The French RevolutionThe French RevolutionTurning Point, Pointless Turning Point, Pointless

Bloodbath, Model for Change, Bloodbath, Model for Change, Radical Litmus Test?Radical Litmus Test?

Importance and InterpretationsImportance and Interpretations

France was cultural France was cultural center and home of center and home of EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Most populous nation Most populous nation in Europein Europe

The revolution was a The revolution was a surprisesurprise

A complex interaction A complex interaction of causesof causes

Long-term structural Long-term structural problems combined problems combined with immediate criseswith immediate crises

Social CausesSocial CausesClergyClergy 135,000135,000

(.5% of pop.)(.5% of pop.)

NobilityNobility 400,000400,000(1.5% of pop.)(1.5% of pop.)

Third EstateThird Estate (25M or 98%) (25M or 98%)BourgeoisieBourgeoisie 1 M1 MNonagric. workers Nonagric. workers 2 M 2 M Landowning/tenant Landowning/tenant farmersfarmers 5M 5MSharecroppersSharecroppers 11M 11MDay LaborersDay Laborers 5M 5MSerfsSerfs 1M 1M

The deepest and most The deepest and most persistent causepersistent cause

Interpretation of Interpretation of Marxist school Marxist school (Georges Lefebvre)(Georges Lefebvre)

Unequal class system Unequal class system based on privileges based on privileges and exemptionsand exemptions

France—an untapped France—an untapped giant with skilled and giant with skilled and productive labor forceproductive labor force

First Estate—The Clergy (Upper First Estate—The Clergy (Upper and Lower)and Lower)

Church had tax Church had tax exemption but made exemption but made annual annual “contributions”“contributions”

Owned 10% of land & Owned 10% of land & ran most schoolsran most schools

Division between high Division between high clergy and clergy and curéscurés

Collected tithe that Collected tithe that amounted to 3-6% of amounted to 3-6% of peasant incomepeasant income

Second Estate—Aristocracy (the Second Estate—Aristocracy (the Privileged Few)Privileged Few)

Tax exemptions, legal Tax exemptions, legal privileges (hunting, privileges (hunting, courts, laws, etc.)courts, laws, etc.)

40% of nobles gained 40% of nobles gained titles in 17titles in 17thth/18/18thth c. c.

Middle-class aped nobles, Middle-class aped nobles, left business when titledleft business when titled

Lived in high style—Paris Lived in high style—Paris and Versailles, revived and Versailles, revived feudal duesfeudal dues

Invested in commerce & Invested in commerce & industry, searched for industry, searched for sinecuressinecures

Third Estate—the Burdened ManyThird Estate—the Burdened Many VeryVery diverse—hid social diverse—hid social

realityreality Industrialists, merchants, Industrialists, merchants,

lawyers, professionalslawyers, professionals Bourgeoisie owned 20-Bourgeoisie owned 20-

25% of land25% of land Could become noblesCould become nobles Growth of urban poor and Growth of urban poor and

bread riots—1770s/80sbread riots—1770s/80s Remnants of feudalismRemnants of feudalism Squeezed by land Squeezed by land

shortage and economic shortage and economic changeschanges

Typical Peasant ObligationsTypical Peasant Obligations AidesAides—excise tax on —excise tax on

wine, cards, soapswine, cards, soaps CapitationCapitation—poll or —poll or

head taxhead tax CensCens—fixed land rent—fixed land rent ChampartChampart—land rent, —land rent,

1/8 of crop1/8 of crop Fees for dovecotesFees for dovecotes BanalitesBanalites—use of mill, —use of mill,

bakery, winepressbakery, winepress GabelleGabelle—salt tax—salt tax Lods et ventesLods et ventes—tax —tax

when land changed when land changed handshands

TailleTaille—basic tax based —basic tax based on incomeon income

TitheTithe—annual sum paid —annual sum paid to Churchto Church

Tolls on manorial roadsTolls on manorial roads Traites et douanesTraites et douanes——

customs duties when customs duties when crossing provincial crossing provincial bordersborders

VingtiemeVingtieme—income tax, —income tax, set at 5%set at 5%

Allow lord to hunt on landAllow lord to hunt on land CorveeCorvee—work on roads, —work on roads,

lord’s land, lend tools for lord’s land, lend tools for militarymilitary

Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

France undergoing rapid France undergoing rapid commercial expansion, commercial expansion, some industrysome industry

Burden of heavy but Burden of heavy but inefficient taxes inefficient taxes (Farmers-General—150 (Farmers-General—150 families)families)

Rising bread prices (up to Rising bread prices (up to 80% of peasant income)80% of peasant income)

French society WAS French society WAS changing but government changing but government not responsivenot responsive

Political Conflict—King v. NobilityPolitical Conflict—King v. Nobility Absolutist tradition required Absolutist tradition required

strong monarchstrong monarch Rising nobility after Louis XIVRising nobility after Louis XIV Louis XIV had tamed Louis XIV had tamed

parlementsparlements but feudal but feudal system remainedsystem remained

Weak reign of Louis XV Weak reign of Louis XV (1715-74)—mistresses and (1715-74)—mistresses and huntinghunting

Major losses in warsMajor losses in wars Conflict with Parlement of Conflict with Parlement of

Paris (1771)—dismissal and Paris (1771)—dismissal and exile of othersexile of others

ParlementsParlements—18 provincial —18 provincial courts, register decrees, courts, register decrees, remonstrance, king could remonstrance, king could force them—force them—lit de justicelit de justice

Louis XVI—well-meaning wimp?Louis XVI—well-meaning wimp? Early view of Louis and Early view of Louis and

Marie AntionetteMarie Antionette Kindly but weak-willed, Kindly but weak-willed,

interest in locks & huntinginterest in locks & hunting Marie—reputation as Marie—reputation as

vivacious, extravagant, vivacious, extravagant, promiscuous, underground promiscuous, underground literatureliterature

Diamond Necklace Affair—Diamond Necklace Affair—church official gave 2500 church official gave 2500 carat diamond to imposter carat diamond to imposter of queenof queen

Called Called parlementsparlements back in back in 1774 to appease nobles1774 to appease nobles

TRIEDTRIED reforms but lack reforms but lack willpower, skill to follow willpower, skill to follow throughthrough

Intellectual Causes—Enlightenment Intellectual Causes—Enlightenment Blueprint for ChangeBlueprint for Change

Ideas of Ideas of philosophesphilosophes– natural lawnatural law– inalienable rightsinalienable rights– Spirit of LawsSpirit of Laws (balanced (balanced

govt.)govt.)– Rousseau (Rousseau (Social ContractSocial Contract))– VoltaireVoltaire

Protests, grievances would Protests, grievances would be expressed in language be expressed in language of the Enlightenmentof the Enlightenment

American RevolutionAmerican Revolution– Enlightenment ideals could Enlightenment ideals could

be implemented (U.S. be implemented (U.S. Constitution)Constitution)

– Many nobles fought in Amer. Many nobles fought in Amer. Rev. and returnedRev. and returned

– Major debt from French Major debt from French involvementinvolvement

Financial Woes—the “Spark”Financial Woes—the “Spark” Massive debt from wars—1/2 of budget for Massive debt from wars—1/2 of budget for

interestinterest Bankruptcy in 1785Bankruptcy in 1785 Turgot (1774-76)Turgot (1774-76)

– Ambitious Physiocrat programAmbitious Physiocrat program– Convert Convert corveecorvee– Eliminate guilds, tariffsEliminate guilds, tariffs– Dismissed in 1776 b/c of noble oppositionDismissed in 1776 b/c of noble opposition

Jacques Necker (1776-83)Jacques Necker (1776-83)– Popular French bankerPopular French banker– Comte RenduComte Rendu—itemized budget—itemized budget– cost-cutting alienated officeholdercost-cutting alienated officeholder

Calonne (1783-87)Calonne (1783-87)– Tried to tax nobles, called…Tried to tax nobles, called…– Assembly of Notables—hand-picked but still Assembly of Notables—hand-picked but still

opposed taxesopposed taxes– Calonne hated, flees to LondonCalonne hated, flees to London

Archbishop Brienne (1787-89)Archbishop Brienne (1787-89)– Last chanceLast chance– Committee of 30 calls for Estates-GeneralCommittee of 30 calls for Estates-General– King banishes Parlement of Paris but national King banishes Parlement of Paris but national

protestsprotests

““The Moment”—Estates-General The Moment”—Estates-General MeetsMeets

Hadn’t met since 1614 (175 years)Hadn’t met since 1614 (175 years) King calls for King calls for cahier de doleance cahier de doleance ––

politicizationpoliticization Popular election filtered through 2 Popular election filtered through 2

layerslayers Liberal leaders—Mirabeau, Lafayette Liberal leaders—Mirabeau, Lafayette

(“Hero of Two Worlds”), Sieyes(“Hero of Two Worlds”), Sieyes What is the Third Estate?What is the Third Estate?

—”everything—the assembled will of —”everything—the assembled will of the nation”the nation”

Big IssuesBig Issues– Doubling (agreed—578 reps. for 3Doubling (agreed—578 reps. for 3rdrd

Estate, 300 each for 1Estate, 300 each for 1stst/2/2ndnd))– Voting by head or order (1Voting by head or order (1stst and 2 and 2ndnd

can outvote 3can outvote 3rdrd)) Agreement impossible—leads to Agreement impossible—leads to

revolutionrevolution Note: Note: noblesnobles began revolution by began revolution by

refusal to be taxedrefusal to be taxed ““No, Sire, it is a revolution!”No, Sire, it is a revolution!”