The French Revolution

I. Louis XV (r. 1715 – 1774)

A. Nobility gained power under him

B. Ministers and mistresses exercised influence (Madame de

Pompadour)

C. Emergence of “nobility of the robe” who bought titles

D. Parlement of Paris was abolished over taxes-for-war issues

II. Overview: France in 1789II. Overview: France in 1789

A. Most advanced country in 18A. Most advanced country in 18thth C. C.

B. Population of 25 millionB. Population of 25 million

C. Wealthiest country in Europe (not per capita)C. Wealthiest country in Europe (not per capita)

D. Productive economy (more so than Britain)D. Productive economy (more so than Britain)

E. French culture dominated the continentE. French culture dominated the continent

1. Official language of diplomacy and spoken in courts1. Official language of diplomacy and spoken in courts

2. Center of the Enlightenment2. Center of the Enlightenment

3. Science led the world3. Science led the world

4. Most powerful military in Europe4. Most powerful military in Europe

III. The Three Estates (a medieval system - didn’t reflect modern France)

A. The First Estate (clergy)

1. Less than 1% population but owned 20% of land

2. Exempt from taxes

3. Played role in government affairs

4. Local parish income drained by government officials and

aristocrats

B. The Second Estate (nobility)

1. 2-4% population

2. Owned 25% of land

3. Experienced resurgence after death of Louis XVI (1715)

4. Enjoyed manorial rights that allowed them to tax peasants

5. Tax free

C. The Third Estate (merchants, middle class, workers, peasants)C. The Third Estate (merchants, middle class, workers, peasants)

1. Bore majority of tax burden1. Bore majority of tax burden

a. Taille (land tax) and tithe (church tax or 10% a. Taille (land tax) and tithe (church tax or 10% income)income)

b. Income tax, poll tax, salt taxb. Income tax, poll tax, salt tax

2. Vast majority but owned only 40% of land2. Vast majority but owned only 40% of land

3. 3. CorveeCorvee obligated peasants to work for landowners sever days/yr obligated peasants to work for landowners sever days/yr

4. 4. BourgeoisieBourgeoisie demanded demanded political and social power of nobility and and social power of nobility and church church

a. Wanted less power to first two estatesa. Wanted less power to first two estates

b. Wanted tax reliefb. Wanted tax relief

c. Hated the “lettre de cachet (imprisonment without c. Hated the “lettre de cachet (imprisonment without trial)trial)

IV. Long-term Causes of the French RevolutionIV. Long-term Causes of the French Revolution

A. The American RevolutionA. The American Revolution

1. Many French served1. Many French served

2. Bourgeoisie and lower nobility intrigued by 2. Bourgeoisie and lower nobility intrigued by idea of idea of liberty liberty

3. French aid to Americans resulted in huge 3. French aid to Americans resulted in huge debtdebt

B. Enlightenment brought criticism of French absolutismB. Enlightenment brought criticism of French absolutism

1. Ideas of Montesquieu, Locke were popular1. Ideas of Montesquieu, Locke were popular

2. Laissez-faire economics (A. Smith) appealed 2. Laissez-faire economics (A. Smith) appealed to middleto middle

classclass

3. Many saw government and laws as corrupt, 3. Many saw government and laws as corrupt, inefficientinefficient

a. Divine right didn’t match a. Divine right didn’t match Enlightenment Enlightenment thought thought

b. No representative body existed in b. No representative body existed in FranceFrance

D. Class conflictD. Class conflict

1. Three estates didn’t reflect wealth of France1. Three estates didn’t reflect wealth of France

2. Bourgeoisie frustrated by lack of political, legal rights - 2. Bourgeoisie frustrated by lack of political, legal rights - although some bought way into power although some bought way into power

V. Immediate CausesV. Immediate CausesA. France was nearly bankrupt under Louis XVIA. France was nearly bankrupt under Louis XVI

1. Costs from war (with Britain)1. Costs from war (with Britain)2. Debt was same as other economic powers but could not2. Debt was same as other economic powers but could not be paid off under tax exemptions systembe paid off under tax exemptions system3. France had no paper currency, no national bank3. France had no paper currency, no national bank4. Government was dependent on poorest classes for taxes4. Government was dependent on poorest classes for taxes5. Wages could not keep up with prices (inflation)5. Wages could not keep up with prices (inflation)

B. Conflict between the nobility and LouisB. Conflict between the nobility and Louis1. Financial minister Jacques Necker attempted to raise taxes 1. Financial minister Jacques Necker attempted to raise taxes but was dismissedbut was dismissed2. King called for Assembly of Notables (1787)2. King called for Assembly of Notables (1787)

a. King asks nobility to pay taxes. They say noa. King asks nobility to pay taxes. They say nob. Parlements regain power through nobility and blockb. Parlements regain power through nobility and block tax-raising decrees by king tax-raising decrees by king c. Nobility threaten to revoltc. Nobility threaten to revolt

3. King summons Estates General in July 17883. King summons Estates General in July 1788

VI. The Estates General (met in May 1789)VI. The Estates General (met in May 1789)

A. Made up of reps from all three estates. Met last in 1614A. Made up of reps from all three estates. Met last in 1614

B. Each estate asked to present a “cahiers de dolances” (listB. Each estate asked to present a “cahiers de dolances” (list

of grievances) of grievances)

C. Common agreements between the estatesC. Common agreements between the estates

1. Call for constitutional monarchy1. Call for constitutional monarchy

2. Individual liberties protected by law2. Individual liberties protected by law

3. Improvement of parish clergy3. Improvement of parish clergy

4. End of internal trade barriers4. End of internal trade barriers

D. Makeup and votingD. Makeup and voting

1. Each estate allowed as many reps as desired1. Each estate allowed as many reps as desired

2. Third Estate reps were middle-class members2. Third Estate reps were middle-class members

3. One vote per estate3. One vote per estate

E. E. What is the Third EstateWhat is the Third Estate by Abbe Sieyes (Jan 1789) by Abbe Sieyes (Jan 1789)1. Claimed that Third Estate should have power – represented1. Claimed that Third Estate should have power – represented France France 2. Called for end of nobility2. Called for end of nobility3. Influenced by ideas of Rousseau3. Influenced by ideas of Rousseau

F. The formation of the National AssemblyF. The formation of the National Assembly1. Third Estate attempted to assert power in Estates General 1. Third Estate attempted to assert power in Estates General 2. After meeting (May 1789) deadlock was reached after six weeks2. After meeting (May 1789) deadlock was reached after six weeks over voting systemover voting system3. Third Estate locked out of meetings by king in June and 3. Third Estate locked out of meetings by king in June and supported by some members of clergy, meet at tennis courtsupported by some members of clergy, meet at tennis court4. The Tennis Court Oath 4. The Tennis Court Oath

a. Swore not to disband until constitution createda. Swore not to disband until constitution createdb. Creation of new national assemblyb. Creation of new national assemblyc. Led by bourgeoisie, some members of other estatesc. Led by bourgeoisie, some members of other estatesd. King calls army to Versaillesd. King calls army to Versailles

The Tennis Court Oath

VII. The Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789)VII. The Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789)

A. Revolts in Paris over food shortages, events at VersaillesA. Revolts in Paris over food shortages, events at Versailles

B. Dismissal of Necker led to fears of landowners by peasantryB. Dismissal of Necker led to fears of landowners by peasantry

C. Mobs storm prison looking for weaponsC. Mobs storm prison looking for weapons

D. Result – King left confused and calls off army, accepts NationalD. Result – King left confused and calls off army, accepts National

AssemblyAssembly

E. New National Guard to protect Paris – led by Marquis de E. New National Guard to protect Paris – led by Marquis de Lafayette Lafayette

VII. The Great Fear (1789)VII. The Great Fear (1789)

A. Spirit of rebellion spreads to countrysideA. Spirit of rebellion spreads to countryside

B. Peasants attack manor houses, destroy recordsB. Peasants attack manor houses, destroy records

C. ResultsC. Results

1. National Assembly votes to destroy feudal system1. National Assembly votes to destroy feudal system

2. Manorial rights of nobility ended2. Manorial rights of nobility ended

3. Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen 3. Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen

Peasants riot in the French countryside

VIII. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (Aug 1789)VIII. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (Aug 1789)A. Blueprint for French constitutionA. Blueprint for French constitution

1. Modeled after US ideas1. Modeled after US ideas2. Allowed due process (innocent until proven 2. Allowed due process (innocent until proven

guilty)guilty)3. Sovereignty to the people3. Sovereignty to the people

B. Based on “classical liberalism” of the EnlightenmentB. Based on “classical liberalism” of the Enlightenment1. “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights”1. “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights”2. Natural rights assured (Locke)2. Natural rights assured (Locke)3. Law is expression of the general will (Rousseau)3. Law is expression of the general will (Rousseau)

C. Freedom of expression and religionC. Freedom of expression and religionD. Taxes raised only with common consentD. Taxes raised only with common consentE. Public servants held accountable for actionsE. Public servants held accountable for actionsF. Separation of powers through three branchesF. Separation of powers through three branchesG. Confiscation of property only with compensation to ownerG. Confiscation of property only with compensation to ownerH. “Citizen” applied to all regardless of classH. “Citizen” applied to all regardless of classI. Biggest issue with Declaration – power of the kingI. Biggest issue with Declaration – power of the king

The French Revolution Part Deux

I. Role of Women I. Role of Women

A. Left out of DeclarationA. Left out of Declaration

B. Lacked rights regarding family law, education, suffrage, public B. Lacked rights regarding family law, education, suffrage, public officeoffice

C. Olympe de Gouges’ C. Olympe de Gouges’ The Rights of WomenThe Rights of Women (1791) applied rights (1791) applied rights

Declaration to women.Declaration to women.

D. Wollstonecraft (Eng.) – Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)D. Wollstonecraft (Eng.) – Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)

E. March on Versailles (Oct. 1789)E. March on Versailles (Oct. 1789)

1. Incited by Jean-Paul Marat1. Incited by Jean-Paul Marat

2. Call for lower bread prices2. Call for lower bread prices

3. Forced king, National Assembly back to Paris3. Forced king, National Assembly back to Paris

II. The New Constitution (1790)II. The New Constitution (1790)A. Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)A. Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)

1. Sold off church lands to pay off national debt1. Sold off church lands to pay off national debt2. All religions could vote based on land ownership, citizenship2. All religions could vote based on land ownership, citizenship3. Clergy forced to swear loyalty to gov’t – not the pope3. Clergy forced to swear loyalty to gov’t – not the pope4. Move unpopular – peasants, urban working class4. Move unpopular – peasants, urban working class5. “Refractory clergy” refused to take oath5. “Refractory clergy” refused to take oath

B. France becomes a constitutional monarchyB. France becomes a constitutional monarchy1. Unicameral assembly1. Unicameral assembly2. Nobility abolished2. Nobility abolished3. Voting controlled by middle class3. Voting controlled by middle class4. France divided into 83 departments run by elected officials4. France divided into 83 departments run by elected officials

C. Economic ReformC. Economic Reform1. Metric system replaces sloppy system of weights and 1. Metric system replaces sloppy system of weights and

measuresmeasures2. Strikes outlawed2. Strikes outlawed3. Middle class benefits more than anybody 3. Middle class benefits more than anybody

III. Reactions to the Revolution III. Reactions to the Revolution

A. The “Flight to Varennes” (June 1791)A. The “Flight to Varennes” (June 1791)

1. Royal family attempts to flee and raise army of 1. Royal family attempts to flee and raise army of

emigres rather than accept constitutionemigres rather than accept constitution

2. King captured, forced to accept constitutional 2. King captured, forced to accept constitutional monarchymonarchy

IV. Edmund Burke’s IV. Edmund Burke’s Reflections on the Revolution in FranceReflections on the Revolution in France

A. Intellectual defense of conservatismA. Intellectual defense of conservatism

B. Defended inherited privilegesB. Defended inherited privileges

C. Predicted anarchy and dictatorship in FranceC. Predicted anarchy and dictatorship in France

V. Thomas Paine’s V. Thomas Paine’s Rights of ManRights of Man

A. Defended Enlightenment ideas and French RevolutionA. Defended Enlightenment ideas and French Revolution

B. Saw triumph of liberty over despotismB. Saw triumph of liberty over despotism