The French Revolution

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

Marie Antoinette & Louis Marie Antoinette & Louis XVIXVI

Let Them Eat Cake! Let Them Eat Cake!

The Necklace ScandalThe Necklace Scandal

““Madame Deficit”Madame Deficit”

““The Austrian Whore”The Austrian Whore”

The French Urban The French Urban PoorPoor

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

% of Income Spent on Bread

1787

1788

Arthur Young

Travels in France

Socio-Economic Data, Socio-Economic Data, 17891789

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

Lettres de CachetLettres de Cachet

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.

A A carte-blanchecarte-blanche warrant. warrant.

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

Eliminated in 1790.Eliminated in 1790.

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of The Number of RepresentativesRepresentatives

in the Estates General:in the Estates General:300

300

648

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy

2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting The Suggested Voting Pattern:Pattern:

Voting by EstatesVoting by Estates1

1

1

Sieyes What is the

Third Estate?

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

The Cahiers

Key Causes1. Property Rights - still very feudal

2. Financial ruin - debt, ineffective taxation, failed reforms, poverty

3. Resurgence of nobility v. Rising Bourgeoisie OR Purely Political(Classical vs Revisionist view)

4. Commoners- Fear, desperation, Storming of Bastille & The

Great Fear

““The Tennis Court The Tennis Court Oath”Oath”

by Jacques Louis Davidby Jacques Louis David

June 20, 1789June 20, 1789

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

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

18 died.18 died.

73 wounded.73 wounded.

7 guards killed.7 guards killed.

The Great Fear: The Great Fear: Peasant RevoltPeasant Revolt

(July 20, 1789)(July 20, 1789)

Rumors that the feudal aristocracy were Rumors that the feudal aristocracy were sending hired brigands to attack peasants sending hired brigands to attack peasants and pillage their land.and pillage their land.

““Great Fear”Great Fear”

The First PhaseModerate

Constituent Assembly1789-1791

National Constituent National Constituent AssemblyAssembly

1789 - 17911789 - 17911.1. Adopt the August DecreesAdopt the August Decrees

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

• A rejection of aristocratic privileges!A rejection of aristocratic privileges!

2. 2. The Declaration of the Rights of Man The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizenand of the Citizen

• Liberty, propertyLiberty, property

Garnering Peaceful Support

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

Violence & Fear Violence & Fear Again!...Again!...

Tuileries PalaceTuileries Palace

Flight of the Flight of the ÉmigrésÉmigrés

March of the March of the WomenWomen

To Versailles

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

& the National Assembly. & the National Assembly. 17911791

Would it be correct to say Would it be correct to say that the French Revolution that the French Revolution did not truly get underway did not truly get underway

until two years after its until two years after its beginning?beginning?

French Constitution of 1791

A Bourgeois Government

A New GovernmentA New Government

• King with suspensive veto• Legislative Assembly

– Elected by “active citizens”

• An independent judiciary• 83 Departments• Financed by church

lands - assignats

Relationship with the Church

Revolution is anti-clerical!

Begins the long relationship between the Church and Conservative forces

Civil Constitution of the Clergy

• Government paid the salaries of the French clergy Government paid the salaries of the French clergy and maintained the churches.and maintained the churches.

• The church was reorganized:The church was reorganized:– Parish priests were elected by the district assemblies.Parish priests were elected by the district assemblies.– Bishops were named by the department assemblies.Bishops were named by the department assemblies.– The pope had NO voice in the appointment of The pope had NO voice in the appointment of

the French clergy.the French clergy.

• It transformed France’s Roman Catholic ChurchIt transformed France’s Roman Catholic Churchinto a branch of the state!!into a branch of the state!!

October 1791:

Constituent Assembly disbands for

Legislative Assembly under New

Constitution