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The French Revolution 1789-1791. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity… -- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities.
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The French Revolution 1789-1791
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity… -- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities
The French Monarchy:1775 - 1793 Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI How far was the authority of Louis XVI undermined by the social and economic problems facing France in the late 18th century?
Marie Antoinette and the Royal Children What were the limitations of absolutism? To what extent was absolutism a myth?
The Necklace Scandal 1,600,000 livres[$100 million today] • Cardinal Louis René Édouard de Rohan • The Countess de LaMotte
Let Them Eat Cake! • Marie Antoinette NEVER said that! • “Madame Deficit” • “The Austrian Whore”
Socio-Economic Data, 1789 How serious was the tension between the First, Second and Third Estate? How far did social tension threaten the stability of the state?
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%
French Budget, 1774 What were the fundamental weaknesses of the French economy before 1789?
Where is the tax money? How did the depression of the late 1770s increase France financial difficulties?
Calonne – Finance Minister • warns the king of imminent bankruptcy • Suggests to impose a land tax to be paid by all • Abolition of temporary taxes such as capitation and vingtieme • Abolition of corvee • Reduction in taille • Abolition of internal customs – allowing free trade in grain
Assembly of Notables • Went to the Assembly of Notables hoping they would see his point of view and approve his plans • They opposed his plans and him • Paris Parlement – opposed the plan Why did it prove so difficult to solve the financial crisis? How successful did Louis respond to the problem faced?
‘My friendly nobles. I have called you here to ask with what sauce you want to be eaten?’ Reply: ’We do not want to be eaten at all!’
Question for Thought Was the privileged classes responsible for the outbreak of the French Revolution?
Convening the Estates General May, 1789 Last time it was called into session was 1614!
Estate General What part did the • King • Nobles • Parlements • Finance minister • Financial crisis play in the events that led to the calling of the Estate-General?
The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by Estates Clergy 1st Estate 1 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 1 1 Commoners 3rd Estate
The Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head! Clergy 1st Estate 300 Aristocracy 2nd Estate 300 648 Commoners 3rd Estate
“The Third Estate Awakens” How important were Enlightenment views in bringing revolution to France by 1798? How was the ideas of Enlightenment spread through France?
“The Tennis Court Oath”by Jacques Louis David June 20, 1789 Why did the Third Estate turn against the nobility and clergy?
Question for Thought Was the Revolution a ‘middle class’ affair?
Lettres de Cachet • The French king could warrantimprisonment or death in asigned letter under his seal. • A carte-blanche warrant. • Cardinal Fleury issued 80,000during the reign of Louis XV! • Eliminated in 1790.
Storming the Bastille,July 14, 1789 What impact did Paris have on the Revolution? To what extent did Paris ‘save’ the Revolution?
The Great Fear:Peasant Revolt July 20, 1789
March of the Women,October 5-6, 1789 We want the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy!
National Constituent Assembly1789 - 1791 Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité! August DecreesAugust 4-11, 1789 (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!) • Equality & Meritocracy
The Tricolor (1789) The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of Paris. Citizen!
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen August 26, 1789 What was the impact of Enlightenment on absolute monarchy in France?
83 Revolutionary Departments February 26, 1790
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy July 12,1790 Juryingvs.Non-Jurying[refractory]Clergy
Assignats • Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.
Depreciation of the Assignat • They were backed by the sale of Church lands.
Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly. 1791
The French Constitution of 1791: A Bourgeois Government • The king got the “suspensive” veto [which prevented the passage of laws for 4 years].* he could not pass laws.* his ministers were responsible for their own actions. • A permanent, elected, single chamber National Assembly.* had the power to grant taxation. • An independent judiciary. • “Active” Citizen [who pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] vs. “Passive” Citizen. • A newly elected LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
Olympe de Gouges (1745-1793) Declaration of the Rights of Womanand of the Citizen (1791)
Question? Does the evidence support the view that by July 1789 there was ‘a broad conflict between the privileged and unprivileged’? Explain your answer. With what justification can it be claimed that there was a ‘revolution from below’ in France 1787 – 1789?
Question? How important was the a) Revolt of the Notables and b) the Tennis Court Oath in bringing about the Revolution? ‘The main course of political revolution is the result of poor leadership.’ How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer.
“Must” Reads:Important Books & Pamphlets of the French Revolution
Bibliographic Resources • “Hist210—Europe in the Age of Revolutions.”http://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/courses/europe1/chron/rch5.htm • “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Exploring the French Revolution.”http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/ • Matthews, Andrew. Revolution and Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849. CambridgeUniversity Press, 2001. • “The Napoleonic Guide.” http://www.napoleonguide.com/index.htm