CAUSES EVENTS AND RESULTS THE FRENCH REVOLUTION CAUSES EVENTS AND RESULTS

Why Why did the French Revolution last so long? 1789-1799

FRANCE UNDER THE OLD REGIME THE GOVERNMENTAL & SOCIAL SYSTEM THAT LASTED UNTIL THE REVOLUTION (1789) GOVERNMENT SYSTEM WAS ABSOLUTE MONARCHY SOCIAL ORDER BASED ON A RIGID CLASS SYSTEM CLASSES KNOWN AS ESTATES

THE 3 ESTATES THE FIRST ESTATE: THE CLERGY THE SECOND ESTATE: THE NOBLES THE THIRD ESTATE: PEASANTS URBAN POOR BOURGEOISIE

THE FIRST ESTATE MADE UP OF CLERGY THE SMALLEST OF 3 ESTATES MADE UP 0.5% OF POPULATION OWNED 10% OF THE LAND COLLECTED THE TITHE (10% OF ANNUAL INCOME PAID TO THE CHURCH) PAID NO TAX TO THE STATE

SUPERVISED EDUCATION MAINTAINED RECORDS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES CLERGY COULD NOT BE TRIED IN CIVIL LAW COURTS CHURCH OFFICES COULD BE BOUGHT (SIMONY)

THE SECOND ESTATE COMPOSED OF NOBILITY & MADE UP 2% OF FRENCH POPULATION PAID NO TAX TO STATE OWNED 20% OF LAND COLLECTED FEUDAL DUES FROM PEASANTS CONTROLLED LAW COURTS & THWARTED ANY ATTEMPT AT TAX REFORM

HELD ALL HIGH GOVERNMENT OFFICES & WERE MILITARY OFFICERS RESENTED MONARCHY, BUT WANTED TO HAVE SAME KIND OF POWER FOR ITSELF

THE THIRD ESTATE COMPRISED 98% OF POPULATION OF FRANCE PAID 100% OF TAXES TO THE STATE OWNED APPROXIMATELY 55% OF LAND MORE THAN 80% OF FRANCE’S TOTAL POPULATION WAS PEASANTS BOURGEOISIE (MIDDLE CLASS) AND THE CITY WORKERS/URBAN POOR WERE ALSO INCL IN 3RD ESTATE

THE BOURGEOISIE BROUGHT IDEAS OF ENLIGHTENMENT TO REST OF 3RD ESTATE THE BOURGEOISIE HAD EDUCATION & MONEY TO LEAD REVOLUTION PEASANTS & URBAN POOR WERE READY, BUT NEEDED TO BE LED

PROBLEMS OF THE OLD REGIME ABSOLUTE MONARCY FAILING ECONOMY RISING POPULATION 3 ESTATES ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS WEAK KING SUCCESS OF AMERICAN REVOLUTION

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY NO CHANGE ALLOWED BY KING & THE KING CANNOT BE WRONG PEOPLE HAVE NO POLITICAL VOICE & NO HOPE FOR FUTURE ALLOWS FOR ABUSES OF THE PEOPLE BY IGNORING THEIR RIGHTS & THE LAW

FAILING ECONOMY BAD WEATHER LED TO REPEATED CROP FAILURES & POOR HARVESTS SMALL HARVESTS LED TO LITTLE MONEY FOR THE PEASANTS TO PAY TAXES & GOV’T INCOME DECLINED PRICE OF BREAD DOUBLED DUE TO RISING INFLATION GUILDS STILL CONTROLLED MANY TYPES OF BUSINESSES

FRANCE OWED HUGE DEBTS TO OTHER NATIONS NOBLES REFUSED TO ACCEPT TAX REFORM & LOANS CONTINUED TO DRAIN FRANCE LOUIS XVI & MARIE ANTOINETTE CONTINUED SPENDING THAT HAD BEGUN WITH LOUIS XIV & VERSAILLES

FRANCE’S LOSSES IN WARS HAD COST THEM MEN, TERRITORY & MONEY FRENCH INVOLVEMENT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION HAD NEARLY DOUBLED FRANCE’S NATIONAL DEBT

RISING POPULATION 1715: 18 MILLION PEOPLE 1789: 25 MILLION PEOPLE BUT FOOD PRODUCTION LEVELS WERE DROPPING OFF IN THE YEARS BEFORE THE REVOLUTION

3 ESTATES UNFAIR CLASS SYSTEM CREATED TENSION & HATRED AMONG THE 3 CLASSES LACK OF POLITICAL VOICE FOR THE 3RD ESTATE MADE TENSION WORSE

ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS ENLIGHTENMENT BROUGHT IDEAS CRITICAL OF THE GOVERNMENT THE CHURCH AND THE OLD REGIME

IDEAS LIKE LOCKE’S NATURAL RIGHTS LED PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY COULD CHANGE THEIR COUNTRY PEOPLE DESIRED FREE SPEECH AND PRESS, FREE RELIGION, PUBLIC TRIALS & AN END TO TORUTRE

WEAK KING LOUIS XIV WAS NOT INTERESTED IN GOVERNING RELIED TOO LITTLE ON HIS ADVISERS & TOO MUCH ON HIS WIFE

WEAK KING SPENT TOO MUCH TIME HUNTING & PLAYING DID NOT FORCE NOBLES TO ACCEPT TAX REFORM

SUCCESS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IT’S RIGHT TO TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST TYRANNY ALL MEN SHOULD HAVE FREEDOM IF THE AMERICANS CAN HAVE SUCCESS, THEN SO CAN THE FRENCH

THE EVENTS OF THE REVOLUTION LOUIS CALLS FIRST MEETING OF ESTATES GENERAL IN 175 YEARS (NOW THEY’VE GOT HIM!!) LOUIS COULD HAVE AVOIDED TROUBLE WITH A FEW REFORMS, BUT WAS FORCED TO CALL ESTATES GENERAL FOR MONEY

UNDER THE RULES, EACH CHAMBER HAD ONLY 1 VOTE, REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY MEMBERS WERE THERE WHAT IF THE 3RD ESTATE COULD GET THE ESTATES GENERAL TO ACCEPT ONE VOTE PER MAN?

IN RESPONSE TO THE ABBE SIEYES QUESTION, THE 3RD ESTATE DEMANDED TO BE SOMETHING AND DECLARED THEMSELVES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON 17 JUNE 1789

THE 3RD ESTATE WAS LOCKED OUT OF THE ESTATES GENERAL & MOVED TO THE TENNIS COURT NEXT DOOR THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SWORE THE TENNIS COURT OATH: THEY WOULD NOT STOP THEIR WORK UNTIL THEY HAD GIVEN FRANCE A CONSTITUTION

THE TENNIS COURT OATH

THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE 14 JULY 1789 LONG REGARDED AS A SYMBOL OF THE MONARCHY (LARGE, IMPOSING, VERY STRONG & HAD NO SIGNS OF WEAKNESS) BASTILLE WAS A PRISON & ARSENAL THE PRESENCE OF SWISS MERCENARIES MADE THE POWDER & WEAPONS A NECESSITY FOR THE PEOPLE

THE SURRENDER OF THE BASTILLE WAS ORDERED BY THE PEASANTS & THE ARMY REFUSED

THE BASTILLE WAS ATTACKED & IT FELL TO THE PEASANTS

THIS WAS A DIRECT ATTACK ON THE KING & MONARCHY & THERE WAS NO GOING BACK NOW

THE GREAT FEAR FEARING THE KING WOULD RESPOND TO THE BASTILLE W/ THE MERCENARIES, THE PEASANTS ATTACKED NOBILITY & OTHERS IN FRANCE IN SUMMER & FALL 1789

THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN & CITIZEN ISSUED 26 AUGUST 1789 WAS TO PRODUCE EQUALITY & TO ABOLISH CLASS SYSTEM IN FRANCE

THE DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN & CITIZEN CALLED FOR FREE SPEECH, RELIGION, PRESS, FREEDOM FROM UNLAWFUL ARREST & FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A VOICE IN GOV’T (ANY OF THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?) THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN WERE IGNORED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

ABSOLUTE MONARCHY ENDED OCTOBER 1789 AT VERSAILLES A BANQUET GIVEN IN HONOR OF SWISS MERCENARIES STARVING LOCALS DENIED ANY OF THE LEFTOVERS APPROX. 6000 WOMEN BEGAN TO DEMAND BREAD & RIOTED WHEN THEY GOT NONE EVENTUALLY THEY ATTACKED THE PALACE & ARRESTED LOUIS & ROYAL FAMILY

MONARCHY OFFICIALLY ENDED & LOUIS SENT TO JAIL W/ MARIE FIRST PHASE OF REVOLUTION OVER, TROUBLE LURKED ON HORIZON & PHASE TWO ABOUT TO START

CHANGES IN FRANCE CLASS SYSTEM ABOLISHED CHURCH LANDS CONFISCATED BY GOV’T & SOLD TO RAISE MONEY TO PAY NATIONAL DEBT PRIESTS TO BE ELECTED & STATE COULD CONTROL CHURCH (PEASANTS UNHAPPY W/ BOURGEOSIE) BOURGEOISIE WAS NOT HEAVILY TAXED (THEY’RE NOW IN CHARGE!)

LIMITED MONARCHY WAS ESTABLISHED (LIMITED BY WHAT?) CLERGY FORCED TO SWEAR OATH OF LOYALTY TO STATE & NOT ROME (PEASANTS EVEN MORE UPSET)

CONSTITUTION OF 1791 TOOK 2 YEARS TO WRITE CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY ESTABLISHED UNI-CAMERAL LEGISLATURE CREATED CALLED LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ALL JUDGES TO BE ELECTED KING COULD MAKE NO LAWS VOTE GIVEN TO MALES WHO COULD PAY TAXES

ANYONE WHO SERVED IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROHIBITED FROM SERVING IN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY ALL OF THE EXPERIENCE IN GOV’T GAINED IN PAST 2 YEARS WAS LOST

PROBLEMS REMAIN NEW GOV’T FACED OLD PROBLEMS W/ A VARIETY OF WAYS TO APPROACH THE PROBLEMS 3 GROUPS IN THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, THE READICALS, THE MODERATES & THE CONSERVATIVES THE COMMON PROBLEM THAT UNITED ALL 3 GROUPS, ABSOLUTE MONARCHY, WAS GONE & SO WAS THE UNITY

THE RADICALS INCLUDED WORKING POOR & SMALL SHOPKEEPERS WANTED REPUBLIC & NO MONARCHY OF ANY KIND ALL SHOULD BE EQUAL WANTED MORE CHANGES IN GOV’T

THE MODERATES WANTED SOME CHANGE, BUT NOT A LOT & NOT THE KINDS OF CHANGES RADICALS WANTED COULD LEAN TO EITHER SIDE DEPENDING ON ISSUE

THE CONSERVATIVES WANTED NO CHANGE RESTORE MONARCHY & GET RID OF THE DEC. OF RIGHTS OF MAN GROUP INCLUDED THE EMIGRES WHO HAD FLED FRANCE AS WELL AS ROYALISTS & NOBLES

THE REVOLUTION TAKES A RADICAL TURN THE MONARCHS OF EUROPE FEARED THE SPREAD OF FRANCE’S REVOLUTIONARY IDEAS & PROMISED WAR IF LOUIS EXECUTED MONARCHS ALSO SPONSORED GROUPS IN FRANCE TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR THE NEW GOV’T W/ THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE, FRANCE DECLARED WAR ON AUSTRIA IN APRIL 1792

FRANCE INVADED NETHERLANDS & WAS QUICKLY BEATEN A PRUSSIAN GENERAL DECLARED THAT PARIS WOULD BE RAZED IF LOUIS WAS HARMED THE FRENCH WERE OUTRAGED & ATTACKED THE PRISON THAT HELD LOUIS, SLAUGHTERING THE SWISS MERCENARIES

IN SEPTEMBER 1792 PARANOID FRENCH MOBS FEARED THAT WHILE THE ARMY WAS AT WAR, THE ROYALISTS WOULD ESCAPE & RESTORE THE KING

THE MOBS SLAUGHTERED OVER 1000 PRISONERS THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY RESIGNED & CALLED FOR A NEW GOV’T TO BE FORMED CALLED THE NATIONAL CONVENTION

THE NATIONAL CONVENTION ENDED THE CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY AND GOT RID OF CONSTITUTION ITSELF TO PREVENT FURTHER PROBLEMS W/ KING GETTING BACK INTO POWER, HE WAS TRIED, CONVICTED & EXECUTED FOR TREASON IN JANUARY 1793 THE RADICALS ARE IN CONTROL & BEGIN THE REIGN OF TERROR

THE REIGN OF TERROR

THE GUILLOTINE

THE REIGN OF TERROR KNOWN AS THE RADICAL PHASE OF THE REVOLUTION (JULY 1793 - JULY 1794)

THE REIGN OF TERROR THE NATIONAL CONVENTION CREATED THE COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY LED BY ROBESPIERRE

THE REIGN OF TERROR COMMITTEE SOUGHT OUT & EXECUTED “ENEMIES OF THE REVOLUTION”

THE REIGN OF TERROR IT WAS NEVER CLEARLY DETERMINED WHAT EXACTLY AN “ENEMY” WAS BUT OVER 40,000 WERE EXECUTED

THE REVOLUTION SWINGS BACK IN RESPONSE TO THE RADICALISM AND TERROR OF THE PAST YEAR, FRANCE WENT TO A MORE CONSERVATIVE GOV’T, CALLED THE DIRECTORY, BEGINNING IN 1795 & ENDING IN 1799 BI-CAMERAL LEGISLATURE

THE REVOLUTION SWINGS BACK 1795-99 NEW CONSTITUTION 5 MEN IN CHARGE CORRUPT, BUT BROUGHT PEACE & STABILITY

THE DIRECTORY 5 MAN GOVERNMENT SET UP BY THE MODERATES OVERTHROWN BY NAPOLEON IN A COUP d’ ETAT, 1799

THE RISE OF NAPOLEON BONAPARTE

NAPOLEON BONAPARTE 1769-1821 BORN ON ISLAND OF CORSICA DEFENDER OF THE DIRECTORY LOST ARMY IN EGYPT TO BRITISH, BUT KEPT THAT A SECRET RETURNED AS MILITARY HERO 1799 OVERTHREW THE DIRECTORY BY 1802 HAD BROUGHT PEACE TO FRANCE

NAPOLEON AT HOME NAPOLEON’S PRIMARY GOAL ONCE HE ACHIEVED POWER WAS TO STABILIZE FRANCE, PREVENT REVOLUTION AND PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE WHAT DO YOU THINK NAPOLEON HAS IN MIND FOR THE FUTURE?

NAPOLEON AT HOME NAPOLEON HELD A PLEBISCITE (VOTE OF THE PEOPLE) IN 1800 TO SHOW THAT HE HELD POWER LEGALLY FRANCE VOTED ALL REAL POWER TO NAPOLEON BECAME KNOWN AS THE FIRST CONSUL

NAPOLEON & THE ECONOMY NEEDED TO PROMOTE NATIONAL UNITY NO TAX EXEMPTIONS B/C OF BIRTH OR TITLE TAXES ACTUALLY COLLECTED & A BUDGET CREATED STATE BANK CREATED STATE LOANS GIVEN TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES

NAPOLEON & THE CHURCH NEEDED UNITY ON ISSUE OF RELIGION PEASANTS HATED ANTICLERICALISM OF THE REVOLUTION SIGNED CONCORDAT W/ CHURCH 1801

CATHOLICISM DECLARED THE RELIGION “OF THE GREAT MAJORITY OF FRENCHMEN CATHOLICISM DECLARED THE RELIGION “OF THE GREAT MAJORITY OF FRENCHMEN.” RESULT IS RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE BISHOPS CHOSEN BY FRENCH GOV’T AND PRIESTS CHOSEN BY THE BISHOPS

TITHE ABOLISHED & CHURCH LANDS CONFISCATED DURING REVOLUTION ARE KEPT BY FRENCH GOV’T CHURCH NO LONGER INVOLVED IN THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT CHURCH LOSES MONOPOLY ON EDUCATION. NAPOLEON CREATES LYCEES TO PRODUCE FUTURE LEADERS

NAPOLEON & THE LAW CREATED THE NAPOLEONIC CODE “ALL MEN ARE EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW” PERMITTED SOME USE OF TORTURE IN TRIALS SLAVERY RESTORED IN FRENCH COLONIES FREE SPEECH AND FREE PRESS RESTRICTED

NAPOLEON AS EMPEROR 1802: MADE FIRST CONSUL FOR LIFE COULD CHOOSE OWN SUCCESSOR FRANCE A MONARCHY AGAIN IN ALL BUT NAME

NAPOLEON AS EMPEROR 1804: PERSUADED SENATE TO DECLARE THAT “THE GOVERNMENT IS ENTRUSTED TO AN EMPEROR.” 2 DECEMBER 1804: NAPOLEON PLACED THE CROWN ON HIS OWN HEAD. WHY?!

NAPOLEON’S CORONATION

NAPOLEON WANTS AN EMPIRE WANTED TO REGAIN COLONIES IN NEW WORLD 1801 TRIED RETAKING COLONY OF ST. DOMINGUE ON ISLAND OF HISPANIOLA FAILED MISERABLY B/C SLAVES RESISTED THE RE-IMPOSITION OF SLAVERY

UNITED STATES BOUGHT SOME LAND FROM THE FRENCH: THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE FOR $16 MILLION NEW US BECOMES A RIVAL POWER FOR FRANCE’S ENEMY, BRITAIN

NAPOLEON TURNS TO EUROPE

BRITAIN, RUSSIA, AUSTRIA & SWEDEN JOINED 3RD COALITION AGAINST FRANCE NAPOLEON HAD TO BE STOPPED BUT COULD NOT BE AS HE WON BATTLE AFTER BATTLE IN EUROPE B/T 1805 & 1812

BY 1812 MOST OF EUROPE WAS UNDER NAPOLEON’S DIRECT CONTROL OR WERE HIS “ALLIES” (LIKE AUSTRIA WHO BECAME AN ALLY THROUGH HIS SECOND MARRIAGE)

EUROPE UNDER NAPOLEON

NAPOLEON’S 3 MISTAKES THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN THE INVASION OF RUSSIA

THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM 1806 BLOCKADE OF EUROPEAN PORTS BY THE FRENCH TO CRIPPLE BRITISH ECONOMY BRITISH RESPONDED W/ OWN BLOCKADE FRENCH ECONOMY HURT MORE THAN BRITISH ECONOMY

PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN FRENCH ARMY SENT THROUGH SPAIN TO ATTACK PORTUGAL ON IBERIAN PENINSULA SPANISH PROTESTED & SPANISH KING REMOVED BY NAPOLEON SPANISH NATIONALISM FUELED SPANISH FIGHTERS CALLED GUERRILLAS COST NAPOLEON 300,000 MEN

IBERIAN PENINSULA

INVASION OF RUSSIA JUNE 1812 RUSSIAN CZAR HAD BEEN NAPOLEON’S ALLY FRENCH ARMY NOT ENTIRELY FRENCH– LOYALTY WAS A PROBLEM RUSSIANS RETREATED AND USED SCORCHED EARTH POLICY FRENCH TOOK MOSCOW SEPTEMBER 1812 & WAITED FOR PEACE THAT NEVER CAME

INVASION OF RUSSIA TOO LATE TO ADVANCE, TOO LATE TO RETREAT LOST 500,000 OUT OF 600, 000 MEN (83%) NAPOLEON NOW WEAKENED AND COULD BE BEATEN

THE END OF NAPOLEON BATTLE OF LEIPZIG OCTOBER 1813 NAPOLEON’S VETERAN ARMY DESTROYED FORCED TO ABDICATE THRONE EXILED TO ISLAND OF ELBA, APRIL 1814

ISLAND OF ELBA

HEEEEE’S BAAAAAAACKK!!! NAPOLEON IS REPLACED IN FRANCE BY LOUIS XVIII KING IS UNPOPULAR AND NAPOLEON ESCAPES FROM EXILE THOUSANDS JOIN THE CAUSE LOUIS FLEES IN THE NIGHT ONCE AGAIN, NAPOLEON IS EMPEROR

THE HUNDRED DAYS THE PERIOD FROM HIS RETURN FROM ELBA TO HIS DEFEAT AT WATERLOO DEFEATED BY BRITISH & PRUSSIAN ARMY EXILED TO ST HELENA IN SOUTH ATLANTIC DIED THERE MAY 1821

ST. HELENA