1. The French Revolution
Phase1: "Liberal"

2. Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…
Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
What was Dickens referring to in each of these lines?

3. The Setup 3 Estates: First – Church Second – Nobility
Third – everybody else

4. Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI
The French Monarchy:
Marie Antoinette & Louis XVI

5. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant Cottage”

6. Marie Antoinette’s “Peasant Cottage”

7. Tensions Between and Among the Estates
First Estate – Cardinals, bishops were members of aristocracy. Parish priests were like the third estate.
Second estate – Nobles of the sword V Nobles of the Robe (those who shed blood V those who were King’s favorites)
Third Estate –
A) Bourgeoisie educated and wealthy. Followers of the enlightenment
B) Sans Culottes poor artisans , traders. Poor.
C) Peasants subsistence farmers
taxation issues, bourgeoisie aware of enlightenment ideas, no influence despite wealth

8. The Voting Pattern: Voting by Estates
Clergy
1st Estate 1
Aristocracy
2nd Estate 1 1
Commoners
3rd Estate

9. Socio-Economic Data, 1789

10. Financial Problems in France, 1789
Urban Commoner’s Budget:
Food %
Rent %
Tithe %
Taxes %
Clothing 20%
TOTAL 170%
King’s Budget:
Interest %
Army %
Versailles 25%
Coronation 10%
Loans %
Admin %
TOTAL %

11. Where is the tax money?
The tax collectors were 2nd estate and no one knew how much was being collected

12. July 1788 hailstorm destroys French crops
What happens? (in economic terms)

13. Financial “solutions”
Various finance ministers tried to address the debt situation.
Turgot – end corvee, ease guild monopoly and cut monarchial expenditure.
Necker published analysis to show how dire the situation was and proposed reforms – Parlements vetoed
Calonne proposed a plan that mixed his predecessors and tried to gain Parlement support, but they refused to believe the situation was that bad!!!
Brienne (member of the Parlement) realizes Calonne was right but even he cannot convince his peers

14. Convening the Estates General May, 1789
Last time it was called into session was 1614!

15. The Number of Representatives in the Estates General: Vote by Head!
Abbe Seyes Proposal
The Number of Representatives in the Estates General: Vote by Head!
Clergy
1st Estate
300
300
Aristocracy
2nd Estate
648
Commoners
3rd Estate

16. “The Third Estate Awakens”

17. Cahiers De Doleance PERSONAL LIBERTY
Art. I. In order to assure the exercise of this first and most sacred of the rights of man, we ask that no citizen may be exiled, arrested or held prisoner except in cases contemplated by the law and in accordance with a decree originating in the regular courts of justice.
SPECIAL MATTERS
Throughout the whole kingdom there should be but one code of laws, one system of weights and measures.
That a commission be established composed of the most eminent, men of letters of the capital and provinces, and citizens of all orders, to formulate a plan of national education for the benefit of all classes of society; and for the purpose of revising elementary text-book.
That all customs duties collected in the interior of the kingdom be abolished, and all custom-houses, offices and customs barriers be removed to the frontier.

18. “The Tennis Court Oath” by Jacques Louis David
June 20, 1789

19. Lettres de Cachet
The French king could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal.
A carte-blanche warrant. Anyone could be arrested at anytime for anything.
Cardinal Fleury issued 80,000 during the reign of Louis XV!
Will be eliminated in 1790.

20. Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789

21. The Great Fear: Peasant Revolt
July 20, 1789

22. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
August 26, 1789

23. Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité!
National Constituent Assembly
Liberté!
Egalité!
Fraternité!
August Decrees August 4-11, 1789
(A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!)
Equality & Meritocracy

24. The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of Paris.
The Tricolor (1789)
The WHITE of the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of Paris.
Citizen!

25. The Tricolor is the Fashion!

26. The “Liberty Cap”: Bonne Rouge

27. March of the Women, October 5-6, 1789
We want the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy!

28. 83 Revolutionary Departments
February 26, 1790

29. The French Constitution of 1791: A Bourgeois Government
The king got the “suspensive” veto [which prevented the passage of laws for 4 years] * he could not pass laws * his ministers were responsible for their own actions.
A permanent, elected, single chamber National Assembly * had the power to grant taxation.
An independent judiciary.
“Active” Citizen [who pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] vs. “Passive” Citizen.
A newly elected LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.

30. Planting the Tree of Liberty
1790

31. The Confiscation of Church Lands
1790

32. Jurying vs. Non-Jurying [refractory] Clergy
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy
July 12, 1790
Jurying vs. Non-Jurying [refractory] Clergy

33. Assignats
Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.

34. Depreciation of the Assignat
They were backed by the sale of Church lands.

35. “Must” Reads: Important Books & Pamphlets of the French Revolution