THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
OBJECTIVESWhat caused this era of revolution?What were the ideas
and objectives of men and women who rose up violently to undo the
established system?What were the gains and losses for the
privileged groups and ordinary people in a generation of war and
upheaval?THEMESLIBERALISM AND NATIONALISMLiberty, Equality,
FraternityNAPOLEONParadox The God of War and the Promoter of
PeaceFOUR STAGES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTIONTHE MODERATE STAGE
(1789-1792)THE RADICAL STAGE(1792-1795)THE REACTIONARY STAGE
(1795-1799)THE NAPOLEONIC STAGE (1799-1814)Underlying Causes SOCIAL
??POLITICAL ??RELIGIOUS ??INTELLECTUAL ??TECHNOLOGICAL
??ECONOMIC??
SOCIALFrench Estate System
SOCIAL - First EstateClergy RCC leaders130,000 total (0.5% of
population)Own 10% of landNo mandatory taxVoluntary gift every 5
yearsTaxed residents ontheir landCollected TITHES
SOCIAL Second EstateNobility400,000 total (1.5% of
population)Own 25% of landTaxed VERY minimallyHad optional taxesHad
manorial rightsWould tax residents on their land
SOCIAL Third EstateEVERYONE ELSE25 million total(97% of
population)HEAVILY TAXED3 SubgroupsBOURGEOISIEDoctors, lawyers,
professionals, etc.WORKERSArtisans, skilled laborersPEASANTS21
million people
SOCIAL Third EstateProblems in 3rd EstateBourgeoisie want:End of
mercantilist restrictionsFairer distribution of taxesA GREATER
VOICE IN GOVERNMENTPeasants want:Freedom from serfdomFreedom from
HIGH TAXESGabelle salt taxTaille land taxBOTH SEEK REVOLT
SOCIAL Third EstateAbbe Sieyes 1789:Therefore, what is the Third
Estate? Everything; but an everything shackled and oppressed. What
would it be without the privileged order? Everything; but an
everything free and flourishing.
SOCIAL Unpopular Court NobilityTension between bourgeoisie and
nobilityResentment of noble privilegesNobles resistant to
taxesPopulation increase - 20-26 million 18th century
POLITICALBourbon monarchsLouis XIV, XV, & XVIBIG
SPENDERSIncreasingly ineffectiveDEBTRule by divine rightLettres de
Cachet individuals could be sentence without trial
POLITICALLouis XVI (r. 1774-1791)Indecisive the locksmithEstates
General dismissed for 175 yearsNobles want to limit powerMarie
Antoinette 1770 political marriageYoung, frivolous
Marie Antoinettes Peasant House
Marie Antoinettes Peasants Hut
Marie Antoinettes Peasants Hut
James Gillray (1793)The Zenith of French Glory The Pinnacle of
Liberty, Religion, Justice, Loyalty, and all the bugbears of
Unenlightened Minds , Farewell!
RELIGIOUSINTELLECTUALENLIGHTENMENTMontesquieuVoltaireRousseauLockeDiderotPrinting
Press
INTELLECTUALNEW INFLUENTIAL IDEASLiberty Individual human
rightsFreedom of speech, religion, press, etc.EqualityRight to
vote, run for office, participate in governmentEQUALITY OF
OPPORTUNITYOnly applied to MENLibert, galit,
fraternit20TECHNOLGICALPRINTING PRESSGUILLOTINECommoners
HangedAristocracy beheadedSYMBOL OF EQUALITYJoseph Guillotin
(1738-1814)Antoine Lewis (1723 1792)Used from 1791-1981
ECONOMICSeven Years War (1756-1763)Wars of Louis XIV
VersaillesAmerican RevolutionUNLIMITED PERSONAL EXPENSESALL =
GREAT
ECONOMICINEFFECTIVE TAX SYSTEMDismissal of several finance
ministersProblems with Parlement of ParisContinually refused to
register new taxes$$$ of bread Caused by poor harvests, in
populations, and harsh wintersECONOMIC CAUSEJacques Turgot
(1727-1781) controller general of finances cut govt spending 20
months after he was appointed 1774 he was dismissedJacques Necker
(1732-1804) dismissed in 1781 and then recalled in 1788July 1788
Louis XVI - to win support for new taxes called into session the
Estates General
