a unicameral elected assembly (called the Legislative Assembly) while king provided suspensive veto “Flight to Varennes” destablizes the situation and weakens any movement for a strong executive

20. Counterrevolution gains strength Count of Artois and other aristocrats emigrate to foreign parts Emigres agitate abroad against the revolution More conservative revolutionaries drop out of Assembly after seeing constitutional questions settled “by mobs” In France, clubs organized to further reforms, most importantly, the Jacobins (middle class)

21. Active v. Passive Citizens Limits placed on democratic rights All citizens had equal civil rights Only “active” citizens had the right to vote for electors New political order was to develop through “manly” opposition to the “feminine” corruptions of the Old Regime Women excluded from government institutions

22. Economic policies favor middle class Public debt never disowned because owed mainly to middle class Establish a new currency called assignats, and confiscated all Church land to back it Sold land to raise money since tax collection was sporatic Favored economic individualism and all guilds were abolished Le Chaplier law (1791) banned trade organizations as well

23. New political culture “nationalized” the French people New flag New forms of democratic language New clothing New festivals New public monuments Liberty trees Liberty caps

24. Civil Constitution of the Clergy of 1790 Constituent Assembly regarded the Church as subordinate to the sovereign authority Provided maintenance for church Set up French national church Parish priests and bishops elected Paid salaries Vatican denounces Civil Constitution and Revolution in general Assembly required oaths leading to two churches, one public, one secret (refractory priests)

25. Constituent Assembly disbanded Civil Constitution greatest tactical blunder of Revolution French church, long enjoying “Gallican liberties” now turned to papacy Created a constitutional monarchy in which a unicameral Legislative Assembly confronted a king unconverted to the new order Ruled that none of its members could sit in Legislative Assembly