The French Revolution 1789-1795

The three Estates The First Estate: - Royal family & Clergy - ~1% of population - Paid no taxes - owned 10% of the land The Second Estate: - Nobility ~2% of pop. - owned 25-30% of the land - Held leading positions in gov’t, army, church & law courts The Third Estate: - All others ~97% of pop. 3 subgroups - urban middle class –educated w/ $, resented nobility City laborers – poor Peasant farmers – pd. Rent, tithe & taxes

Causes of the French Revolution

The Spark: The Meeting of the Estates General Last met in 1614 May 1, 1789 – convened by the King to solve the problem of taxation in France

Problem: How Do They Vote? Old Regime New Order 1st Estate 2nd Estate 3rd Estate 1 vote 1st Estate 2nd Estate 3rd Estate ~300 648 Voting is based on representation. The King decreed that they must vote based on the ancient order – results?

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes 1st What is the Third Estate? Everything! 2nd What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing! 3rd What does it demand? To become something therein! Abbé Sieyès 1748-1836

The National Assembly is formed June 17, 1789 The Members of the Third Estate are determined to gain decision making power. Proclaim to end absolute monarchy and form a representative government. 1st Act of Revolution!

“Not to stop meeting until a new constitution has been established!” The Tennis Court Oath June 20, 1789 Members of the 3rd Estate/National Assembly find themselves locked out of the meeting. Convene at the Tennis Court and vow “Not to stop meeting until a new constitution has been established!”

The Storming of the Bastille A rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the National Assembly. Parisians were already rioting over the price of bread. The mob organized and mobilized against the symbol of French tyranny and Feudalism. Attacked for gunpowder. De Launay – the governor (warden) is beaten and beheaded & paraded through the streets. Results – Saved the National Assembly from being dissolved!

The “Great Fear” Spread Through France July 20, 1789 Rumors that the feudal aristocracy were sending hired brigands to attack peasants and pillage their land. In reaction peasants broke into nobles’ manors and looted & burned. They tore up legal papers binding them to pay feudal dues.

Liberty, Equality, Fraternity! August 4, 1789 … In Theory Fearing for their lives, property and family, Nobles got up one by one and gave impassioned speeches declaring their love of liberty and equality! In one meeting of the National Assembly: Ended Feudalism in France Forever! Abolished Serfdom! Canceled All Payments of Church Tithes Nobles and Clergy relinquished all special privileges … In Theory Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!

In Reality… Feudal dues were not renounced outright [this had been too strong a threat to the principle of private property!] Peasants would compensate their landlords through a series of direct payments for obligations from which they had supposedly been freed. Therefore, the National Assembly made revolutionary gestures, but remained essentially moderate. Safeguard the right of private property!! Their Goal

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen Main Ideals: Liberty! Property! Security! Resistance to oppression! August 26, 1789 Thomas Jefferson was in Paris at this time.

New Dilemmas Created Did women have equal rights with men? What about free blacks in the colonies? How could slavery be justified if all men were born free? Did religious toleration of Protestants and Jews include equal political rights?

March of the Women October 5-6, 1789 A spontaneous demonstration of Parisian women for bread. The rumor went out that the King and Queen were holding stockpiles of flour The women marched to Versailles They broke into the palace, ransacked the queen’s apartment & killed 3 guards The king was thought to be surrounded by evil advisors at Versailles so he was forced to move to Paris and reside at the Tuileries Palace.

Financing the New Government The Church is viewed as an important pillar of the old order Church lands are confiscated and assignats (a form of paper money – which causes wild inflation) were issued backed by the nationalized church lands. Church is secularized – creating strong opposition from church leaders & members. One of the most controversial decisions of the entire revolutionary period.

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy July 12, 1790 Required bishops and priests to swear allegiance to the Civil Constitution Government paid the salaries of the French clergy and maintained the churches. The church was reorganized: Parish priests  elected by the district assemblies. Bishops  named by the department assemblies. The pope had NO voice in the appointment of the French clergy. It transformed France’s Roman Catholic Church into a branch of the state!! Pope Pius VI [1775-1799]

The New Constitution 1791 Limited Constitutional Monarchy Legislative Assembly elected for 2 yr terms Aristocratic Electors = Aristocratic National Government Divided France in to 83 new districts Local Bourgeoisie Governments King’s powers were now subject to review by the Legislature Legislative Assembly – 748 members elected for 2 yr. terms based on the amount you were taxed Active vs Passive Citizens – AC over 25 yrs old, paying taxes = to 3 days unskilled labor – allowed to vote About 4.3 million citizens (out of 26 million) Legislature was elected by electors chosen by active citizens – had to pay 10 days unskilled labor Electors chose deputies to serve in the Legislature – had to = 54 days labor in taxed. Granting the Aristocracy their power in government

The Opposition Clergy vowing not to take the Oath of Allegiance Lower class hurt by cost of living increase Peasants opposed to dues that were not abolished Political clubs called for more radical change

The Royal Family Attempts to Flee June, 1791 Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Axel von Fusen, supposed lover of Marie Antoinette. Headed toward the Luxembourg border. The King was recognized at Varennes, near the border

How does the Royal Family’s Attempt to leave France, and their subsequent arrest, politically and psychologically affect the revolution?

Results Psychologically: Politically: Mistrust of the people Feelings of Anger & Abandonment Inspiration to the radical revolutionaries Politically: perception of instability of the government Give the Nat. Assem. more power Proof of the power of the citizen Proof of the weakness of the king Loss of support from the 1st & 2nd Estates The National Assembly’s story: King was kidnapped - perception of stability to other European nations They needed the monarch to establish a legitimate government (commerce & allied for power)

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

The War against Austria and Prussia Declaration of Pillnitz: created by Emperor Leopold II of Austria and King Frederick William II of Prussia Encouraged other European countries to help return the royal monarchy to France Angered the Legislative assembly who favored a war hoping to expand their influence Some worried the war might reinstate Louis XVI April 1792 – the assembly voted to declare war on Austria Other European nations would soon join the cause against France

The September Massacre 1792 Led by George Danton and the san culottes sought revenge on those who had aided the king Rumors that the anti-revolutionary political prisoners were plotting to break out & attack from the rear the armies defending France, while the Prussians attacked from the front. It discredited the Revolution among its remaining sympathizers abroad.

The Execution of the King Jan.21, 1793 Fractions in the Nat. Convention (new gov’t) were divided over what to do with the monarch September 21, 1792 abolished the monarch & establish a republic. Decided to try Louis XVI for treason, after the verdict was read the Nat. Convention voted to put him to death. The Girondins and the Mountain, members of the Jacobin Club The National Convention put Marie Antoinette on trial and executed her on October 16, 1793

The National Convention (September, 1792) Its first act was the formal abolition of the monarchy on September 21, 1792. The Year I of the French Republic. The Decree of Fraternity it offered French assistance to any subject peoples who wished to overthrow their governments. When France sneezes, all of Europe catches cold!

The Politics of the National Convention (1792-1795) Montagnards vs Girondists Power base in Paris. Main support from the sans-culottes. Would adopt extreme measures to achieve their goals. Saw Paris as the center of the Revolution. More centralized [in Paris] approach to government. Power base in the provinces. Feared the influence of the sans-culottes. Feared the dominance of Paris in national politics. Supported more national government centralization [federalism].

Attempts to Control the Growing Crisis Revolutionary Tribunal in Paris  try suspected counter-revolutionaries. Representatives-on-Mission sent to the provinces & to the army. had wide powers to oversee conscription. B. Watch Committees [comité de surveillance] keep an eye on foreigners & suspects. C. Sanctioned the trial & execution of rebels and émigrés, should they ever return to France.

Attempts to Control the Growing Crisis The printing of more assignats to pay for the war. Committee of Public Safety [CPS] Set up by NC 1793 to direct the army and try enemies of the Revolution. Conscription – able bodied men 18-25 subject to military service (Army of Merit) Committee of General Security [CGS] responsible for the pursuit of counter-revolutionaries, the treatment of suspects, & other internal security matters.

Committee for Public Safety Revolutionary Tribunals. 300,000 arrested. 16,000 – 50,000 executed. 1793 French forces defeated Prussian and Austrian forces and prevented an invasion France invaded the Austria Netherlands and in reaction G.B., the Netherlands, Spain and Sardinia joined Austria and invaded France again.

Maximilien Robespierre (1758 – 1794) INFLUENTIAL LEADERS Maximilien Robespierre (1758 – 1794) Georges Jacques Danton (1759 – 1794)

Let terror be the order of the day! The Reign of Terror Sept. 1793-July 1794 Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, inflexible. -- Robespierre Let terror be the order of the day! The Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris alone executed 2,639 victims in 15 months. The total number of victims nationwide was over 20,000!

Legislation Passed by the National Convention Law of General Maximum September 5, 1793. Limited prices of grain & other essentials to 1/3 above the 1790 prices & wages to ½ of 1790 figures. Prices would be strictly enforced. Hoarders rooted out and punished. Food supplies would be secured by the army! Law of Suspects September 17, 1793. This law was so widely drawn that almost anyone not expressing enthusiastic support for the republic could be placed under arrest!

The Guillotine: An “Enlightenment Tool”? Oh, thou charming guillotine, You shorten kings and queens; By your influence divine, We have re-conquered our rights. Come to aid of the Country And let your superb instrument Become forever permanent To destroy the impious sect. Sharpen your razor for Pitt and his agents Fill your divine sack with heads of tyrants.

Different Social Classes Executed 7% 8% 28% 25% 31% %’s are out of total number killed

The “Monster” Guillotine The last guillotine execution in France was in 1939!

War of Resistance to the Revolution: The Vendee Revolt, 1793 Drowning the Traitors!

Why Revolt in the Vendee? The need for 300,000 French troops for the war effort. Rural peasantry still highly taxed. Resentment of the Civil Constitution the Clergy. Peasants had failed to benefit from the sale of church lands. Local government officials National Guardsmen Jurying priests TARGETS:

Religious Terror: De-Christianization (1793-1794) The Catholic Church was linked with real or potential counter-revolution. Religion was associated with the Ancient Régime and superstitious practices. Very popular among the sans-culottes. Therefore, religion had no place in a rational, secular republic!

The De-Christianization Program The adoption of a new Republican Calendar: abolished Sundays & religious holidays. months named after seasonal features. 7-day weeks replaced by 10-day decades. the yearly calendar was dated from the creation of the Republic [Sept. 22, 1792] The Convention symbolically divorced the state from the Church!!

A Republican Calendar New Name Meaning Time Period Vendemaire Vintage September 22 – October 21 Brumaire Fog October 22 – November 20 Frimaire Frost November 21 – December 20 Nivose Snow December 21 – January 19 Pluviose Rain January 20 – February 18 Ventose Wind February 19 – March 20 Germinal Budding March 21 – April 19 Floreal Flowers April 20 – May 19 Prairial Meadow May 20 – June 18 Messidor Harvest June 19 – July 18 Thermidor Heat July 19 – August 17 Fructidor Fruit August 18 – September 21

“Republic of Virtue” Tried to create a democratic republic in which people would act in accordance with good citizenship (active citizens) Universal elementary education & expanded universities Abolished slavery in French colonies Metric system New calendar 09/22/92 1795 French army expanded its territory to Rhine River Coalition forces began to break up & The French army was used to break up a rebellion in Paris – new gov’t would accept no opposition

The end of Terror In the spring of 1794 Danton declared that the Reign of Terror was over – French army was winning and he believed the Terror had met its goals Robespierre accused his of disloyalty to the Revolution – the Dantonists were put to death ( Colleagues feared for their lives) Robespierre was arrested after giving a speech 1794 accusing other of disloyalty to the Revolution In an attempted suicide he shot himself in the head and shattered his jaw He was put to death July 28, 1794

The Directory 1795-1799 1795 yet another New Constitution establishing a new government called the Directory 2 House Legislature – lower proposed new laws and upper accepted or rejected them Upper selected executive branch – 5 directors (weak and indecisive) Eliminated male suffrage – property owners could vote Used the army to crush rebellions Did not address financial issues Ultimately failed