The French RevolutionIntroduction and Context

Jacobin Mobs of the French Revolution

What seems revolutionar

y in this scene?

The Schiller Institute. http://schillerinstitute.org/educ/hist/eiw_this_week/nov6_1794.html

Historical Thinking Concepts

Primary

Source Eviden

ce

Continuity and

Change

Cause and Consequen

ce

Historical Perspective

s

Evaluation: Quiz and HTC PortfolioQuiz: Tuesday Oct. 22 (half

period)“Terms for French Revolution

Quiz”Fill in your sheet as you do the

homework (don’t wait until the last night before)◦You can bring the sheet into the quiz

HTC Portfolio: PSD (con’t and change [progress and decline, turning points], evidence)

Phases of the French Revolution (Periodization, Pace of Change)

Prelude◦Traditional aristocratic rights reasserted vs. royal absolutism

Phase 1, 1789-1791◦Tone: Moderate◦Who: Middle class, bourgeoisie (with some street action in Paris)

◦Form of Gov’t: Constitutional Monarchy

Phases of the French Revolution

Phase 2, 1792-94◦Radical (The Terror- Jacobins under Robespierre)

◦Peasants and Paris workers (sans culottes)

◦Foreign Wars◦Republic (execution of the king)

Phases of the French Revolution

Phase 3, 1794-95◦Conservative/ Moderate

◦Napoleon rises out of the Directory

◦Still a republic but back to conservative/moderate

Enlightenment = LiberalVs.

France = Absolute Monarchy

conservative

moderate

radical1

23

45

6

7

Where are enlightened philosophes on this spectrum?

Economic Context

France is bankrupt from

wars, wars, wars and financial

mismanagement

French Burden of Taxation on The Peasants

French Peasants must pay…To the Church: Tithe

To the State: Taille Vingtieme Capitation Gabelle (salt tax)

To Seigneur: (feudal lord of his/her parish)o Corvee (cash or kind)o Cens (feudal rent in cash)o Champart (renit in kind)o Lods et ventes ( charge on the transfer of property)o If he doesn’t own land himself, he may have to pay

to use the lord’s mill, wine press, or bakery

*Note: In France, grain prices increased by 60% between 1730 and 1789

Social Context (and some Economic, too)

Remember what Louis XIV

did to the nobles?

First Estate The Clergy Main Privileges

About 130,000

• 138 archbishops and bishops

• 2,800 canons and priors• 37,000 nuns and 23,000

monks• 60,000 parish priests

• Had their own law courts (parlement)

• Exempt from taxes

Second Estate

The nobility Main Privileges

Between 120,000 and 350,000 people

• King and queen• Nobles of the sword:

princes, dukes, marquises, counts, viscounts, barons, knights

• Nobles of the robe

• Had the right to carry a sword

• Received special treatment in law courts (parlement)

• Exempt from taxesThird

EstateEverybody else Privileges

About 27 million people

• Lawyers, doctors, businessmen, merchants, soldiers, craftsmen, shopkeepers, peasants, etc.

• None

The Three Estates in France – A Corporatist View of Society

Bourgeoisie = professionals

parish priests

Conflict…Three Estates add to financial

crisis (First and Second don’t pay taxes!!!!)

Everyone in conflict with Louis XVI, pointing out flaws of absolute monarchybourgeoisie nobility

Louis XVI

• Complain about centralization

• Re-assert power by claiming law courts have to register the King’s edicts (laws)

• Influence of enlightenment/ philosophes makes them critical of absolute monarchy

• Want constitutional monarchy

Political Context

The way government

works (or doesn’t work)

French Institutions of Gov’t Under Absolute Monarchy

Where is the only place where the third estate had any influence?

Estates GeneralA sort of parliament where the

three estates get to meet (May 1789)

Haven't met since 1615!!!Estates vote by order (by estate)

despite equal numbers (don’t vote by head - individually)

1 2 3

Estates General Con’t…Six months pass between the

calling and the meetingBefore the meeting each estate

of each region of France gets to write its grievances (complaints, criticisms) in the form of Cahiers de Doleances (every estate had complaints, but didn’t agree how to reform government)

Cahiers de Doleances ActivityIn pairs read the Cahiers (in handouts)

and complete the comparative organizer on Three Estates (in handouts) ◦You may not have something for every box◦Vocab

Edict = rule or law Deliberation = discussion Order = estate Arbitrary = random Concurrence = agreement Inherent = built-in, naturally part of

Cahiers Consolidation: Surprise or As Expected?“since diversity of religious opinions …

respectful devotion to the Catholic religion…” ( )

“the legislative power reside collectively in the hands of the king and the united nation.” ()

“every arbitrary order prejudicial to the liberty of citizens be abolished entirely;” ()

“no tax be established without the concurrence [agreement] of the legislative power.” ()

“tax be borne equally, without distinction, by all class of citizens.” ()

10 = surprise, 1 = as expected

HomeworkFinish cahiers chartRead pages 152-162 in the text. Take

notes on and fill in quiz sheet for:◦causes ◦National Assembly◦Cahiers ◦Bread Riots◦Bastille ◦Estates General Voting◦Abbe Sieyes