French Revolution Overview

The French Revolution

Application of the Fever Model

Convalescence

Crisis Stage

Symptomatic Stage

Incubation Stage

Much like an illness, revolutions can also be studied in stages

Fever Model of Revolution

Causes - Incubation

• Social Inequality - three estates– Three estates– First Estate (upper clergy) - 1%

of population, taxed peasants– Second Estate (nobles) - 2-3%

of population, paid no taxes, taxed peasants

– Third Estate (Bourgeoisie, peasants, workers) - paid up to 1/2 of income in taxes

Causes - Incubation

• Enlightenment Ideas/American Rev.– Belief all men should have liberal freedoms– Right and just to remove unjust gov’t– Equality for all– United States Dec. of Independence and

Constitution

Causes - Incubation

• King Louis XVI– Weak leader– Preferred personal interests, delegated

authority– Incapable of decisive action

Causes - Incubation

• Economic Crisis– French economy bankrupt– Wars, Louis XVI lifestyle– Nobles not taxed– Crop failures– Debt - 1/2 budget goes to interest– Bourgeoisie begin questioning King

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• Estates General called, Third Estate demands reform - resisted by others

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• National Assembly declared (June 20, 1789)

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• Bastille stormed (July 14, 1789) in response to king mobilizing Swiss troops

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen (Aug., 1789)– Influenced by America– Equality of all men, sovereignty resided in

the people, and individual rights to libery, prosperity, and security

• March of the Women (Oct., 1789)– Food protests turn into march to Versailles– King forced to move to Paris

Moderate Stage - Symptoms

• Reforms on National Assembly– “Liberty, equality, fraternity” - motto– Dismantled feudal system– Seized Church lands– Abolished estates– Creates Constitution of 1791 - limits power

of king (constitutional monarchy)– Men of property could vote

Radical Stage - Crisis

• Prussian and Austrian invasion of France

• French Republic established - King dethroned, the Convention set up

• Large scale draft• King tried and

executed

Radical Stage - Crisis

• Robespierre / Jacobians take control of the Convention

• Committee of Public Safety oversees the Reign of Terror (40,000 people executed, 300,000 arrested)

• Tried to eliminate influence of the church

Moderate - Convalescence

• Convention arrests Robespierre - executes him

• The Directory takes over– Committee of five conservative men– Tries to find middle ground– Military successes outside of France– Domestically, still many problems

• Napoleon stages coup, imposes new constitution - declares himself first consul

• What do you think is the reaction of the French?