1. AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org S T A R T E R What was the Enlightenment? http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=8VCfK1OLwM0 http://www.youtube.com/wa tch?v=8VCfK1OLwM0

2. AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org Saturday, 05 September 2015 What were the long term causes? The Enlightenment KI1: Causes of the French Revolution.

3. AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org How important were the ideas of the Enlightenment in undermining the Ancien Regime in France by 1780? (24m) YES... they were important because… NO… there weren’t important because… There were other factors…

4. AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org How important were the ideas of the Enlightenment in undermining the Ancien Regime in France by 1780? (24m) Importance of the Enlightenment; How did the philosophes question the existing order and did this have much of an effect? Particular reference should be made to their attitude towards the church and the government. You should make a comment accepting that the Enlightenment did have an impact, but the extent of this is up to you. Other Important Factors The Ancien Regime was being weakened and undermined by a number of factors. You must decide if these other factors were having more of an effect in undermining the Ancien Regime than the Enlightenment. Other factors are; structure of government, the King, the taxation system, French society and financial concerns. Conclusion; Here is an example of a conclusion The Enlightenment undoubtedly had a part to play in undermining the Ancien Regime as it questioned everything that the Ancien Regime relied on. However, the issue of taxation was the most important factor as this was a direct cause of the government’ bankruptcy.

5. AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org These thinkers believed that human reason could be used to combat ignorance, superstition, and tyranny and to build a better world. The Enlightenment was a body of ideas that questioned the existing order. Enlightened thinkers believed that everything should be explained by science rather than superstition or religion. This had a huge impact on the Ancien Regime as the monarchy relied on the church to control the people and the nobility who it was said had been chosen by God ran the country unquestioned and relatively unchecked. Some historians have argued that the Enlightenment is a direct cause of the revolution as for the first time people began to think that there may be an alternative to their current situation and this led to discontent. The philosphes (enlightened thinkers) were not revolutionary and did not want the monarchy overthrown. This has led some historians to say that whilst the Enlightenment influenced those who were to become revolutionaries themselves it is not a direct cause of the revolution. Although not revolutionary the philosophes had a large and varied audience. Literary societies flourished in towns and cities across France, and they examined, discussed the Enlightenment ideas at length. Membership included the skilled worker or artisan up the highest elements of French society. They condemned the Catholic Church as corrupt, wealthy, and intolerant. The Philosophes took up Voltaire ’ s cry of Ecrasez l ’ infame (crush the infamous – meaning the Church) Their ideas undermined the foundations of the Ancien Regime; tradition, homage, respectful deference, divine selection, ‘ natural order ’, privileges of the Church and its importance. The Enlightenment focussed on all aspects of life; physical sciences, history, religion, education to Government, politics and economics. Leading thinkers among the philosophes were Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu Rousseau developed the idea of popular sovereignty – the idea that government is only legitimate if it has the express consent of the people and enforces laws that reflect the General Will of the people. The philosophes were not against monarchy, not even against absolute monarchy. The General Will is a much more difficult concept: it is the true desires of the people acting for the best for society and in accordance with their conscience. Their principal targets were religion (the Catholic Church in France) and the domination of society by a hereditary aristocracy including the monarchy. The salons were informal meetings organised by wealthy society ladies to discuss the issues of the day. Whether intentional or not, the philosophes provided the lead, the opportunity and the vocabulary of criticism. These dangers were recognised and action followed. Too often however censorship backfired and provided a greater audience for authors and the philosophes. The philosophes suggested the following: freedom of worship instead of Catholic intolerance; freedom of speech instead of Royal letters de cachet; free press instead of censorship; uniform taxation instead of random barriers and tariffs; constitutional monarchy instead of absolutism. Writers and journalists discussed the main ideas of the Enlightenment and helped spread the main rational concepts across French society. Often scandalous pamphlets and cartoons mocked the Royals and privileged. With no regard for deference they suggested Louis was impotent and Marie-Antoinette unfaithful, decadent and wasteful. Such publications eroded much of the respect held by the First and Second Estates and the Bourbons.

6. AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org Session Prep: Wed 13 th Prepare a Peer Lecture on the short term causes of the French Revolution 1A FOREIGN POLICY & WARS – Seven Years War 1B Overview of the causes; importance; 2A FINANCIAL CRISIS 3A FAILURE OF REFORM 3B Role of Finance Ministers 4A POLITICAL CRISIS – REVOLT OF THE NOBLES 4B Revolt of the Nobles 5A ECONOMIC CRISIS – BAD HARVESTS 5B Historian’s interpretations

7. AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org Peer Lecture Important things to consider: – Your audience: Is it interesting? Are words & pics visible? Can you be heard? Can you include a little task? Q&A? Sorting task? Don’t waffle / ramble / Look confident: smile. – Your work You’re all reliant on one another for this important information. Notes? Understanding? – Teamwork – The assessment

8. AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org AS History Matters www.pastmatters.org 4 high 321 Delivery Audibility Pace & Timing Expression Rapport – eye-contact, gestures, position Clarity & integration of any ICT / AV / Poster Content Accuracy of knowledge and understanding Research Lucidity Relevance to question Content – Teamwork Quality of Co-Ordination of group Effective structure and balance in team Comments