The French Revolution

1. The French Revolution HIST 1004 2/18/13

2. American Revolution • 1775: Armed struggle against British • George Washington (1732-1799), veteran of French and Indian War leads army • July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence • How does the Declaration of Independence reflect Enlightenment ideals? • Is there a particularly colonial element to it? • 1781: Battle of Yorktown, the British surrender, “The World Turned Upside-Down”

3. The Constitution • 1781: Ratification of the Articles of Confederation • Fails to provide path to enforce requirements of peace treaty with the British. • 1786: Rebellion by Massachusetts veterans over pensions. • May 1787: Constitutional Convention • Creates the most democratic government of the era, but does not provide political rights to most of the population.

4. The French Revolution • Overturns monarchy and hereditary aristocracy, but not long lasting. • Three Estates (clergy, nobility, and Third Estate) • The 95% - The Third Estate • Peasants account for 80% of population

5. Absolute(ly Fabulous) Monarchy • Absolutism – Louis XIV (r. 1643-1715) is a great example • All privileges and power given to royalty • Divine Right of Kings

6. Palace of Versailles • Becomes Louis XIV’s residence in 1682 • Moves capital from Paris • Nobility required to live at Versailles • Centralizes authority • Symbolizes absolutist extravagance

7. Louis XV (r. 1715-1774) • Militaristic, but incompetent • Seven Years War (1754-1763) • Loses Canadian, Caribbean, and Indian colonies • Loses naval fleet • Need to rebuild without income from colonies • Relies on credit

8. Louis XVI (r. 1774-1793) • Even more incompetent • Finances American Revolution • Supplies fleet and small army • Gets nothing but more debt in return • Loans come due, no way to pay!

9. Economic Crisis • Wealthiest part of society (clergy and nobility) can’t be taxed • Only income = increased taxes on the Third Estate • Urban poor lead occasional violent protests. • Rural riots. • Need for unpopular financial reform.

10. Estates General • Uniform land tax with NO exceptions • Angers nobility • 1789 – Estates General called for first time since 1614 • Estates General: customary consultative body representing the three estates.

11. Estates General • Third Estate pushes for the formation of National Assembly. • Support of liberal nobility and poor clergy. • 1789 Louis XVI locks National Assembly out of meetings at Versailles. • Tennis Court Oath: begins drafting constitution.

12. Storming of the Bastille • July 14, 1789: crowds attack Bastille in Paris • Peasants sack manors in rural areas. • National Assembly declares end of noble and church privileges. • Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen • How does the Declaration of the Rights of Man represent Enlightenment ideals? • How does it differ from the Declaration of Independence?

13. Revolution Spreads • Bastille = first successful popular action • Direct action spreads across France • Oct. 5, 1789: Parisian women march on Versailles to protest bread shortages. • Force Louis XVI and family to move back to Paris • Louis held hostage by the mobs

14. Counter Revolution Fails • Attacks on clergy lead to counter revolution • June 20, 1791: Louis XVI and family attempt to flee Paris • Dress as servants, but demand royal entourage • Captured and returned to silent Parisian mobs • From revolution against system to revolution against Louis XVI

15. Enter the Radicals • Constitutional Monarchy w/ legislative assembly • Ban on members of National Assembly • Opens door for radicals • Masses involved in political process and debate

16. Counter Revolution • Nobility flees France • Austria raises army to put down revolution • Louis XVI forced to declare war on Austria • Aug. 10, 1792 – Palace stormed by Paris Commune, royal family imprisoned, monarchy abolished.

17. The French Republic • National Convention – republic • Universal suffrage favors radicals • Declaration against all monarchy • European powers declare war on France • 1793 Louis XVI is guilty of treason • Close vote for regicide • 50-50 divide in convention between real radicals and mild radicals

18. The Terror (1793-1794) • Jacobins: Political club, initially made up of participants in National Assembly • Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794) leads radical movement “The Mountain” • Robespierre forges alliance with Parisian working class, purges and executes enemies in National Convention. • Reign of Terror: 40,000 killed, 300,000 imprisoned

19. Radical Enlightenment • Churches become Temples to Reason • New Republican calendar • Metric system introduced • Replace all ties to church and monarchy in French society

20. Napoleon • July 1794: Robespierre and his allies imprisoned and executed. • National Convention undoes Robespierre’s most radical policies. • 1795: military puts down Paris protests • 1797: losing Directory (executive authority) refuses to step down after election • 1799: Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) overthrows French Republic.

21. Return to Absolutism • 1803-1815: Napoleonic Wars • Uses foreign invasion and counter-revolutionary movements to justify rule. • Dec. 2, 1804: Napoleon declared emperor, receives title from Pope Pius VII • 1812: After conquering most of Europe, failed invasion of Russia • 1815: Restoration of Bourbon Monarchy