Transcript Document

INTELLECTUALLY
New Ideas:
John Lock:
* The human mind is blank at birth, as such everyone is good.
* Society shapes their mind and corrupts.
* God established divine laws in which the universe conforms around and there is no
changing these laws, only acting within the constraints of them.
The Enlightenment: use reason and science to improve society;
“to overturn the barriers that reason never erected” and “give back to the arts and
sciences the liberty that is so precious to them” The Encyclopedia 1751-51
The Encyclopedia provided the principles for attacking despotism, superstition and
intolerance with knowledge
Main Targets of Enlightenment: freedom of: the press, religion, pursue knowledge
unfettered by government restriction
These targets = conflict with church and state
Steps leading to Enlightenment in France:
1685: Louis XIV revokes rights of Protestants…forcing exile for 100s… those in exile
write criticism of monarchy; new breakthroughs in science Isaac Newton’s scientific
method; 1721: Charles-Louis de Secondat (Montesquieu) Persian Letters satire on
French politics, Separation of Powers 1733: Voltaire Letters Concerning the English
Nation criticizes French as compared to Britain and praises 1689 British Bill of Rights w/
freedom of speech and religion to Protestants and Rousseau, the father of the French
Background to the French Revolution
POLITICALLY
Think
PERSIA
France was ruled by an absolute monarch who was not so absolute and a little
weak on his monarchial skills. Louis XVI had not come to terms with the
resurgent social and political power of the aristocratic institutions and
reinstituted the Parlement of Paris that could judge his decrees before they
became law. This became dreadfully apparent as the Parlement sabotaged all
efforts of the financial ministers to eradicate the debt.
Political Inequalities: The Estates General
• The nobles and clergy made up the First and Second Estates.
• The nobles and clergy could outvote the common people
• The Estates General was rarely called by the king, who ruled as an absolute monarch.
• The common people, the middle class (bourgeoisie), peasants and artisans,
made up the Third Estate. BUT there were no lower classes represented ,only bourgeoisie
• The common people were discontented with the privileged classes.
The French were in DEBT with no tax base
ECONOMICALLY
50 % from the Seven Years’ War and American Revolution
army
25% went to support the military
war
6% went to Versailles
Versailles
And - French noblemen and churchmen were tax exempted
To complicate the issue the Parlement of Paris vetoed all
decrees from Louis XVI financial ministers
Maupeou - abolished parlements and exiled members but reform was doomed when
Louis XV died
Parlements reinstated
Jacques Necker - claimed that if you took out the debt from the American Revolution,
the budget was a surplus ??? The burden on the budget was pensions for aristocracy.
Had to leave after this little revelation but government had no need to raise taxes if
budget is a surplus
Charles de Calonne - lowered some taxes [gabelle] and transformed peasants
service to money payment. Urged new tax for all landowners with no exemptions. If this
passed the monarchy would not need other indirect taxes and would not need to seek
parlements’ approval for new taxes because new local assemblies approve land taxes
based on amount of land and not social status
Nobles and Clergy resist taxes
• France still practiced feudalism in the 18th century.
• The nobles and clergy enjoyed special privileges.
• The nobles and clergy did not have to pay taxes.
• The common people did not have political power.
• The commoners worked hard and had to pay heavy taxes.
Calonne met with Assembly of Notables from upper ranks of nobles and church to
get support for his plan but they refused and demanded a greater part in gov’t.
They wanted Necker back who said the country was fiscally sound. They finally
claimed they had no right to consent to new taxes and demanded the Estates
General be called because the first and second estate could outvote the third estate
and they would win.
Calonne is replaced by Louis with Brienne
Brienne realized France’s economic situation was as bad as Calonne said so he tried
to impose the land tax but the Parlement of Paris said it lacked the authority to
approve the tax and instead Brienne should call the Estates General. Did I mention
this had not been called since 1614?
He then appealed to the Assembly of Clergy to fund a subsidy for the debt but they
refused and reduced their existing voluntary contribution of don gratuit. [Did I mention
the Church was also tax exempt?] Brienne resigned and was replaced by Necker
Ironically in 1789, France was one of the
richest and strongest nations in Europe.
France had over 28 million inhabitants; in
Europe, only Russia had more.
France was amongst the most urbanized
countries in Europe. The population of
Paris was second to that of London.
The powerful Divine Right monarchy
operated for over a century without
resorting to a legislature. Since 1614,
French kings managed their money by
increasing the burden of the unequal tax
system, borrowing money, and by selling
noble titles and other privileges. These
noble titles exempted the holder from
future taxes.
This led to the long-running fiscal crisis.
On the eve of the revolution, France was
effectively bankrupt.
…not a major trading nation, France needed to raise its revenues internally.
Taxes such as the gabelle (salt tax) were contracted out to private collectors
who could raise (collect) far more than the government requested. These
systems led to an arbitrary and unequal collection taxes.
Other taxes the peasants were required to pay included a tenth of their income
or produce to a church tithe, a land taille to the state, a 5% property tax or
income tax and a tax on the number of people in the family.
There were taxes on the use of the nobles' mills, wine presses or bakeries.
If that was not enough…
The Church collected a tax from the peasants - tithe but paid no taxes
A great scarcity of food happened in the 1780s, a result from crop failures
causing shortages of grain which raised the price of bread, the main source of
nutrition for peasants. The bread was too high a price to pay for the poor who
ended up starving. The two years prior to the revolution (1788-89) were years
of bad harvests and harsh winters. The price of bread rose 88% in 1789 to
almost 10 sous. An unskilled worker earned only 15 to 30 sous in a day.
To raise taxes the king called up the Estates General.
The Parlements and clergy brought the monarchy to its knees
The nation blamed some of their plight on Marie
Antoinette’s frivolous spending and lack of
interest in the country’s affairs. She was unfairly
rumored to have said, “Let them eat cake” when
informed that her people were running out of
bread
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Social and Political Inequality of the Estates General
First Estate
Clergy who were 1% of the population and owned 10% of the land. Contributed only a
voluntary tax but collected tithe. Also collected rent for land = $675,000,000.00 a year.
Second Estate
400,000 nobles (1.5%pop) owned 25 % of the land. They held the best state and church
positions, were tax-exempt but collected taxes from the lower classes. Many in this
estate favored a Constitutional Monarchy just like England {thanks a lot
enlightenment}
Third Estate
Everybody else 24 million people (serfs, peasants, skilled and unskilled workers,
doctors, lawyers, teachers, storekeepers)
Culottes or bourgeoisie or middle class. They were the merchants, bankers, lawyers
San culottes or proletariat. These were the artisans or urban laborers who wanted
freedom from trade restraints and mercantilism to protect their goods
Peasants who paid rent, gabelle, corvee, taille, tithe, etc. etc. etc.
Keep in mind only the bourgeoisie had representation
Abbe Sieyes - “What is the Third Estate? Everything. What has it been in the political
order up to the present? Nothing. What does it ask? To become something.”
The Estates General met in 1789 and it appeared the aristocracy had won but
that changed as social and political forces of the lower classes was unleashed
DEBATE OVER ORGANIZATION AND VOTING
•Aristocracy demanded equal number of representation for each estate to limit the 3rd
•Parlement of Paris ruled voting should be conducted by order, not head - 1 vote each
This move confirmed the suspicions of the Third Estate. This was no longer
between the king and the nobles. This was between the nobles and the
bourgeoisie. {mostly lawyers}
The Royal Council decided to Double the Third Estate so the voting conflict was
settled by the King after the Estates General convened at Versailles in May, 1789.
The question of organization was not settled as the king wanted it by estate
Wanted:
The cahiers de doleances protest
•More meetings of the EG
•Government waste
•Equitable taxes
•Indirect taxes [taxes levied on goods and
•Local control of administration
services, not income or profit]
•Church taxes and corruption
•Unified weights and measures for trade
•Hunting rights of the aristocracy
•Freedom of the press
June 1 The lower clergy joined the Third Estate to form the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
TENNIS COURT OATH
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY thought they were locked out of their meeting place so they
adjourned to the Tennis Court and took an oath to sit until they wrote a constitution.
Louis ordered this to stop but a majority of clergy and nobles joined them. [wanted a
constitutional and not absolute monarchy.
The King allowed 1st and 2nd estate to meet with National Assembly and vote by head.
This should have ended things but Louis called in royal troops and dismissed Necker.
Then the people of Paris took over
FALL OF THE BASTILLE
Calling in troops caused anxiety and throughout 1789 there were several bread riots.
Militia were formed and they collected arms. People believed firing Necker was the
beginning of a royal offensive against the Assembly and the city of Paris so
JULY 14, 1789 the people of Paris [traders, shopkeepers, artisans, wage earners PROLETARIAT- went to the Bastille in search of weapons. When the governor’s troops
fired into the crowd killing many the crowd stormed the fortress, killing troops and the
governor. The militia became the National Guard headed by Lafayette who gave the
guard a new emblem - the red and blue stripes of Paris - not the white stripe of the king
GREAT FEAR
Peasants in rural areas also became anxious about French troops. They burned nobles’
homes and any records of their feudal dues. They took food supplies they believed
belonged to them
August 4th
To stop the riots in the countryside, several nobles and clergy stood up in the assembly to
renounce their feudal rights, duties and tithes. Hunting and fishing rights, judicial
authority and special exemptions were abolished. All French citizens were equal before
the law. {Of course, they already lost these rights but it was to begin reconstructing
France}
Significance: The National Assembly [bourgeoisie] could look to the proletariat for help.
DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN AND CITIZEN
“All men were born and remain free and equal in rights.” These natural rights were
“Liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” Governments’ purpose was to
protect these rights. Sovereignty belonged to the people’s representatives. All were equal
before the law and merit determined one’s job. There was due process and assumption of
innocence. Taxes were levied on those who could pay them. [Sound Familiar?]
Women were excluded thanks to that swine - Rousseau
WOMEN’S MARCH ON VERSAILLES
Louis could not decide to accept either of these two declarations and bread continued to be
scarce. On Oct. 5, 7,000 Parisian women marched 13 miles to Versailles to demand bread.
Scared, the king agreed to the decrees. The women were still suspicious so the marched the
“Baker, Baker’s Wife, and Baker’s Son” back to Paris to the Tuilleries. See what happens
when you let women run things!!!!!
The Reconstruction of France Under the National Assembly
POLITICAL
Constitutional Monarchy
1 King and 1 Leg. Assembly the
Assembly made the laws the
King was allowed to veto but this
only delayed the laws
Citizenship designed to keep
government from public pressure
Active Citizens - men paying
annual taxes = 3 days of labor vote
for electors who voted for
members of the legislature.
Electors and Members were
restricted by property
qualifications. Political power
determined by property not
birth25,000 of 5 million
Women excluded
Olympe de Gouges argued for
women’s rights
France divided into 83
departments with uniform courts
and elected judges
ECONOMIC
Suppressed guilds, freed
grain trade and instituted
uniform weights and
measures for trade
Peasants had to prove
they were free of dues
and workers were
forbidden to form unions
under the Chapelier Law.
So whose interests are
represented
Did not declare bankruptcy
because loans were due
merchants, bankers and
traders. Did institute a
land tax but not enough $ so
they financed the debt by
taking church land and
selling it. This caused
inflation, religions and civil
war
Assignat = more troubles
RELIGIOUS
Civil Constitution of Clergy
Reduced bishoprics from
135 - 83 and aligned their
borders with state
departments
Priests and Bishops were
elected and paid by the
state.
Removed
Biggest
mistakePapal
of the N.A.
influence
Created trouble within the
Church and between Church
and state
N.A. demanded clergy take
an Oath to support this
CCC. Only 7 bishops and
half the clergy did. The
rest “refractory” were
removed
Pope condemned the CCC
and the Rights of Man i.e.
the revolution and French
were divided between the 2
FLIGHT TO VARENNES
JUNE 20, 1791 Louis and his family try to escape but were recognized and returned to
Paris. The leaders in the National Assembly tried to gloss over the event but the fact
remained the leader of the Constitutional Monarchy, although forced to accept the
Constitution of 1791, did not believe in the revolution
DECLARATION OF PILLNITZ
August 27, 1791 Austria’s Emperor Leopold [Marie Antoinette’s brother] and Fred
William II [what else] promised to intervene in France to protect the royal family and
the monarchy if other European powers agreed. While no other nation stepped
forward, the French saw this as a threat from aristocratic and monarchical enemies.
SEPTEMBER, 1791
The National Assembly adjourned having reconstructed the government of France. It’s
last act was to pass the Self-Denying Ordinance [forbade members of the National
Assembly to sit on the new Legislative Assembly. Its purpose was to give others a chance
in government but it denied France its most experienced statesmen and turned the
government over to the radicals.
Jacobins (Girondists)
Cordeliers
Feuillants
End the monarchy for
a republic Robespierre
End the monarchy for a
republic Danton & Marat
Limited monarchy
forced out by Jacobins
THE SECOND REVOLUTION
The reforms of the 1791 Constitution created enemies within and outside France
because not all agreed with the Constitution. Emigres and aristocrats resented their
loss of power and plotted to overthrow the new government. Peasants (west) resisted
the changes especially where the church was concerned. Women were not protected. In
Paris, urban workers felt the revolution had not gone far enough, radical members of
the legislative assembly also felt this way, and foreign nations were concerned the
revolution would spread to their borders. This second revolution was led by the
radicals (Jacobins and sans culottes) and begins international war that will, oddly
enough, bring these factions together.
Legislative Assembly 1791 -1792
1.
Radicals assumed control (Girondists) and ordered émigrés to return of lose their property and
demanded refractionary clergy take the oath or lose their pensions
2.
Declared war on Austria. Thought this war would inflame nationalism and they were right. King
also favored war because he believed the revolution would die. Instead war made the revolution
more radical and replaced the constitutional monarchy with a republic.
3.
Pauline De Leon petitioned and won the right for women to bear arms for their country
4.
(A) Prussia (Brunswick Manifesto) threatened to invade Paris if royal family was hurt and the (B)
Paris government passed from elected council to a commune of reps from city wards. Paris
Commune. This was the beginning of the involvement of sans - culottes
5.
Aug 10,1792- Parisienne crowd rushed the Tuileries, imprisoned royal family No more
constitutional monarchy.
6.
SEPTEMBER MASSACRES - PARIS COMMUNE executed 1,200 people from city jails.
Many were aristocrats or priests who were viewed as enemies to the revolution but the
vast majority were common criminals
7.
Held an election by universal male suffrage for a new assembly to write a democratic
constitution. New assembly = National Convention
8.
September 20, 1792 the French army stopped the Prussians at Valmy
NATIONAL CONVENTION
France declared a republic
September 21, 1792
Sans culottes - proletariat - had been ignored Jacobins - The Mountain - cooperated with
by the National Assembly - bourgeoisie
sans-culottes to overthrow the king
Wanted a republic with no king OR representatives Wanted a republic
Price control for relief of food shortages and
inflation. Had been left to the mercy of the free
market
Wanted unregulated economy
Overthrew opponents - Girondists - and executed
Citizen Capet on January 21st, 1793
All have right to support oneself - wanted social
Declared war on England, Holland, and Spain
equality - resented the aristocracy and bourgeoisie
Already at war with Austria and Prussia Feb. 1793
Community of small property owners who could
Prussia drove Fr out of Belgium and Dumouriez
participate in politics
(Hero of Vlamy. )defected to the enemy
Vendee uprising of aristocrats and priests got
public support. March 1793
European Response to French Revolution
European nations realized that what happened in France would not stay
in France, especially if your country was ruled by a monarchy or
experienced corruption. SO…..
England suppressed working class reforms (London Corresponding Society)
sponsored mobs to drive out Priestley [burned down his home], a chemist and
supporter of the French Revolution, suspended Habeas Corpus and tried to curtail
freedom of the press
Prussia - withdrew support from Silesian weavers
Russia - Burned Voltaire’s books, exiled writer to Siberia for criticizing
Russian social conditions and joined with Austria and Prussia to divide
Poland
Belgium was invaded by France and opened for trade to
all nations.
France declared it would help all who wanted to
overthrow the aristocracy or monarchs.
Austria, Prussia, England, Spain, Sardinia and Holland form First Coalition v. France
Reign of Terror 1793 - 1794
claimed 25,000 victims
April, 1793 - France viewed this war as a defense of its new political and social order so it
would fight those outside its borders (first alliance) and its own people within its borders.
France mobilized politically, economically and militarily under the Mountain
who sought alliance with sans culottes and opposed the King and Girondists
Politically
Economically
Militarily
Powerful committees = executive
branch. Most powerful was the
Committee of Public Safety led by
Danton and ROBESPIERRE.
Economic production
was redirected for
war materials
Sans culottes stormed Convention, Price ceilings were
expelled Girondists, gave Mt. control enforced as a
Mt declared a democratic
constitution that was never
enforced. Robespierre = dictator
Abolished slavery, primogeniture
and imprisonment for debt. Metric
system
Emigres land sold to peasants 2-3
acres
Ended Due Process of Law
demand from sansculottes
Bread is rationed
Leader was Lazare Carnot
August - Levee en masse, drafted
males into army (300,000)
Army crushed rebellions in
French Provinces
From 1794 - 1795, army occupied
Low Countries, Rhineland,
Switzerland, Savoy.
1796 Invaded Italy forcing out
Austria
1797 ended 1st coalition only
England remained
NATIONAL CONVENTION Get wartime
ready:Comm of Security (Carnot) and Comm of
Public Safety (Danton and ROBESPIERRE)
Republic of Virtue
Renamed streets, dressed like sans-culottes, no
powered wigs, only republican plays and attacks
against crime especially prostitution
Republican Women
Pauline de Leon and Claire Lacombe to fight internal
enemies - militant police. Wanted stricter price control on
food, arrested food hoarders and fought with working
women who were not as revolutionary as them. Excluded
from political life when they opposed economic policies
Olympe de Gouges guillotined
De-Christianization
New Calendar -12 months w 30 days and 10
weekdays to eliminate Sunday Events- associated
with Revolution
Notre Dame renamed “Temple of Reason”
Closed churches, persecuted clergy, forced to marry
Cult of Supreme Being
ROBESPIERRE
Set up tribunals to rid enemies but who was
the enemy ????
Anyone who
helped European powers
Endangered virtue
Opposed policies
Marie Antoinette and royal family
Girondists
Society of Revolutionary Republican
Women
Nantes
sans-culottes enrages
Danton
Law of 22 Prairial - convict suspects
without hearing evidence
July 28th even Robespierre met his demise
Thermidorian Reaction and Directory
July 1794 - the revolution was too radical as Mountain combined with sans-culottes
The BOURGEOISIE replaced sans-culottes
1.
Ordered Robespierre’s execution
2.
Returned Girondists and removed sans-culottes from political life
3.
General amnesty of political prisoners
4.
Reduced power of Committee of Public Safety
5.
Outlawed Paris Commune and closed Paris Jacobin Club
6.
White terror began - execution of the former terrorists of Reign sometimes conducted by “Bands
of Jesus”
7.
Revival of Christianity
8.
Repealed laws passed in 1792 - making divorce better for women but that was it. Returned to
separate spheres
9.
Constitution of the Year III - 2 house legislature Upper House Council of Elders men over 40,
husbands or widowers Lower House Council of 500 men of 30 married or single. Property
qualification applied
10. Directory (5) chosen by Upper House from Council of 500s list - executive
Rank and Birth gave way to civil equality and social status based on property
ownership but which groups would have political representation?
Bourgeoisie got victory, Peasants got land