French Revolution Part III The Great Changes: “Egalitarianism, Liberty, and Fraternity”

Changes Louis XVI wears the revolutionary cockade and visits Paris. July 16, Louis XVI wears the revolutionary cockade and visits Paris. July 16, Order in country is lost. Order in country is lost. National guards form. National guards form. Intendants (agents of the crown) quit Intendants (agents of the crown) quit Parlements (courts) were dissolved Parlements (courts) were dissolved Revolutionary spirit spreads. Revolutionary spirit spreads.

Great Fear (20 July – 5 August, 1789) Peasants fear of aristocratic reprisals causes panic Peasants fear of aristocratic reprisals causes panic Destroyed feudal records and other properties. Destroyed feudal records and other properties. Militias imposed law. Militias imposed law.

Abolition of Feudalism (4 th August 1789) To quell the peasants aristocrats renounced all their privileges. To quell the peasants aristocrats renounced all their privileges. Taxation based on income. Taxation based on income. Property rights protected; m Property rights protected; m m m

Declaration of the Rights of Man (26 th August 1789) English Bill of Rights & American Declaration of Independence English Bill of Rights & American Declaration of Independence Ultimate power would reside within the state Ultimate power would reside within the state Louis XVI stalled on signing it; egalitarian element upset him/wanted veto power Louis XVI stalled on signing it; egalitarian element upset him/wanted veto power NCA wanted a limited veto (delay passage for 6 months) NCA wanted a limited veto (delay passage for 6 months) Key principles: civic equality and protection of property. Key principles: civic equality and protection of property. m m m m

The Bread Riots (5 th October 1789) Paris women upset with the price of bread protest (Les Halles Market). Paris women upset with the price of bread protest (Les Halles Market). March to Versailles March to Versailles Louis orders grain Louis orders grain to Paris and signs the Bill of Rights  Thus limiting his veto power

Louis XVI’s error: After Bread Riots: Went with the mob to Paris Thus became effectively a prisoner in the Tuileries in Paris. Revolutionaries thus had real control

The Reconstruction of France: Themes of focus: Themes of focus: Constitutional monarchy in policy Constitutional monarchy in policy Unregulated freedom in economics Unregulated freedom in economics Anticlericalism in religion Anticlericalism in religion

Nationalization of Church Lands Debt continued Debt continued No source of revenue for gov’t No source of revenue for gov’t Church lands expropriated: Church lands expropriated: Church failed to meet its obligations Church failed to meet its obligations 10% of land in France 10% of land in France

How to Finance the New Govt.? 1. Confiscate Church Lands (1790) One of the most controversial decisions of the entire revolutionary period.

2. Print Assignats V Issued by the National Constituent Assembly. V Interest-bearing notes which had the church lands as security.

Depreciation of the Assignat V Whoever acquired them were entitled to certain privileges in the purchase of church land. V The state would retire the notes as the land was sold. V They began circulating as paper currency.  Government printed more  INFLATION [they lost 99% of their value ultimately].  Therefore, future governments paid off their creditors with cheap money.

Part III Changes of the Revolution (continued)

Political Reorganization Constitutional monarchy Constitutional monarchy Unicameral legislature Unicameral legislature Only men paying taxes Only men paying taxes Restructure of legal system Restructure of legal system National Constituent Assembly becomes Legislative Assembly (1791) National Constituent Assembly becomes Legislative Assembly (1791)

Economic Policy Guilds suppressed Guilds suppressed Metric system; uniform weights and measures Metric system; uniform weights and measures Chapelier Law: forbidding workers associations Chapelier Law: forbidding workers associations Thus peasants and workers left to the freedom and mercy of the free market Thus peasants and workers left to the freedom and mercy of the free market

Civil Constitution of the Clergy State not Vatican control State not Vatican control Elected and salaries paid by state Elected and salaries paid by state Oath of allegiance to French Gov’t not pope Oath of allegiance to French Gov’t not pope Increased conflict between church and state Increased conflict between church and state Church rejects liberalism and the Declaration of the Rights of Man Church rejects liberalism and the Declaration of the Rights of Man

Counter Revolutionary Activity Émigrés – people that left in opposition to the revolution Émigrés – people that left in opposition to the revolution Count of Artois ( ) king’s brother Count of Artois ( ) king’s brother Threats from abroad; Emperor Leopold of Austria (brother of Marie Antoinette), and Frederick William II of Prussia Threats from abroad; Emperor Leopold of Austria (brother of Marie Antoinette), and Frederick William II of Prussia 1791 the King and family attempt escape at Varennes – brought back to Paris 1791 the King and family attempt escape at Varennes – brought back to Paris N.C.A. ends – Legislative Assembly Oct N.C.A. ends – Legislative Assembly Oct. 1791