It is not so good to be king anymore…It is not so good to be king anymore…

It was the best of times, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of it was the age of foolishness, foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of it was the epoch of incredulity…incredulity…

-- -- Charles DickensCharles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities

Europe on the Eve of theEurope on the Eve of theFrench RevolutionFrench Revolution

Causes of the French Revolution

• Debt

• Weak King

• Social Structure

• The Enlightenment and American Revolution

• Hunger

Debt

• Louis XIV- Wars and Versailles

• American Revolution

• Royal spending- Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

a 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%

a King’s Budget:King’s 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

French Budget, 1774French Budget, 1774

The French Urban PoorThe French Urban Poor

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

% of Income Spent on Bread

1787

1788

It’s good to be the King

• 1774 Louis XVI- 19 yrs.• Weak- many problems• Wants to be an Absolute

Monarch• “After me comes the

flood”• Marie Antoinette- “Madam

Deficit”

The French Monarchy:The French Monarchy:1774 - 17931774 - 1793

Marie Antoinette & Louis Marie Antoinette & Louis XVIXVI

Marie Marie Antoinette Antoinette

and the and the Royal Royal

ChildrenChildren

Marie Antoinette’sMarie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”“Peasant Cottage”

Marie Antoinette’sMarie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”“Peasant Cottage”

The Necklace ScandalThe Necklace Scandal

Y Cardinal Louis René Édouard de RohanCardinal Louis René Édouard de Rohan

Y The Countess de LaMotteThe Countess de LaMotte

1,600,000 1,600,000 livreslivres

[$100 million today][$100 million today]

Enlightenment and Revolution

• The Philosophes were mainly French or living in France

• Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau

• American Revolution- Liberty, Brotherhood, Equality

• 1st Estate:

• 10% vs. ½%

• 2nd Estate:

• 35% vs. 11/2 %

• 3rd Estate: 97%

• Bourgeois 7%

The Old Regime

Where is the tax money?Where is the tax money?

Lettres de CachetLettres de Cachet

Y The French king could warrantThe French king could warrantimprisonment or death in aimprisonment or death in asigned letter under his seal.signed letter under his seal.

Y A A carte-blanchecarte-blanche warrant warrant. .

Y Cardinal Fleury issued 80,000Cardinal Fleury issued 80,000during the reign of Louis XVduring the reign of Louis XV

Y Eliminated in 1790.Eliminated in 1790.

Bankrupt

• By 1788

• Tax Plan

• Estates General- May 1789

Old RegimeOld Regime Map, 1789 Map, 1789

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy

2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting Pattern:The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by EstatesVoting by Estates

1

1

1

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

The Estates General

• Last meeting 1614• The Abbey Sieyes-

“What is the 3rd Estate” • Order or Head?• May 1789- Bread and

rain

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of RepresentativesThe Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head!in the Estates General: Vote by Head!

300

300

648

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 demand? What does it demand? To become something To become something therein! therein!

Abbé SieyèsAbbé Sieyès1748-18361748-1836

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

The National Assembly

• June 17, 1789- National Assembly

• Tennis Court Oath- June 20

• June 27, Louis orders 1st and 2nd

• Mercenaries

““The Third Estate Awakens”The Third Estate Awakens”Y The commoners finally presented their credentials not as The commoners finally presented their credentials not as

delegates of the Third Estate, but as “representatives of the delegates of the Third Estate, but as “representatives of the nation.”nation.”

Y They proclaimed themselves the They proclaimed themselves the “National Assembly”“National Assembly” of of France.France.

““The Tennis Court Oath”The Tennis Court Oath”by Jacques Louis Davidby Jacques Louis David

June 20, 1789June 20, 1789

The Bastille

• Bread shortages, inflation, unemployment

• July 14, 1789

• Lafayette and the King

Storming the Bastille, Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789July 14, 1789

Y A rumor that the king was planning a military coup against A rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the National Assembly.the National Assembly.

Y 18 died.18 died.

Y 73 wounded.73 wounded.

Y 7 guards killed.7 guards killed.

Y It held 7 It held 7 prisoners prisoners [5 ordinary [5 ordinary criminals & 2 criminals & 2 madmen].madmen].

The Great Fear• Duke of Orleans

• July and August

• Peasants attacked

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and August 4 Decrees

The Great Fear: Peasant RevoltThe Great Fear: Peasant Revolt(July 20, 1789)(July 20, 1789)

The PathThe Pathof theof the

“Great“GreatFear”Fear”

Night Session of August 4, 1789Night Session of August 4, 1789

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

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

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

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

National Constituent National Constituent AssemblyAssembly1789 - 17911789 - 1791

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

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

Liberté!Liberté! Egalité!Egalité!

Fraternité!Fraternité!

BUT . . . . .BUT . . . . .

Y Feudal dues were not renounced outright [this had Feudal dues were not renounced outright [this had been too strong a threat to the principle of private been too strong a threat to the principle of private property!]property!]

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

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

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!!

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

August 26, August 26, 17891789

V Liberty!Liberty!

V Property!Property!

V Resistance to Resistance to oppression!oppression!

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

The Declaration of the Rights of The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Man and of the Citizen Posed New DilemmasPosed New Dilemmas

1.1. Did women have equal rights with men?Did women have equal rights with men?

2.2. What about free blacks in the colonies?What about free blacks in the colonies?

3.3. How could slavery be justified if all men were How could slavery be justified if all men were born free?born free?

4.4. Did religious toleration of Protestants and Did religious toleration of Protestants and Jews include equal political rights?Jews include equal political rights?

Olympe de Gouges Olympe de Gouges (1745-1793)(1745-1793)

Declaration of the Declaration of the Rights of WomanRights of Womanand of the Citizen and of the Citizen

(1791)(1791)

Declaration of the Declaration of the Rights of WomanRights of Womanand of the Citizen and of the Citizen

(1791)(1791)

V Women played a vital role Women played a vital role in the Revolution.in the Revolution.

V But, But, The Declaration of The Declaration of the Rights of Manthe Rights of Man did did NOT extend the rights NOT extend the rights and protections of and protections of citizenship to women.citizenship to women.

Bread March

• Sept 15 – Tricolor trampled

• Oct 5- Bread March- 60,000

The Tricolor (1789)The Tricolor (1789)

The WHITE of the The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED & Bourbons + the RED &

BLUE of Paris.BLUE of Paris.

Citizen!Citizen!

The Tricolor is the Fashion!The Tricolor is the Fashion!

The “Liberty Cap”: The “Liberty Cap”: Bonne Bonne RougeRouge

Revolutionary Playing CardsRevolutionary Playing Cards

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!

The “October Days” The “October Days” (1789)(1789)

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

the the Tuileries PalaceTuileries Palace..

Planting the Tree of LibertyPlanting the Tree of Liberty

17901790

The ChurchAnd the

Revolution

The ChurchAnd the

Revolution

How to Finance the New Govt.?How to Finance the New Govt.?1.1. Confiscate Church Lands Confiscate Church Lands (1790)(1790)

One of the most controversial decisions of the entire One of the most controversial decisions of the entire revolutionary period.revolutionary period.

The Civil Constitution of the The Civil Constitution of the Clergy Clergy

V Government run Churches.Government run Churches.V The church was reorganized:The church was reorganized:

Parish priests Parish priests elected by the district assemblies. elected by the district assemblies. Bishops Bishops named by the named by the

department assembliesdepartment assemblies..

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

July 12,July 12,17901790

JuryingJurying

vs.vs.

Non-JuryingNon-Jurying[refractory][refractory]

ClergyClergyThe oath of allegiance permanently The oath of allegiance permanently divided the Catholic populationdivided the Catholic population

2.2. Print Print AssignatsAssignats2.2. 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 as securityInterest-bearing notes which had the church lands as security ..

Depreciation of the Depreciation of the AssignatAssignat

V Whoever acquired them were entitled to certain Whoever acquired them were entitled to certain privileges in the purchase of church land.privileges in the purchase of church land.

V The state would retire the notes as the land was sold.The state would retire the notes as the land was sold.V They began circulating as paper currency.They began circulating as paper currency.

Government printed more Government printed more INFLATIONINFLATION [they lost [they lost 99% of their value ultimately].99% of their value ultimately].

Therefore, future governments paid off their creditors Therefore, future governments paid off their creditors with cheap money.with cheap money.

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution Constitution

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

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

A Bourgeois GovernmentA Bourgeois GovernmentV The king got the The king got the “suspensive” veto“suspensive” veto [which [which

prevented the passage of laws for 4 years].prevented the passage of laws for 4 years]. He could not pass laws.He could not pass laws. His ministers were responsible for their own His ministers were responsible for their own

actions.actions.

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

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

V An independent judiciaryAn independent judiciary..

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

A Bourgeois GovernmentA Bourgeois Government

V ““Active” CitizenActive” Citizen [who pays taxes amounting to [who pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] could vote vs. 3 days labor] could vote vs. “Passive” Citizen“Passive” Citizen..

1/3 of adult males were denied the franchise.1/3 of adult males were denied the franchise. Domestic servants were also excluded.Domestic servants were also excluded.

V A newly elected A newly elected LEGISLATIVE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLYASSEMBLY..

GOALGOAL Make sure that the country was not Make sure that the country was not turned over to the mob!turned over to the mob!

GOALGOAL Make sure that the country was not Make sure that the country was not turned over to the mob!turned over to the mob!

Legislative Assembly• Jacobins

• Radicals- Sans Culottes- The Mountain- the Left

• Moderate• Conservatives- Girondists - Right

The Political SpectrumThe Political Spectrum

JacobinJacobinss

MontagnarMontagnardsds

(“The (“The Mountain”)Mountain”)

GirondistsGirondistsMonarchíeMonarchíe

nn(Royalists)(Royalists)

1790s:1790s:The PlainThe Plain

(swing (swing votes)votes)

TODAY:TODAY:

The JacobinsThe JacobinsJacobin Meeting HouseJacobin Meeting House

They held their meetings in the They held their meetings in the library of a former Jacobin library of a former Jacobin monastery in Paris.monastery in Paris.

Started as a debating society.Started as a debating society.

Membership mostly middle class.Membership mostly middle class.

Created a vast network of clubs.Created a vast network of clubs.

The The Sans-Culottes:Sans-Culottes:The Parisian Working The Parisian Working

ClassClass Small shopkeepers.Small shopkeepers.

Tradesmen.Tradesmen.

Artisans.Artisans.

They shared many of the They shared many of the ideals of their middle class ideals of their middle class

representatives in representatives in government!government!

Sans Culottes

83 Revolutionary 83 Revolutionary DepartmentsDepartments

February 26, 1790February 26, 1790

The Royal Family The Royal Family Attempts Attempts

to Fleeto FleeY June, 1791June, 1791

Y Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Axel von Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Axel von Fusen [Marie Antoinette’s loverFusen [Marie Antoinette’s lover].].

Y Headed toward the Headed toward the LuxembourgLuxembourgborder.border.

Y The King wasThe King wasrecognized atrecognized atVarennes, nearVarennes, nearthe borderthe border

Foreign Involvement

• Declaration of Pillnitz

• Europe’s Attitude

Sir Edmund Burke Sir Edmund Burke (1790):(1790):Reflections on the Revolution in FranceReflections on the Revolution in France

The conservative response to The conservative response to the French Revolutionthe French Revolution

The First Coalition &The First Coalition &TheThe Brunswick Brunswick

ManifestoManifesto(August 3, 1792)(August 3, 1792)

FRANCEFRANCE1792

-1797

1792-

1797AUSTRIAAUSTRIAPRUSSIAPRUSSIABRITAINBRITAINSPAINSPAINPIEDMONTPIEDMONT

Duke of BrunswickDuke of Brunswick if the Royal Family is harmed,if the Royal Family is harmed, Paris will be leveled!! Paris will be leveled!!

This military crisis undermined the new This military crisis undermined the new Legislative Assembly.Legislative Assembly.

French SoldiersFrench Soldiers

V The French armies The French armies were ill-prepared for the were ill-prepared for the conflict.conflict.

V ½ of the officer corps had ½ of the officer corps had emigrated.emigrated.

V Many men disserted.Many men disserted.

V New recruits were New recruits were enthusiastic, butenthusiastic, butill-trained.ill-trained.

V French troops often broke French troops often broke ranks and fled in disorder.ranks and fled in disorder.

French Expansion: French Expansion: 1791-17991791-1799