King Versus Assembly of Notables

• Archaic banking system and a lack of paper money limited economic options– Can’t inflate currency– French gov. owes money to too many

powerful people to simply default

• Thus, Louis XVI asks nobles to give up tax privileges

• Nobles respond, sure, if… – …we get more say in how the money is

spent (checks and balances)

In Desperation, Louis Calls thethe Estates General Estates General May, 1789May, 1789

Last time it was called into session was 1614! Last time it was called into session was 1614! [why?][why?]

Representatives to the Estates General Represent Almost All of The Groups We Have Discussed

•Wealthy and poor nobles

•Sword and robe

•Rich and poor clergy

•Bourgeois

•BUT no urban/rural poor

•These last two groups will still find ways to be heard… you’ll see

•Wealthy and poor nobles

•Sword and robe

•Rich and poor clergy

•Bourgeois

•BUT no urban/rural poor

•These last two groups will still find ways to be heard… you’ll see

Cahiers

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy

2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Voting Deadlock The Voting Deadlock The Old Pattern: Voting by The Old Pattern: Voting by

EstatesEstates1

1

1

Louis XIV insisted that Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.three orders be conserved in its entirety.

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

33rdrd Estate’s Suggestion Estate’s SuggestionVote by Head!Vote by Head!

300

300

648

Why did this cause a deadlock?

Why did this cause a deadlock?

Emmanuel Joseph SieyesEmmanuel Joseph Sieyes

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 Sieyès

1748-18361748-1836

““The Third Estate The Third Estate Awakens”Awakens”Y the Third Estate storms out of the Estates the Third Estate storms out of the Estates

General and begins to meet separately as a General and begins to meet separately as a

“National Assembly”“National Assembly”

Y What is the point of their new name? What is the point of their new name?

““The Tennis Court The Tennis Court Oath”Oath”

by Jacques Louis Davidby Jacques Louis David

June 20, 1789June 20, 1789

Louis XVI’s Crafty Response to Tennis Court Oath?

Yes, yes… please do write that

Consitution!

Yes, yes… please do write that

Consitution!

Soldiers…come, now!Soldiers…

come, now!

Bird? What bird?

Bird? What bird?

National Assembly is Saved By…?

• The ‘mob’– urban workers in Paris

Storming the Bastille, July 14, Storming the Bastille, July 14, 17891789Y Urban peasants feared that the king was Urban peasants feared that the king was

planning a military coup against the National planning a military coup against the National Assembly.Assembly.

Y Attack the Bastille prison, looking for Attack the Bastille prison, looking for gunpowdergunpowder 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].

Y Becomes THE Becomes THE symbol of the symbol of the RevolutionRevolution

Victorious Mob After Storming of the Bastille

The Great Fear: The Great Fear: Peasant RevoltPeasant Revolt

(July 20, 1789)(July 20, 1789)

Y Rumors that the feudal aristocracy were sending Rumors that the feudal aristocracy were sending hired brigands to attack peasants and pillage their hired brigands to attack peasants and pillage their land.land.

August DecreesAugust DecreesAugust 4-11, 1789August 4-11, 1789

(A renunciation of aristocratic (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!)privileges!)

Liberté!Liberté!

Egalité!Egalité!

Fraternité!Fraternité!

Night Session of August 4, Night Session of August 4, 17891789

Y Before the night was over:Before the night was over:

The feudal regime in France The feudal regime in France had been abolished.had been abolished.

All Frenchmen were, at least All Frenchmen were, at least in principle, subject to the in principle, subject to the same laws and the same same laws and the same taxes and eligible for the taxes and eligible for the same offices.same offices.

Equality & Meritocracy!Equality & Meritocracy! Equality & Meritocracy!Equality & Meritocracy!

BUT . . . . .BUT . . . . .Y Feudal dues were not renounced outright Feudal dues were not renounced outright

[this had been too strong a threat to the [this had been too strong a threat to the principle of private property!]principle of private property!]

Y Peasants would compensate their Peasants would compensate their landlords through a series of direct landlords through a series of direct payments for obligations from which payments for obligations from which they had supposedly been freed.they had supposedly been freed.

Therefore, the National Assembly made Therefore, the National Assembly made revolutionary gestures, but remained revolutionary gestures, but remained essentially moderate.essentially moderate.

Also, in a sense, the 2Also, in a sense, the 2ndnd nobles gave up nobles gave up what they had already lost… what they had already lost…

Their GoalTheir Goal Their GoalTheir Goal Safeguard the right of private Safeguard the right of private property!!property!!Safeguard the right of private Safeguard the right of private property!!property!!

Nonetheless, the Peasants Did Get Their Hands on A Significant

Amount of Land

• One of the longest lasting and most important successes of the Revolution

• To this day, land in France is owned by a surprisingly large number of small landholders

The Declaration of the Rights The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizenof Man and of the Citizen

August 26, August 26, 17891789

V Liberty!Liberty!

V Property!Property!

V Resistance to Resistance to oppression!oppression!

V Natural Rights Natural Rights

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

The French Constitution Took Much Longer to Write

• Why? – Declaration versus Constitution

• In the meantime, the situation had not improved much for the urban poor. They became tired of waiting…

• Women’s March on Versailles

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

We want the baker, the baker’s wife We want the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy!and the baker’s boy!

A spontaneous demonstration of Parisian A spontaneous demonstration of Parisian women for bread.women for bread.

The king was thought to be surrounded by evil The king was thought to be surrounded by evil advisors at Versailles so he was forced to move to advisors at Versailles so he was forced to move to

Paris and reside at the Paris and reside at the Tuileries PalaceTuileries Palace under under ‘palace arrest’ ‘palace arrest’

Only the Intervention of _______ Saved the King and Queen’s

Life

Only the Intervention of _______ Saved the King and Queen’s

Life

Louis XVI ‘Accepts’ the Louis XVI ‘Accepts’ the Constitution Constitution

& the National Assembly. 1791& the National Assembly. 1791

Why do I have accepts in quotes?

Why do I have accepts in quotes?

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

LiberalismLiberalismV capitalism capitalism

V No guilds, monopolies, unions, No guilds, monopolies, unions, etc.etc.

V Religious toleration Religious toleration

V Rationalism Rationalism

V Church Under State Control Church Under State Control

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

A Constitutional MonarchyA Constitutional MonarchyV The king got the The king got the “suspensive” veto“suspensive” veto

[which prevented the passage of laws [which prevented the passage of laws for 4 years].for 4 years].

He could not pass laws.He could not pass laws. His ministers were responsible for their His ministers were responsible for their

own actions.own actions. The king The king diddid still run the military and still run the military and

foreign policy foreign policy

V A permanent, elected, single chamber A permanent, elected, single chamber National Assembly.National Assembly.

Had the power to grant taxation.Had the power to grant taxation.

V An independent judiciary.An independent judiciary.

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

A Bourgeois GovernmentA Bourgeois GovernmentV ““Active” CitizenActive” Citizen [who pays taxes [who pays taxes

amounting to 3 days labor] could voteamounting to 3 days labor] could vote

V ““Passive” CitizenPassive” 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.

How to Finance the New Govt.?How to Finance the New Govt.?Confiscate Church Lands Confiscate Church 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.

Print Print AssignatsAssignats

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 Constitution The Civil Constitution of the Clergy of the Clergy

The oath of The oath of allegiance allegiance

permanently permanently divided the divided the

Catholic Catholic population!population!

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!!

Pope Pius VIPope Pius VI[1775-1799][1775-1799]

The Cascade Effect

• Revolutions often become a series of revolutions– Why? – Divergent groups agree on what they

don’t like, but then argue about what to replace it with

• In this first phase, the Church serves as the sticking point – Rural peasants versus bourgeois – Reason versus faith

-For the liberal bourgeois and the most liberal nobles, the revolution is over

- However, many groups remained unsatisfied

-- rural peasants- bring religion back -- urban workers- we don’t have land– wewant more radical changes– gov should providefood and work-- king- I have been humiliated!