THE FRENCH REVOLUTION CRISIS OF THE FRENCH MONARCHY Louis XV 1715-1774 & Louis XVI (1774-1792) DEBT TAXES Peasants shoulder tax burden but have the least money ARISTOCRACY & CLERGY Aristocracy wants more influence & clergy protect entitlements ENLIGHTENMENT liberty & equality of opportunity radical & revolutionary idea. Liberalism: primary role of gov’t to protect & promote rights of individual. Ideals of E. can be realized but not supported by the masses!
THE ESTATES GENERAL Duke of Orleans regent for LXV: parlements restored & absolutism challenged New tax increases attempted but failed under Louis XV Louis XV bad reputation hurt monarchy Louis XVI rule leads France towards financial crisis & political upheaval Louis XVI must call Estates General 1788: 1st time since 1614
ESTATES GENERAL BECOMES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY JUNE 20, 1789 ORGANIZATION & VOTING 2 MAJOR ISSUES 3RD DEMANDS THEY ALL SIT TOGETHER OLD REGIME CEASED TO CORRESPOND W/ SOCIAL REALITY OF 1780’S TENNIS COURT OATH – role of 3rd estates middle class CONSTITUTIONAL MON-ARCHY: LIBERTY GUARAN-TEED BY LAW
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LIMITED MONARCHY – 1ST STAGE OF THE REVOLUTION DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN NATIONALIZED CHURCH PROPERTY ESTABLISHED METRIC SYSTEM CONFLICT WITH CATHOLIC CHURCH 1ST FAILURE ABOLISHED FRENCH NOBILITY AS A LEGAL ORDER SOME RELIGIOUS FREEDOM TO JEWS & PROTESTANTS
REVOLT OF THE POOR & OPPRESSED ECONOMIC DEPRESSION & AGRICULTURAL FAILURE SOARING PRICES OF BREAD STORM BASTILLE 7/14/89 GREAT FEAR; 8/4/79 ARIST- OCRACY RENOUNCES PRIV-ILEGES ROLE OF WOMEN 10/5/89 WOMEN MARCH THREATEN QUEEN & ROYAL FAMILY FORCED TO LIVE IN PARIS
THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FRANCE 1791-1799 REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE E. BURKE 1790 DEFENSE OF CONSERVATISM – REVOLUTION A MISTAKE A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN ’92 M. WOLLSTONECRAFT REVOLUTION ONLY WHEN RIGHTS ARE EXTENDED TO ALL PEOPLE REVOLUTION WELCOMED BY EUROPEAN MONARCHS INITIALLY BUT BEGIN TO FEAR POWER OF REVOLUTION & EUROPE PREPARES FOR WAR WITH FRANCE
POLITICAL REORGANIZATION JACOBINS DOMINATE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 1791 MORE RADICAL REVOLUTION-ARIES THAN PREVIOUS REPS. DECLARE WAR ON PRUSSIA APRIL 1792 – if they’re going to declare war on us let’s beat them to the punch. WAR BETWEEN FRANCE & EUROPE – GOES BADLY BUT PARIS IS SAVED RUMORS & RHETORIC CALLS FOR NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MONARCHY DYING
THE SECOND REVOLUTION 1792-1793 RAPID RADICALIZATION OF REVOLUTION FRANCE BECOMES A REPUBLIC 9/1792 DEATH OF LOUIS XVI 7/93 CONTINUATION OF WAR COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY ROBESPIERRE REIGN OF TERROR