1789-1815

The French Revolution

An Age of Revolutions Crises of the Eighteenth

Century American Model

The French Revolution, 1789-1815 Social and Political Crises The Meeting of the Estates

General Fall of the Bastille Declaration of Rights of Man

and Citizen

Constitutional Monarchy Defining citizens Distribution of power Reform of the clergy

Increased Radicalization

Lecture Outline

An Age of Revolutions

Crises of the Eighteenth Century

Colonial Wars and Fiscal Crises

Enlightenment thought and the imaging of something different

Which texts illuminate the discontent of the eighteenth century?

The “Atlantic Revolutions” American Revolution,

1776-1783 Dutch Republic, 1787 Belgian Independence,

1788-1789 Polish Patriots, 1788-1792 Haitian Revolution, 1791-

1802 Latin American

Revolutions

An Age of Revolutions

American Revolution serves as an Enlightenment inspiration

Fiscal reforms and new taxes

Declaration of Independence

Constitutional Convention (1787)

The French Revolution, 1789-1815

Social and Political Crises • The character of the court at Versailles

• Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette • Rampant poverty

• poor harvests• growing population

• 3 estates called to deal with tax grievances against the king

• Bankrupt kingdom• High-interest, short-term loans and a bad

collection system.

The Tennis Court Oath

King calls the Estates General and the Third Estate organizes the National Assembly when ignored

The Meeting of the Estates General

First Estate: 100,000 member of the ClergySecond Estate: 400,000 men of the nobilityThird Estate: 95% of the nationUnequal distribution of political power

leads to political break Third Estate insists on individual voting Stalemate leads to the formation of the National

Assembly Clergy eventually joins them

Tennis Court Oath: no disbandment until Constitution

The Fall of the Bastille

Why is the fall of the Bastille a pivotal moment in the Revolution?

The French Revolution

King responds to political upheaval by calling in the troops

The people of Paris respond to the King by sacking the Bastille (July 14, 1789)

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen is passed (August 27, 1789)

The nation is sovereign All men free Freedom of religion and press

Some Declarations from the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.

2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.

3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation… 4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one

else… 6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to

participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes…

The Women of Paris March on Versailles

The Women’s March to Versailles (October 5, 1789)

Constitutional Monarchy

A Constitutional Monarchy is formed—how is it different from what existed before? Active versus passive citizens Division of legislative power Formation of departements with elected officials Confiscation of Church property Reform of French Church

The French Revolution & the Jacobins

Increased Radicalization

Further radicalization leads to the establishment of a new constitution in September 1791 based on the Declaration of the Rights of Man and

Citizen King as a constitutional monarch

By this time, France has declared war against several European monarchs due to military reaction against the revolution

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette try to escape

The Capture of King

The Capture of Louis XVI at Varennes in 1791 is a turning point in the revolution

Republican Rivals

In September 1792, the newly elected National Convention declares France a republic Sans-culottes seek

representation

The Republican Rivals

The Jacobins divide King on trial for treason, December 1792 The Mountain is victorious over the

Girondins, and the King is executed in 1793

The Execution of the King

The Trajectory of the Revolution

May 1789, National Assembly is formedJuly 1789, Bastille is stormedOctober 1789, Women march to Versailles,

Louis XVI returns to ParisJune 1791, King flees ParisOctober 1791 – September 1792,

Legislative AssemblyAugust 1792, Second Revolution and

abolishment of monarchy; The Republic is formed

The Trajectory of the Revolution

September 1792, September Massacres after Prussians approach Paris

December 1792, The “Mountain” defeats the “Girondins” voting to execute the King.

The Rise of Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794)

Commission of Public Safety Formed Spring 1793 Given dictatorial power Collaborate with the sans-culotte to form a planned

economy Set maximum allowable prices Rationing Bread of equality

Rise of Robespierre

Militarized Economy Government dictates what

craftsmen produce Workshops nationalized Raw materials and grain

requisitioned from peasants Reign of Terror

Special revolutionary courts try “enemies of the nation”

40,000 men and women are executed or die in prison

Reign of Terror

The Fall of Robespierre

Intensification of the Reign of Terror March 1794 Robespierre has his critics executed 2 weeks later, several of Robespierre’s collaborators

are executed 27 July 1794 (or 9 Thermidor [Month of Heat])

according to the Republic’s calendar), a conspiracy against Robespierre to quiet him in the National Convention

28 July 1794, Robespierre executed

Thermidorian Reaction

Middle-class lawyers and professionals reassert their authority Repeal of price controls Restricting of local political organizations and sans-

culottes Cultural rebellion among the rich Military force against resistant laborers and radical

leadersResurgence of religion, especially Catholicism

Women seek to restored a pattern of life in which the rites of passage are respected and hallowed.

A conservative reaction to radical change

The Directory in France

In 1795 the National Convention elects a five-man executive: The Directory Functions as a dictatorship Uses military to make ends meet domestically Election of 1797 indicates a return to conservatism

and monarchism Directory responds with military action

1793-1815

The French Revolution

Napoleon Bonaparte’s Rise

Born in Corsica in 1769Lieutenant in French

Artillery by 1785Made a career as a

patriot and revolutionaryLeads French forces in

Italy “[In Italy] I realized I was a

superior being and conceived the ambition of performing great things, which hitherto had filled my thoughts only as a fantastic dream.”

Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1800)

Napoleon’s Coup d’État

A conspiracy formed to overthrow the Directory Plan for the creation of a strong executive Look to a strong military leader

9 November 1799 (18 Brumaire Year VIII): Napoleon and the Conspirators overthrow the Directory

10 November 1799: Legislature is disbanded at bayonet point

Napoleon’s Coup d’État

Napoleon named “first consul of the republic” December 1799: new constitution approved Image of a republic maintained

detail of painting by François Bouchot, 1840.

Napoleon and France

Napoleon relies on his charisma and his personal powers to maintain order Strikes unwritten agreements with groups and

rewards loyalty with favors Creation of the Bank of France serves state and

financial oligarchy Gains of the peasantry reconfirmed

Napoleon and France

Creation of a centralized state Drawing in of disillusioned revolutionaries

Concordat of 1801 Pope Pius VII gains religious freedom for French

Catholics Napoleon nominates Bishops, pays clergy and

influenced the French Church.Establishment of the family monarchy

Napoleon and his Empire

1802: Napoleon declares himself First Consul for Life

1804: Crowns himself Emperor

Coronation of Napoleon, Jacques-Louis David

Napoleonic Code, 1804

The Civil Code assured: Property rights Religious freedom Uniform legal code

The Civil Code restricted: Women’s judicial access Women’s property rights

Napoleon Abroad

Napoleon aimed to conquer the whole of Europe Redrew the map of

Germany to weaken Austria and Prussia

Restricted British trade on the Continent Battle of Trafalgar

(1805) eliminates possibility of an invasion of England

Napoleon Abroad

Considerable impact on Europe Introduced French laws Abolished feudal dues and serfdom Heavy taxation

Napoleon’s Decline Spain 1808

Replaces Charles IV with his brother Russia 1812

The Napoleonic Legacy

From 1799 to 1815 Napoleon’s grew from popular military hero to dictator

He won several major victories allowing Napoleon and France to conquer much of western Europe

He instituted the Napoleonic Code, which was enforced through a vast bureaucracy

The Napoleonic Legacy

Napoleon brings his conquered countries under the code, creating social and economic unity

The Alliance of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Great Britain against France led to the creation of the “Congress of Vienna” in 1815

The Congress crushed revolutions throughout Europe over the next thirty years

The Meaning of the Revolution

Implemented the thought of philosophes Destroyed the hierarchy of the old regime

Nobles become ordinary citizens Property determines status, not heredity

Promoted the interests of the bourgeoisie (middle classes)

The Meaning of the Revolution

Creation of the modern state National Liberal Secular Rational

State belongs to the people, not just a territory Individuals become citizens with rights and duties

Separation of Church and State No divine justification for power No privileges for members of the church

The Meaning of the Revolution

Economic growth Elimination of peasants’ manorial obligations Expansion of agriculture Abolishment of barriers to economic expansion Taxes based on income, and collection streamlined Creation of a competitive market economy

Demonstration that governments can be toppled

Creation of modern nationalismCreation of a revolutionary mentality