The French RevolutionWhy did it happen?Underlying Causes of the

Revolution

Main Causes

• The Enlightenment• The Failure of the Monarchy• The Three Estates System

• Finances and France’s Involvement in the American

Revolution

The Enlightenment• By the 18th century, the intellectuals in the country were

beginning to question the absolute rule of the monarchy, the power the church had over the state and their rights and freedoms as citizens.

• Plays, pamphlets and essays were published that promoted ideas such as knowledge through reason and also questioned tradition.

• Intellectuals discussed their ideas in Salons during the 18th century.

• Salons were places where men and women could come together to discuss their ideas and opinions on politics, literature and other topics.

• Salons originated in the early 17th century when a sophisticated women, Marquise de Rambouillet was ill and was unable to venture from her chambre.

• The Salon grew in popularity and reached its height in the second half of the 18th century.

• The Salon was quite casual and was a safe place for people to discuss their beliefs even if their views were bold enough that they would be condemned by the courts of Europe.

• The Philosophes (French intellectuals of the 18th century Enlightenment period, not all philosophers, but individuals who applied reason to the study of many areas...science, literature, history etc.) promoted expanded rights for women including education.

• It is claimed by some historians that from 1754 to 1764, Marquise de Duffand and her neice Julie de Lespinasse maintained “one of the most brilliant salons in Europe.”- Bonnie Anderson and Judith Zinsser

• The Salons were important in the sense that they assisted the transition from society being dominated by the upper-class culture of previous centuries to the middle-class culture of centuries to follow.

The Salon

A Reading in the Salon of Mme Geoffrin, 1755

Enlightenment Philosophers- Rousseau and Voltaire

• Rousseau and Voltaire were two of the most famous Enlightenment philosophers who inspired the revolution.

• Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was a Swiss-French philosopher, writer, political theorist and self-taught composer.

• In 1762, he published his famous book The Social Contract, which outlined his idea that a “social contract” is a contract made between rulers and those ruled.

• This “contract” he spoke of was designed to protect the liberty of all people and to ensure their rights and equality.

• The main issue confronted in the book can be summed up by the phrase “Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”

• In his essay, the Discourse on Inequality (1755), he attacks the issue of private property.

• His philosophy was that the Earth belonged to everyone and that no one actually owned the land they had claimed to.

• This idea obviously resonated with the people of France who were being taxed extraordinary amounts for land that technically belonged to no one.

• His ideas had a profound impact on The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in 1789.

• Francois-Marie Arouet de Voltaire (1694-1778) was a philosopher known for his defence of religious tolerance and attacks against religious piety (devout fulfillment of religious obligations).

• Often criticised Catholic Church dogma, for instance in his Dictionnaire philosophique 1764

• He actually liked the idea of monarchy as he had grown up in England and was used to it. However, he wanted a monarchy that would treat people fairly and just.

• Spent time in the state prison in Paris for satirical verses about the Duke of Orleans, regent for Louis XV’s child.

• A Deist: God did not participate in human affairs, he created a universe and let it run.

• In his book, Philosophical Letters on the English he praised English law, science, philosophy and religious tolerance. This was done in a manner to deliberately critique France and the book was condemned by the Paris Court of Appeal.

Test you knowledge of Enlightenment philosophers.http://resources.elearningontario.ca/d2l/lor/viewer/

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The Failure of the Monarchy• By the 1780s, France was in upheaval. Spurred on by

the philosophes, the middle class people wanted change.

• The nation's financial vaults were being emptied by warfare, and an inefficient taxation system, in addition to the extravagant spending of the Bourbon Monarchy.

• Ruling from 1715 to 1774, Louis XV became increasingly disinterested in the daily political rigors of Royal life. Upon his deathbed, he seemed to recognize the fact that he had mortgaged away his heir's future. His last words - "Apres moi, l' deluge" (After me, the flood) - would prove to be rather prophetic.

• A king at age 23, Louis XVI was as unsuited for the job as his predecessor. He was sensitive, not particularly bright, and preferred menial tasks and physical labour to the pressing needs of the state.

• His arranged marriage to Marie Antoinette would not assist his cause. Known as the 'Hated Austrian' and “Madame Deficit”, Marie would come to symbolize all that was wrong with Absolute rule. She also became an easy scapegoat for the years of privileged abuses. In the end, Louis reluctantly accepted the role that fate - and Divine Right - had dealt him.

The French Monarchy:The French Monarchy:1775 - 17931775 - 1793

Marie Antoinette & Louis Marie Antoinette & Louis XVIXVI

The Three Estates System

• French society was divided into levels known as the Three Estate System. The First Estate consisted of the clergy, who, despite representing only about one half a per cent of the population, held 10% of the land. Furthermore, they did not pay taxes, but instead gave an optional “gratuit” or gift to the king at the end of the year.

• The Second Estate was made up of the Nobility. They possessed time honoured privileges, owned 25% of the land, and like the First Estate, did not pay taxes.

• At the bottom of the “pyramid”, sat the Third Estate. Basically, it was everyone else. It was made up of middle class, or bourgeoisie. They were the lawyers, doctors and other educated professionals who were growing increasingly disillusioned at their inability to move up in French society.

• Just below them were the merchants, cobblers, urban and rural peasants who bore the brunt of the taxes and all other burdens for the nation.

Socio-Economic Data, 1789Socio-Economic Data, 1789

Convening the Estates General Convening the Estates General May, 1789May, 1789

Last time it was called into session was Last time it was called into session was 1614!1614!

Bourgeoisie, urban poor, peasants

3rd Estate

Nobility2nd

Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Estates General: Voting by The Estates General: Voting by Order (one vote per estate)Order (one vote per estate)

1 vote

1 vote

1 vote

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.

Bourgeoisie, urban poor, peasants

3rd Estate

Nobility2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Estates General: Vote by HeadThe Estates General: Vote by Head

300 votes

300 votes

600 votes

Emmanuel Joseph Emmanuel Joseph SieyesSieyes

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 Sieyès1748-18361748-1836

Finances and France’s Involvement in the

American Revolution• Despite the warning that involvement in England's war

with the American Colonies in 1775 would result in bankruptcy, Louis could not resist a chance to take a shot at France's most hated enemy.

• Ignoring the fact that his country was already heavily in debt, Louis XVI sent officers and battleships in an effort to tip the scales in the American's favour. Militarily the effort was a success. The British would eventually be forced out of the Colonies and the new American Republic was born.

• Financially, however, the results were not favourable for the French. By 1789, almost half of the yearly revenue generated by taxes was being spent on paying down the interest on France's debt.

• Most crippling for the monarchy, however, were the political connotations that came out of the American Revolution.

• Officers who witnessed the birth of the world's newest independent nation returned changed men.

• They would sing the praises of liberty and the benefits of reform and constitutionalism.

• Inadvertently, Louis XVI had help to sponsor the “dress rehearsal” for France's Revolution

The French Urban PoorThe French Urban Poor

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

% of Income Spent on Bread

1787

1788

Urban Urban Commoner’sCommoner’sBudget:Budget:

– Food 80%Food 80%– Rent 25%Rent 25%– Tithe 10%Tithe 10%– Taxes 35%Taxes 35%– Clothing 20%Clothing 20%– TOTAL 170%TOTAL 170%

King’s King’s Budget:Budget:

– Interest 50%Interest 50%– Army 25%Army 25%– Versailles 25%Versailles 25%– Coronation 10%Coronation 10%– Loans 25%Loans 25%– Admin. 25%Admin. 25%– TOTAL 160%TOTAL 160%

Financial ProblemsFinancial Problemsin France, 1789in France, 1789

Bibliographic ResourcesBibliographic Resources

« ““Hist210—Europe in the Age of Revolutions.”Hist210—Europe in the Age of Revolutions.”http://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/courses/europe1/chron/rch5.htmhttp://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/courses/europe1/chron/rch5.htm

« “ “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Exploring the French Revolution.” Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Exploring the French Revolution.” http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/

« Matthews, Andrew. Matthews, Andrew. Revolution and Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849Revolution and Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849. . CambridgeCambridgeUniversity Press, 2001.University Press, 2001.

« “ “The Napoleonic Guide.” The Napoleonic Guide.” http://www.napoleonguide.com/index.htmhttp://www.napoleonguide.com/index.htm

«Ontario Educational Resource BankOntario Educational Resource BankCHY4U: The West and the World

Unit #2: Tradition, Absolutism, and Revolution 1715-1815 Activity 6: The French Revolution: From Despots to Dictators

«http://resources.elearningontario.ca/d2l/orgTools/ouHome/http://resources.elearningontario.ca/d2l/orgTools/ouHome/ouHome.asp?ou=10489ouHome.asp?ou=10489

Legacy: The West and the World textbook (2002, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., Garfield Newman- Senior Author).