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French Revolution

French Revolution. Unit 4. Conditions of a revolution. People are discontent Feel held down by society, religion, govt., etc.. Forced to accept less than what they hoped Growing social divide is evident Social class proximity Govt becomes unresponsive to needs Govt begins to split

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French Revolution

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  1. French Revolution Unit 4

  2. Conditions of a revolution • People are discontent • Feel held down by society, religion, govt., etc.. • Forced to accept less than what they hoped • Growing social divide is evident • Social class proximity • Govt becomes unresponsive to needs • Govt begins to split • Govt loses support from within • Govt finances are in disarray, govt going bankrupt, taxing unjustly to save itself

  3. Anatomy of a Revolution • Revolution – disease • Fever begins with certain symptoms • Advances and retreats to a “crisis stage” • Crisis ends when the fever breaks • Convalescence follows, relapse or two, then full recovery

  4. Ancient regime • Absolute monarchy • Corrupt tax system • - Taille (land tax) • - Gabelle (salt tax) • - taxes killed lower classes

  5. Ancien Regime Map, 1789

  6. Causes of the revolution in France • - embraced Enlightenment ideals • - resentment of Absolutism • - high debt • A. poor economic conditions • B. Louis XIV’s war debts • C. trouble taxing, had to borrow instead • Colbert (Louis’ finance guy put the burden on the lower classes)

  7. 3 estates • 1st (clergy) • - 1% of the population • - paid no taxes • - owned largest percent of land • 2nd (nobility) • - 2% of the population • - only paid certain taxes • - received feudal dues • 3rd (the rest) • - 97% of the population • - not all peasants, Bourgeoisie (intellectuals) • - heavily taxed

  8. Louis XV • Nobility gain back power • Embezzeled of taxes • Formed Parlements (local authority) • Power no longer centralized • Increased taxes • Jacques Necker – finance minister • - borrowed lots of outside money • - make it appear that France was ok • Charles Calonne – finance minister after Necker • - increased spending but not revenues • - calls for tax reform • - assembles notables for a meeting • Louis XV gives support to American rebels • Leads to more war debt • France needs to raise money

  9. Socio-Economic Data, 1789

  10. The French Urban Poor

  11. Financial Problemsin France, 1789 • Urban Commoner’sBudget: • Food 80% • Rent 25% • Tithe 10% • Taxes 35% • Clothing 20% • TOTAL 170% • King’s Budget: • Interest 50% • Army 25% • Versailles 25% • Coronation 10% • Loans 25% • Admin. 25% • TOTAL 160%

  12. French Budget, 1774

  13. Where is the tax money?

  14. Estates General • List of grievances (Cahiers) • 1st – not giving up dominant position • 2nd – 89% said they would give up financial privileges, 39% supported voting by head(surprisingly liberal) • 3rd – wanted constitutional democracy and an end to mercantilism

  15. Convening the Estates General May, 1789 Last time it was called into session was 1614!

  16. The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by Estates Clergy 1st Estate 1 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 1 1 Commoners 3rd Estate Louis XIV insisted that the ancient distinction of the three orders be conserved in its entirety.

  17. The Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head! Clergy 1st Estate 300 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 300 648 Commoners 3rd Estate

  18. Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes 1stWhat is the Third Estate?Everything! 2nd What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing! 3rd What does it demand? To become something therein! Abbé Sieyès1748-1836

  19. “The Third Estate Awakens” The commoners finally presented their credentials not as delegates of the Third Estate, but as “representatives of the nation.” They proclaimed themselves the “National Assembly” of France.

  20. “The Tennis Court Oath”by Jacques Louis David June 20, 1789

  21. Too little too late • 151 clergy and 24 nobles join the national assembly by late June of 1789 • King Louis XVI follows suit • Orders 1st and 2nd estates to join the NA • Reforms come too little too late

  22. Europe on the Eve of theFrench Revolution

  23. Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789 A rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the National Assembly. 18 died. 73 wounded. 7 guards killed. It held 7 prisoners [5 ordinary criminals & 2 madmen].

  24. It’s Mark Hallum’s 21st Birthday

  25. Source: Excerpts from the Napoleonic Code(do not need to write these down) • 1. The laws are executory throughout the whole French territory, by virtue of the promulgation thereof made by the First Consul. • 2. The law ordains for the future only; it has no retrospective operation. • 3. The laws of police and public security bind all the inhabitants of the territory, Immovable property, although in the possession of foreigners, is governed by the French law. • 8. Every Frenchman shall enjoy civil rights. • 213. The husband owes protection to his wife, the wife obedience to her husband.

  26. Thermidorian Reaction • Robespierre had become too radical • Robespierre is executed • His death marks the end of the radical phase • July is called Thermidor “heat” in the new calendar • Churches re-opened • Economic policies changed to laissez faire • Jacobin clubs are closed • 1795 – new constitution is written

  27. The Directory 2 house legislature Council of 500 Council of Elders (250 members) – married or widowed males over the age of 40 only Voted on by males over the age of 21 who were taxpayers • Executive body of 5 men (oligarchy, designed to avoid a dictatorship) • Led by mostly bourgeoisie • Corrupt and unpopular • Inflation, provincial riots / revolts • 1799 – Napoleon overthrows The Directory • Coup d’etat • Approved via a plebiscite (vote of the people)

  28. First Consul • All decision making power held by Napoleon • Order is restored • French voters approve of Napoleon • Napoleon uses this democratic endorsement to end democracy in France • Turn France into an efficient modern state • Napoleon’s rule was similar to that of an enlightened despot and not a dictator • Lowered taxes on farmers • Allowed peasant farmers to keep confiscated church property • Turned “independent peasantry” into the backbone of French “democracy” • Gives amnesty to emigres to come back to France • Heals bitter relationship with catholic church

  29. The Napoleonic Code • Consolidate local law into one unified national code (still used in France today) • Included – equality before the law, abolition of privilege, freedom of religion, protection of property rights • Women still 2nd class • Laws designed to make them dependent on their husbands • Women could NOT buy or sell property without the consent of their husbands

  30. Merit System • Designed to recruit and reward those in government • No longer would wealth equate to promotion • HOWEVER Napoleon practiced extensive nepotism • All conquered territories had a Napoleon relative placed in charge of them

  31. Education • Napoleon sought to nationalize education in France. • Lycees – state sponsored elite secondary schools. • EcolePolytechnique – famed engineering school in Paris

  32. Concordat of 1801 • Napoleon wants to reestablish the relationship between the state and the catholic church • Religion of the “majority of Frenchmen” • Catholic church is once again able to flex it’s muscles in France • Pope has to recognize the new French Government and not try to reclaim church property lost during the revolution

  33. Loss of Liberty • Napoleon became somewhat paranoid • Press censorship • Political opponents suppressed • Secret police organized • Despite these civil liberties infractions France still enjoyed prosperity, security and stability under Napoleon • 1804 – with the backing of the people Napoleon declares himself emperor of France

  34. Napoleonic Wars • War of the Third Coalition – Great Britain, Russia, Austria 1805 – 1807 • Battle of Ulm – defeat of Austria begins Napoleon’s conquest of Europe • Battle of Trafalgar – British navy defeats French navy outside Spain. • Battle stops French naval power for the duration of the war • Napoleon suspends invasion of Britain • Battle of Austerlitz – Napoleon defeats a combined force of Russian and Austrian troops • Treaty of Pressburg – France gets Austrian parts of Italy including Venice • 1806 – Napoleon creates Confederation of the Rhineas a buffer state • Order HRE to dissolve • Prussia gets involved • Napoleon defeats Prussians at Jena and Auerstadt, takes Berlin • Treaty of Tilsit (1807) – Prussia loses ½ it’s territories, Russia agrees to assist Napoleon against Britain

  35. Battle of Trafalgar

  36. Continental System • All European port cities closed to British trade • Impossible to enforce • Rampant smuggling

  37. Invasion of Russia • Tsar Alexander I refuses to abide by the Continental System • June, 1812 some 600,000 French troops enter Russia • Russia stalled for time by executing a strategic retreat. • Mid – September they had taken Moscow • Moscow had been abandoned and left in flames • Tsar refuses to admit defeat • After 5 weeks in Moscow the French retreat west. • Russian winter sets in • 1813 – Russian, Prussians and Austrians ally themselves • Defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Nations forcing Napoleon back across the Rhine river into France • British forces along with Russia, Prussia and Austria soon invade France by 1814 and enter Paris

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