i. the french monarchy in crisis
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I. The French Monarchy In Crisis. Structure of the Old Regime. * The King is an Absolute Monarch. * Society was divided into 3 Estates. .5%. The First Estate. The High Clergy. These people were nobles. Parish Priests. These people were commoners. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
I. The French Monarchy In Crisis
• Structure of the Old Regime* The King is an Absolute Monarch* Society was divided into 3 Estates
The First EstateThe High Clergy
Parish Priests
These people were nobles
These people were commoners
They managed church affairs, ran schools, kept birth and death records and cared for the poor
Collected a tithe – which was a 10% income tax - to fund these activities
.5%
Many parish priests criticized the luxury that High Clergy lived in
The Second Estate 1.5%The Nobility
Enjoyed great wealth and privilege
(Not all were wealthy but the defended their traditional rights)
Only nobles could become officers in the military or fill highchurch office
Nobles were exempt from most taxes
When Louis XIV died in 1715 French nobles tried to take back power that they had lost during his reign
led by nobles of the robe who were mostly judges in theparliament or high courts.
Had to approve the kings orders before they became law and often they didn’t, especially if they limited their power
The Third Estate 98%This literally included everyone else
Bourgeoisie
They resented the privilege of the Nobles and believed in the Enlightenment ideas of equality and social justice
These people called for the reform because the 3rd estate paid most of the taxes
- Wealthy middle classThese are the wealthiest and most outspoken
Included successful merchants
Manufacturers
Lawyers And Doctors
Small storekeepers and artisans
Peasants These people made up the largest percentage of the 3rd estate
They were a bit better off than peasants in the rest of Europe
Serfdom was mostly gone though there were some feudal dues such as fixing roads etc.
Peasants paid heavy taxes, the tithe, and rent to their landlords
Only the nobility could hunt, so peasants were not allowed to destroy animals that ate their crops
City WorkersThousands of French people worked as servants, maids, apprentices, and day laborers
Food prices grew faster than wages
The Growing Economic CrisisHISTORY:
During most of the 1700s the French economy prosperedThe population grew from 18 million in 1715 to 25 million in 1789
Food surpluses and Mercantilist policies helped support the growing population and industry
In the 1770s however, economic activity slowed
Internal customs duties and toll roads kept business from expanding
There was huge debt from the wars of Louis XIV
Poor harvests , and poorly stored surpluses lead to famine
Louis XV and Louis XVI kept borrowing money instead of paying off the debt
Support of the American Revolution doubled the national debt
Louis’ Attempts at ReformLouis saw the need for Economic Reform when he became king in 1774
But he wasn’t really interested in doing anything about it
Robert Turgot Was Louis’ finance minister
He eased the economic crisis by reducing spending
Doing away with internal tariffsSuggested that the nobles pay taxes
They said no…the lower classes alone should pay taxesLouis fired him in 1776 because he didn’t want to deal with unhappy nobles
In fa l l of 1788 Louis ca l led the Estates General to meet in May 1789
Poor harvests in 1787-8 deepened the crisis and Louis went to Paris to try to pass a new tax law
II. A Moderate Start to the RevolutionTHE ESTATES GENERAL
Each estate elected their own deputies
When the estates met in May of 1789 the 3rd Estate demanded that they all meet together
andThat all deputies have equal vote instead of meeting separately and voting as groups
The 3rd Estate was ALWAYS out voted.
Louis XVI said
Deputies from the 3rd Estate declared themselves the National Assembly
They wanted to write a Constitution for France
Louis Banished Them
NO!
THE TENNIS COURT OATHNobles and deputies of the other estates joined the Third Estate at a nearby Tennis Court
Swore that they would not disband until a Constitution was written for France
At first Louis didn’t want them to, but then ordered the 1st and 2nd Estates to join the 3rd
Oath was taken on June 20, 1789
There were some problems however, because there were deep divisions in the individual estates
Some nobles and clergy and most commoners wanted a limited constitutional monarchy like Great Britain
Radicals Were people who wanted drastic change
They wanted to do away with titles, feudal obligations, and the monarchy
The Storming of the BastilleFrench peasants wanted quick change but they didn’t get it
Louis brought troops in to Versailles for protection
ButPeople thought that he wanted to crush the National Assembly
July 14th 1789Peasants stormed a prison called the Bastille looking for weapons and gunpowder
This was a political prison that many saw as a symbol of all that was wrong with France
Between June and the beginning of August 1789, there were riots in the countryside. Peasants burned their nobles' chateaux, monasteries and buildings which housed public records.
THE GREAT FEARSoon Peasants began to hear rumors that bandits were destroying crops and homes
When no bandits showed up, the peasants rioted against their landlords
They particularly targeted documents which contained records of their feudal obligations.
The August DecreesAUGUST 4TH, 1789
Deputies arose to make speeches in support of reformThey proposed taxing the nobility, ending the tithe, and doing away with hunting rights
Abolished serfdom, ended tax-exemption, made all male citizens eligible for church and government positions
ADOPTED THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND CITIZENThis stated that all are equal under the law
Stated that democratic principles would be the basis for the French Government
Protected personal property
October 5, 1789
The March on Versailles
A crowd of mostly women, protesting high food prices marched on Versailles
They demanded that the King and Queen return with them to Paris
Louis and his family returned to Paris with themLouis was forced to wear the tricolor
This is the symbol that the revolutionaries had adopted
Showed that they were in charge!
Reforms of the National Assembly
Religious ReformsFreedom of Worship
No more special privileges for the Catholic Church
1790 – Civil Constitution of the ClergyGave the French government control of the Church
Allowed citizens to elect bishops and priests
Government took land away from the Church and began to sell it to raise money
Catholics who had supported the Revolution to this point now condemned it
The Constitution of 1791Made France a limited monarchySet up a system of separation of powers
King is the Executive
Legislature makes laws
King can veto laws
Legislature can override
the veto
Courts guarantee
equal rights under the
law
Did away with the feudal system, and erased the boundaries between estates
Problems with the new ConstitutionVery few people were happy with the new constitution
Radicals wanted to do away with the monarchy altogether
Nobles thought it went to far when it did away with privileges and title
Some nobles fled France
They became known as ÉmigrésÉmigrés are political exiles
They encouraged monarchs all over Europe to condemn the French Revolution
Even the king tried to get help
Marie Antoinette Asked her brother, the emperor of Austria, for help
Flight to VarennesJune 20-21 1791
Louis decided to try to flee Paris with his family on the night of June 20th
They disguised themselves as Russian servants and headed to Montmedy
It didn’t work though, the king was recognized and they were all arrested
Louis is now a prisoner of the Assembly and forced to accept the Constitution in September of 1791
October 1791The newly elected Legislative Assembly met for the first time
RadicalsSat on the Left
ModeratesSat in the
MiddleRoyalists/Conservatives
sat on the Right
The King’s attempt to flee made divisions among the revolutionaries worse
Moderates still wanted a limited monarchy
Radicals demand a republic
The Radicals are splitThe really radical radicals are the Jacobins
Led by Maximillien Robespierre
Wanted full democracy and universal male suffrage
The Revolution DeepensFrance at War
April 1792France declared war on Austria
Prussia joins Austria against France
France does very badly at first because many nobles left, and they were the officers
August 1792Austrian and Prussian forces surround Paris
The Brunswick ManifestoThe Duke of Brunswick warned that if Paris didn’t surrender he’d burn it to the ground and torture its leaders
September 1792The French defeat the Prussians at Valmy
August 10, 1792
Radical revolutionaries take over the Paris city government
Set up the Paris CommuneThey attacked the palace, killed many of the king’s guards, and arrested the King and Queen
They then demanded a new Constitution
The National ConventionMet in late September 1792
A trunk full of Letters saying that Louis wanted to crush the revolution were found and used as evidence against him
* Then had to decide what to do with the King
Radicals want him tried for treason and executedModerates want him imprisoned until the end of the war
November 1792:
* First act was to do away with the Monarchy and make France a Republic
Execution of The King and Queen
Louis is convicted by a 1 vote majority
He is executed on January 21, 1793
Marie Antoinette is convicted of treason and executed in October of 1793
Louis’ execution spread fear throughout Europe
The French Army started doing much better
Monarchs started to fear the spread of Revolution in their own countries
March 1793
Great Britain, The Dutch Netherlands, and Spain join the war against France
People in France began to think the war went too far and there are revolts against the revolution
Robespierre put aside the Constitution of 1793 and created
The Committee of Public SafetyWaged a war against “enemies” of the Revolution
Called the Reign of TerrorThe point was to create a Republic of VirtueThe Law of Suspects
Allowed the Committee to imprison and condemn citizens for treason on little evidence
The Committee did do good things for the revolution as well
Created and trained a new ArmyUsed a draft to make every French Man eligible for the Army
Set limits on Prices and WagesRationed Food, especially White Flour
Encouraged “Equality Bread”
French Army starts winning again in 1794
Impact of the RevolutionThe Monarchy is goneAll titles and nobility are done away withAll feudal customs are now goneClothing is changed to simple dresses and long trousersThe Metric system was established
Called for Free Public Schools