2. 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

3. 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 18 th century?

4. Marie Antoinette and the Royal Children What were the limitations of absolutism? To what extent was absolutism a myth?

5. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant Cottage”

7. The Necklace Scandal Y Cardinal Louis René Édouard de Rohan Y The Countess de LaMotte 1,600,000 livres [$100 million today]

8. Let Them Eat Cake! Y Marie Antoinette NEVER said that! Y “Madame Deficit” Y “The Austrian Whore”

9. 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?

10. The French Urban Poor

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

12. French Budget, 1774 What were the fundamental weaknesses of the French economy before 1789?

13. Where is the tax money? How did the depression of the late 1770s increase France financial difficulties?

14. Calonne – Finance Minister warns the king of imminent bankruptcywarns the king of imminent bankruptcy Suggests to impose a land tax to be paid by allSuggests to impose a land tax to be paid by all Abolition of temporary taxes such as capitation and vingtiemeAbolition of temporary taxes such as capitation and vingtieme Abolition of corveeAbolition of corvee Reduction in tailleReduction in taille Abolition of internal customs – allowing free trade in grainAbolition of internal customs – allowing free trade in grain

15. Assembly of Notables Went to the Assembly of Notables hoping they would see his point of view and approve his plansWent to the Assembly of Notables hoping they would see his point of view and approve his plans They opposed his plans and himThey opposed his plans and him Paris Parlement – opposed the planParis Parlement – opposed the plan Why did it prove so difficult to solve the financial crisis? How successful did Louis respond to the problem faced?

16. ‘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!’

17. Question for Thought Was the privileged classes responsible for the outbreak of the French Revolution?

18. Ancien Regime Map, 1789

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

20. Estate General What part did the a)King b)Nobles c)Parlements d)Finance minister e)Financial crisis play in the events that led to the calling of the Estate-General?

21. Commoners 3rd Estate Aristocracy 2nd Estate Clergy 1st Estate The Suggested Voting Pattern: Voting by Estates 1 1 1

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

23. Europe on the Eve of the French Revolution

24. “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?

25. “The Tennis Court Oath” by Jacques Louis David Why did the Third Estate turn against the nobility and clergy? June 20, 1789

26. Question for Thought Was the Revolution a ‘middle class’ affair?

27. Lettres de Cachet Y The French king could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal. Y A carte-blanche warrant. Y Cardinal Fleury issued 80,000 during the reign of Louis XV! Y Eliminated in 1790.

28. Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789 What impact did Paris have on the Revolution? To what extent did Paris ‘save’ the Revolution?

29. The Great Fear: Peasant Revolt July 20, 1789

30. March of the Women, October 5-6, 1789 We want the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy!

31. National Constituent Assembly 1789 - 1791 August Decrees August 4-11, 1789 (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!) Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité! V Equality & Meritocracy

32. The Tricolor (1789) The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of Paris. Citizen! Citizen!

33. 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?

34. 83 Revolutionary Departments February 26, 1790

35. The Confiscation of Church Lands 1790

36. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy The Civil Constitution of the Clergy July 12, 1790 Jurying vs. Non-Jurying [refractory] Clergy

37. Assignats V Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.

38. Depreciation of the Assignat f They were backed by the sale of Church lands.

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

40. The French Constitution of 1791: A Bourgeois Government Y 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. Y A permanent, elected, single chamber National Assembly. * had the power to grant taxation. Y An independent judiciary. Y “Active” Citizen [who pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] vs. “Passive” Citizen. Y A newly elected LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

41. Olympe de Gouges (1745-1793) Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Citizen (1791)

42. 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?

43. 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.

44. “Must” Reads: Important Books & Pamphlets of the French Revolution

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