Economic Crisis of 1780s 1780s—Bad weather 1780s—Bad weather Poor harvests Poor harvests Peasants Peasants –90% of population –75% Landless –Want end of feudal obligations –Lower Taxes Urban workers Urban workers –Higher bread prices –60% of wages go to food

France on the Eve of Revolution Economic crisis Economic crisis –War and debt: –Louis XIV ( )—series of wars—Spanish Succession –Louis XV ( )—Austrian Succession; 7 Years’ War –Louis XVI ( )– American Revolution Intransigence of aristocracy Intransigence of aristocracy –Growing Influence of Nobles –Defense of Feudal privileges and seigneurial rights –No taxation Privileges of the clergy Privileges of the clergy Various royal schemes to raise money Various royal schemes to raise money –Finance Ministers like Necker and Calonne attempt to wrest power and money from Aristocracy –Nobles push for calling of Estates General to decide new taxes

The French Revolution Origins: Failure of the old regime Significance: A new Europe A Revolution Unfolds Estates General   “Doubling the Third”   Abbe E. Sieyes What is the Third Estate?   “liberty, equality, fraternity”   National Assembly & Tennis Court Oath   14 July 1789: Storming the Bastille

Estates General Last called in 1614 Last called in 1614 Noble Aspirations Noble Aspirations Structure of Estates Structure of Estates –First Estate: Clergy –Second Estate: Nobility –Third Estate: Everyone else Debate over Voting Procedures Debate over Voting Procedures –A) Tradition– each estate same number of reps –B) Tradition—by Estate –C) Voting by head Decision Decision –May 1789: “Doubling of the Third” –Number of Representatives doubles in Third Estate –Voting still remains by Estate

14 July 1789: Storming the Bastille

The Summer of 1789: Revolutionary Activity in City and Countryside “Storming of Bastille” “Storming of Bastille” –Popular Fears of Royal Plot –Historic function: Prison –Popular Beliefs: Armory & Prison –14 July 1789 –Royal troops kill 98 people –Significance? “Great Fear” “Great Fear” –Rioting throughout rural France –Peasants anger toward Noble Lords  Consequences –National Assembly –4 August 1789  Renunciation of Feudal Privileges  End of Feudal Obligations  All French subject to same Laws

Language of Revolution   August 4, 1789: Civic Equality   Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, 27 August 1789   March to Versailles, October 1789   Administrative reforms: Departments   Civil Constitution of the Clergy, 1790   Constitution of 1791 – –Active vs. Passive Citizenship   Olympes de Gouges Declaration of the Rights of Women

The King’s Dilemma June 20, 1791: Flees Paris, “Flight to Varennes” Reluctantly approves constitution Louis XVI as duplicitous monarch Plotting counter-revolution with Austria & Prussia to defeat French Revolutionaries April 1792 declaring war on Austria then Prussia Hopes of French Defeat August 10, 1792: Arrested for treason September 22, 1792: France declared a republic

French Revolution Assembly of Notables convened 1789 Estates General convened (May 5) National Assembly declared (June 17) Tennis Court Oath (June 20) Fall of the Bastille (July 14) Great Fear (Summer) Nobles Surrender Feudal Rights (Aug. 4) Decl. Of Rights of Man & Citizen (Aug. 27) October Days Economic Crisis Civil Constitution of the Clergy 1790 Royal family flees Constitution established France declares war on Austria September Massacres Republic Established (Sept.) 1793 Louis XVI executed Committee of Public Safety est. Levée en masse Marie Antoinette executed Women’s clubs banned Cult of Reason Proclaimed 1794 Reign of Terror June ‘93 - Jl ‘94 Execution of Robespierre 1795 Thermidorian Reaction: ‘94-’99 Directory est. Napoleon’s Coup d’état Constitutional Monarchy: Sept Aug Republic: Aug. ‘92-Jl ’94 Constitutional Reforms

Convention to “republicanize everything” Convention to “republicanize everything” Music—the national anthem “The Marseillaise” Music—the national anthem “The Marseillaise” Festivals to celebrate the Revolution and the new Republic Festivals to celebrate the Revolution and the new Republic –Festival of Federation (14 July); Festival of Unity (10 August) Flags—the Tricolor (red, white, and blue)—July 1789 Flags—the Tricolor (red, white, and blue)—July 1789 –1793: the mandatory cockade Patriotic Symbols: Marianne and the Personification of Liberty Patriotic Symbols: Marianne and the Personification of Liberty Language—Patriots used informal ‘tu’ Language—Patriots used informal ‘tu’ New Calendar honoring reason and republicanism replace Christian calendar New Calendar honoring reason and republicanism replace Christian calendar New standards of measurement based on reason and decimals: metric system New standards of measurement based on reason and decimals: metric system Cultural Revolution and the Creation of a Republic of Virtue

The Final Step: End of the Royal Family Louis XVI (“citizen Capet”) tried for treason and executed on 21 January Louis XVI (“citizen Capet”) tried for treason and executed on 21 January The queen, Marie Antoinette, follow her husband to the guillotine in October. The queen, Marie Antoinette, follow her husband to the guillotine in October. The dauphin dies in prison in 1794 The dauphin dies in prison in 1794

Allons enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé. Contre nous, de la tyrannie, L'étandard sanglant est levé, l'étandard sanglant est levé, Entendez-vous, dans la compagnes. Mugir ces farouches soldats Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras Egorger vos fils, vos compagnes. Chorus: Aux armes citoyens! Formez vos bataillons, Marchons, marchons! Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons. Amour sacré de la Patrie, Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs, Liberté, liberté cherie, Combats avec tes defénseurs; Combats avec tes défenseurs. Sous drapeaux, que la victoire Acoure à tes mâles accents; Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire! Chorus: Aux armes citoyens! Let us go, children of the fatherland Our day of Glory has arrived. Against us stands tyranny, The bloody flag is raised, The bloody flag is raised. Do you hear in the countryside The roar of these savage soldiers They come right into our arms To cut the throats of your sons, your country. Chorus: To arms, citizens! Form up your battalions Let us march, Let us march! That their impure blood Should water our fields Sacred love of the fatherland Guide and support our vengeful arms. Liberty, beloved liberty, Fight with your defenders; Fight with your defenders. Under our flags, so that victory Will rush to your manly strains; That your dying enemies Should see your triumph and glory Chorus: To arms, citizens! The Republic of Virtue, the Marseillaise, & the levée en masse

Protecting the Republic of Virtue: The Terror External and Internal Threats External and Internal Threats –Foreign enemies:  Prussia, Austria, Spain, the Dutch Republic and Great Britain –Counter-revolutionaries—nobles, clergy, “subversives” –Rampant inflation and food shortages National Convention’s 3 Goals: National Convention’s 3 Goals: –Win external war “levée en masse”—National Army –Win internal war that threatened stability of nation –Stabilize economy by implementing price controls and higher wages Result: Result: –Martial Law –Appointment of Committee for Public Safety –Terror

Death of Robespierre (28 July—the 9 th of Thermidor) Death of Robespierre (28 July—the 9 th of Thermidor) : Thermidorean Reaction : Thermidorean Reaction Weariness of Revolution and Turning back Changes Weariness of Revolution and Turning back Changes Undoing the Machine of TerrorUndoing the Machine of Terror Continuing Instability and Uncertainty in Politics (spectrum of possibilities)Continuing Instability and Uncertainty in Politics (spectrum of possibilities) Ongoing War with European StatesOngoing War with European States Conserving the revolution: The Thermidorean Reaction

New Constitutional Government: The Directory Convention: 2 Legislative Houses: Upper Body--Council of Elders Lower Body– Council of 500 Executive: 5 Man Directory Elected from Council of Elders What’s Changed from Previous Assemblies Rejection of Democracy and Radical Republicanism Reassertion of Property Qualifications Return of Middle Class Liberals Removal of Sans-Culottes Rejection of Radical Republicanism, “White” reaction Return to Traditions of Family and Church