French revolution

Introduction

• The French society will undergo an epic transformation:

• FeudalAristocratic privileges evaporatedReligious

• Different social groups will take an active part in politics:

Bourgeoisie Mass from the streets Peasants Army

• Different Political Regimes:Constitutional MonarchyRadical RepublicModerate RepublicEmpire

• Ideas: Enlightment, American Revolution

• Social Problems: Three Estates (anachronic)

• Economical Problems: Deficit (American War of Independence)

• Political Crisis: Burgesses wanted to take an active part in politic

Phases The Estates-General (1789)

The Constituent Assembly (1789-1791)

The Constitutional Monarchy (1791-1792)

The National Convention (1792 – 1795)

The Girondin Convention (1792-1793)

The Jacobin Convention (1793-1795)

(Reign of Terror)

The Directory (1795-1799)

Estates-General (1789)

• Louis XVI called the meeting of the Estates General

• Cahiers de Doleances Great expectations• 5 May 1789: Estates General• Problem with the voting system:– Nobles & Clergy: wanted a vote per Estate.– Third Estate: wanted a vote per person.

National Assembly (1789-1792)

• 17 June: The Third Estate declared himself to be the “National Assembly” and to represent the Nation.

• 3 Days Later: they moved to the Tennis Court• Tennis Court Oath• The king gathered troops around Versailles• 14 July 1789: Storming of the Bastille• July-August 1789: La Grande Peur • August Decrees:

o Abolished Feudalism: seigneurial rights (administer laws, taxes) and tithes from the clergy

o Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Tennis Court Oath

Storming of The Bastille

Constitutional Monarchy (October 1791-August 1792)

•Powers:o Elected Assemblyo Kingo Constitution

•Flight to Varennes ( June 1791)•National Assembly declared war to Austria •They lost the war•Insurrection of August Riots all-around Paris•National Convention

National Convention (1792-95)

• New Constitution (Popular Sovereignty)• New Regime Republic• New Calendar (20th September: I Year)• Political Groups– The Mountain (montagnards)– The Girondins

• Committee of Public Safety controlled by Robespierre

• 21st January 1973: Louis XVI was executed

Public Execution of Luis XVI

Robespierre

• They imposed a policy of terror• 40.000 people died• Protests in the countryside

against the Revolution: La Vendée

• Levée en masse (Leva en masa). All single men were required to join the army

• Military victories• Social Laws: prices for the bread, for the

salaries, right to work…

• July 1794

• Coup of Termidor

• The Directory

• People grew tired of the Reign of Terror• Army was becoming more prominent

The Directory (1795-1799)

• It’s a reaction against the radicalism of jacobins and a return to the moderate ideas of the first moments of the revolution.

• The political power is controlled again by the upper classes upper bourgeoisie

• New Constitution– More moderate– Two Courts– Executive power controlled by 5 members in order to

avoid a new Dictatorship. It’s called “The Directory”

• Strong Repression: Robespierre & 84 people were executed

• Double opposition Royalists (support Bourbons) Jacobins

• The Army was winning great victories• Napoleon: Italian Campaign & Egiptian expedition

(defeated by Nelson)

• The Directory lost support in France, people began to look for a strong leader.

• November, 1799: Coup of Brumario • The Consulate: Bonaparte, Sièyes and Ducos.

Bonaparte in the 18th Brumaire

Achievements of French Revolution

• The privileges of nobles and clergy were abolished• The nobles wouldn’t administer justice anymore• Taxes were unified• Constitutions : that will control the power of

monarchs• Separation of powers• Elections• Political parties• Newspapers