The French Revolution 1789-1791

It was the best of times, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of it was the epoch of incredulity…incredulity…

-- Charles Dickens-- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities

The French Monarchy:The French Monarchy:1775 - 17931775 - 1793

Marie Antoinette & Louis Marie Antoinette & Louis XVIXVIHow far was the authority of Louis XVI undermined by How far was the authority of Louis XVI undermined by

the social and economic problems facing France in the the social and economic problems facing France in the late 18late 18thth century? century?

Marie Marie AntoinetAntoinet

te te and the and the Royal Royal

ChildrenChildren

What were the limitations of What were the limitations of absolutism?absolutism?To what extent was absolutism a To what extent was absolutism a myth?myth?

Marie Antoinette’sMarie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”“Peasant Cottage”

Marie Antoinette’sMarie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”“Peasant Cottage”

The Necklace ScandalThe Necklace Scandal

Y Cardinal Louis René Édouard de Cardinal Louis René Édouard de RohanRohan

Y The Countess de LaMotteThe Countess de LaMotte

1,600,000 1,600,000 livreslivres

[$100 million today][$100 million today]

Let Them Eat Cake! Let Them Eat Cake!

Y Marie Antoinette NEVER said Marie Antoinette NEVER said that!that!

Y ““Madame Deficit”Madame Deficit”Y ““The Austrian Whore”The Austrian Whore”

Socio-Economic Data, 1789Socio-Economic Data, 1789

How serious was the tension between the First, How serious was the tension between the First, Second and Third Estate?Second and Third Estate?How far did social tension threaten the stability of How far did social tension threaten the stability of the state?the state?

The French Urban PoorThe French Urban Poor

01020304050607080

% of Income Spent on Bread

17871788

• Urban Urban Commoner’sCommoner’sBudget:Budget:– Food 80%Food 80%– Rent 25%Rent 25%– Tithe 10%Tithe 10%– Taxes 35%Taxes 35%– Clothing 20%Clothing 20%– TOTAL 170%TOTAL 170%

• King’s King’s Budget:Budget:– Interest 50%Interest 50%– Army 25%Army 25%– Versailles Versailles

25%25%– Coronation Coronation

10%10%– Loans 25%Loans 25%– Admin. 25%Admin. 25%– TOTAL 160%TOTAL 160%

Financial ProblemsFinancial Problemsin France, 1789in France, 1789

French Budget, French Budget, 17741774

What were the fundamental weaknesses of the What were the fundamental weaknesses of the French economy before 1789?French economy before 1789?

Where is the tax Where is the tax money?money?

How did the depression of the late 1770s How did the depression of the late 1770s increase France financial difficulties?increase France financial difficulties?

Calonne – Finance Calonne – Finance MinisterMinister• warns the king of imminent warns the king of imminent

bankruptcybankruptcy• Suggests to impose a land tax to be Suggests to impose a land tax to be

paid by allpaid by all• Abolition of temporary taxes such as Abolition of temporary taxes such as

capitation and vingtiemecapitation and vingtieme• Abolition of corveeAbolition of corvee• Reduction in tailleReduction in taille• Abolition of internal customs – Abolition of internal customs –

allowing free trade in grainallowing free trade in grain

Assembly of Assembly of NotablesNotables

• Went to the Assembly of Notables Went to the Assembly of Notables hoping they would see his point of hoping they would see his point of view and approve his plansview and approve his plans

• They opposed his plans and himThey opposed his plans and him• Paris Parlement – opposed the plan 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 ThoughtQuestion for Thought

Was the privileged classes Was the privileged classes responsible for the outbreak of the responsible for the outbreak of the French Revolution?French Revolution?

Ancien RegimeAncien Regime Map, 1789 Map, 1789

Convening the Estates General Convening the Estates General May, 1789May, 1789

Last time it was called into session was 1614!Last time it was called into session was 1614!

Estate GeneralEstate General

What part did theWhat part did thea)a) KingKingb)b) NoblesNoblesc)c) ParlementsParlementsd)d) Finance ministerFinance ministere)e) Financial crisisFinancial crisis

play in the events that led to the calling play in the events that led to the calling of the Estate-General?of the Estate-General?

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting Pattern:The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by EstatesVoting by Estates

11

1

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of RepresentativesThe Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head!in the Estates General: Vote by Head!

300300

648

Europe on the Eve of theEurope on the Eve of theFrench RevolutionFrench Revolution

““The Third Estate Awakens”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 The Tennis Court Oath”Oath”

by Jacques Louis Davidby Jacques Louis David

Why did the Third Estate turn against the nobility and clergy?

June 20, June 20, 17891789

Question for ThoughtQuestion for Thought

Was the Revolution a ‘middle Was the Revolution a ‘middle class’ affair?class’ affair?

Lettres de CachetLettres de Cachet

Y The French king could The French king could warrantwarrantimprisonment or death in imprisonment or death in aasigned letter under his signed letter under his seal.seal.

Y A A carte-blanchecarte-blanche warrant. warrant.

Y Cardinal Fleury issued Cardinal Fleury issued 80,00080,000during the reign of Louis during the reign of Louis XV!XV!Y Eliminated in 1790.Eliminated in 1790.

Storming the Bastille,Storming the Bastille,July 14, 1789July 14, 1789

What impact did Paris have on the Revolution?To what extent did Paris ‘save’ the Revolution?

The Great Fear:The Great Fear:Peasant RevoltPeasant Revolt

July 20, July 20, 17891789

March of the Women,March of the Women,October 5-6, 1789October 5-6, 1789

We want the baker, the baker’s wife We want the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy!and the baker’s boy!

National Constituent AssemblyNational Constituent Assembly1789 - 17911789 - 1791

August DecreesAugust DecreesAugust 4-11, 1789August 4-11, 1789

(A renunciation of aristocratic (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!)privileges!)

Liberté!

Egalité!Fraterni

té!

V Equality & Equality & MeritocracyMeritocracy

The Tricolor (1789)The Tricolor (1789)

The WHITE of the The WHITE of the Bourbons + the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of RED & BLUE of

Paris.Paris.

Citizen!

The Declaration of the The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Rights of Man and of

the Citizenthe Citizen

August August 26, 26, 17891789

What was the impact of

Enlightenment on absolute monarchy

in France?

83 Revolutionary Departments83 Revolutionary Departments

February 26, 1790February 26, 1790

The Confiscation of Church LandsThe Confiscation of Church Lands

17901790

The Civil The Civil Constitution Constitution

of the Clergy of the ClergyJuly 12,July 12,

17901790

JuryingJuryingvs.vs.

Non-JuryingNon-Jurying[refractory][refractory]

ClergyClergy

AssignatsAssignats

V Issued by the National Constituent Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.Assembly.

Depreciation of the AssignatDepreciation of the Assignat

f They were backed by the sale of They were backed by the sale of Church lands.Church lands.

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly. 1791& the National Assembly. 1791

The French Constitution of 1791:The French Constitution of 1791:A Bourgeois GovernmentA Bourgeois Government

Y The king got the The king got the “suspensive” veto“suspensive” veto [which prevented the passage of laws [which prevented the passage of laws for 4 years].for 4 years]. ** he could not pass laws. he could not pass laws. ** his ministers were responsible his ministers were responsible for their own actions. for their own actions.Y A permanent, elected, single chamber A permanent, elected, single chamber

National Assembly.National Assembly. ** had the power to grant taxation. had the power to grant taxation.

Y An independent judiciary.An independent judiciary.Y ““Active” CitizenActive” Citizen [who pays taxes [who pays taxes

amounting to 3 days labor] vs. amounting to 3 days labor] vs. “Passive” Citizen“Passive” Citizen..Y A newly elected LEGISLATIVE A newly elected LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.ASSEMBLY.

Olympe de Gouges Olympe de Gouges (1745-1793)(1745-1793)

Declaration of the Rights of Declaration of the Rights of WomanWoman

and of the Citizen and of the Citizen (1791)(1791)

Question?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?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:Must” Reads:Important Books & Pamphlets Important Books & Pamphlets

of the French Revolutionof the French Revolution

Bibliographic ResourcesBibliographic Resources

““Hist210—Europe in the Age of Hist210—Europe in the Age of Revolutions.”Revolutions.”http://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/courses/europe1/chron/rch5.htm “ “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Liberty, Fraternity, Equality: Exploring the French Revolution.”Exploring the French Revolution.” http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/ Matthews, Andrew. Matthews, Andrew. Revolution and Revolution and Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849Reaction: Europe, 1789-1849. . CambridgeCambridgeUniversity Press, 2001.University Press, 2001. “ “The Napoleonic Guide.” The Napoleonic Guide.” http://www.napoleonguide.com/index.htm