Download Revolutions: What is a revolution?

Year 12 Modern History
French Revolution
MCO
Background
Revolutions: What is a revolution?
Writing an essay? Define a revolution.
Historians tended to focus on one class overthrowing another: redistribution of power.
Liberal democratic revolution: not class related
Coup. One group takes over another ruling group. One group of same class replacing another.
Get a sense of what kind of revolution is it.
Elements of revolutions
 Poverty
 Besieged by radical ideas
 Economic problems
 Miserable conditions (not always catalyst for revolution)
 Radical ideas and a new ideology to lead the way
Some if not most of these elements evident in both American Revolution and French Revolutions
The bottom line with is the French Revolution arrives almost suddenly and completely changes
France forever. Prior to 1788 there were no real indications of deep unrest or any movement from
within a particular class, that revolution was imminent. When it came, the revolution was violent,
destructive, complex and turbulent. The revolution in France had four distinct phases in 1788-89 but
then proceeded to heave, twist and turn and evolve over the next five years as successive
governments battle internal and external forces that threaten the revolution. A moderate government
finally restored order in 1795 but it too proved unstable and was overthrown by Napoleon who
continued to uphold the revolutionary values that were first revealed in 1789. He became Emperor
and the self titled ‘Child of the Revolution.
Thematic Study : Area of Inquiry One:
The nature of pre-revolutionary society and government: The French
Revolution
The nature of pre-revolutionary society and government.
The nature of pre-revolutionary society and government
French Revolution
Ruled by a hereditary King
The ancient regime
It was a term used by 1790 to describe the French system of
government, laws and institutions, which preceded revolution of
1789.
Louis XV1 king from 1774 (aged 19). Head of social hierarchy.
Ruled under an absolute monarchy.
 Rule by almost complete personal authority
 Unaccountable to parliament
 Responsible ‘only to God’.
 Believed to have received his power directly from God.
Lettre de cachet: the royal order ordering imprisonment without
trial.
Adcock Ch.1
Political, Economic, Social and Cultural order
French Revolution
King not supposed to be a despot (harsh dictator).
 Expected to rule fairly and to protect his subjects
 Many independent bodies like clergy that King could not
interfere with.
 King made laws after consulting with his ministers.
Controller General most important (finances). No
Parliament or Cabinet.
 In provinces king’s appointed 36 intendants governed for
him – police, justice, finance.
 There were 13 parlements of which Paris, covering over a
third of France was most powerful. They were law courts.
Limited the King’s power. Magistrates who sat in the
courts were all Nobles. They bought their positions and
could not be dismissed unless King repaid them purchase
price of office.
Adcock Chapter 1 re parlements
The Social Order: Adcock Chapter 2
18th century France divided into three Estates. People of ancien
régime accepted the inherent inequality as right and natural.
(Adcock, p.15)
Key concept of Old Regime, was that of privilege. Special deals
with the King meant legal or fiscal arrangements could be made.
Certain groups negotiated to pay little or no taxes. Result: deeply
entrenched inequality (Adcock op.cit)
French society based on old Middle Ages notion of social
classification : estates – based on a definition of what roles
people were supposed to play in society culture of deference.
The Social Order
18th century France divided into three Estates. People of ancien
régime accepted the inherent inequality as right and natural.
(Adcock, p.15)
key concept of Old Regime, was that of privilege. Special deals
with the King meant legal or fiscal arrangements could be made.
Certain groups negotiated to pay little or no taxes. Result: deeply
entrenched inequality (Adcock op.cit)
French society based on old Middle Ages notion of social
classification : estates – based on a definition of what roles
people were supposed to play in society culture of deference.
See Appendix One A for descriptions. Also Adcock Chapter
2.
Third Estate had few privileges.
 Pay direct tax to the King: taille and the gabelle
 Forced to do unpaid labour (corvee royale) on the King’s
roads although you could buy way out of obligation.
 Peasants had considerable feudal dues, the incidence if
which vary greatly over France. Heaviest burden on
peasants was rent. See Adcock p.19
Decline of Old Order, Forces for Change, Causes of Crisis, Attempts by Rulers to Solve Problems
before the outbreak of Revolution
French Revolution
French Economy bankrupt or near bankrupt due to succession of
expensive wars.
Tax collection and the entire tax system was inefficient and
failed to produce the revenue necessary to keep France from
economic collapse
The system no longer supported the three estates:
When the King attempted to introduce reform (introduce tax for
1st and 2nd Estates, those who stood to loose the most, the Clergy,
but especially the aristocracy blocked Louis XV1 at every turn.
Massive overseas loans were taken out, as Louis could put no
more tax burden on the Third Estate.
See Adcock p.42 for attempts by Louis and his successive
Controller Generals attempts at tax (fiscal) reform.
Don’t underestimate the importance of the Enlightenment in
this Area of Inquiry. It is explain in Area of Inquiry 2 in more
depth. The Enlightenment led many to question the divine right
of the King to rule and the whole notion of an absolute
monarchy. Remember the Enlightenment was a movement of
bourgeoisie and noble intellectuals whose ideas were adopted as
moral principles by those who sought to consolidate the
Revolution during and after 1789. The Enlightenment was not a
revolutionary ideology that kicked started the revolution.
Refer Adcock Chapter 3
Conflicts or tensions between rulers and the ruled
French Revolution
Refer to Appendix One B: Sources of discontent in prerevolutionary France.
Summary:
France under Louis XV1 was a lumbering, financially
crippled throw back to medieval times. Its society was
structured to guarantee economic and social inequality.
Financial difficulties brought about by a deeply entrenched
inefficient and unequal taxation system were brought to a
head by a succession of wars. Louis was indecisive and weak
willed. He was very much more of a casualty of the system
than an incompetent. However, the failure of the economy
was seen as his failure and his attempts at tax reform
heightened the tensions between his Monarchy and the
rights and privileges of the Nobility and the Clergy. Crop
failures and poor harvests, cities crowded with starving
peasants and urban workers living in squalor, provided
ready fuel for the revolution. This was kicked started by the
Nobles in 1788 culminating in the calling of the Estates
General: Stage 1 of the Revolution.
Past Essay Questions:
 How successful were pre-revolutionary governments in their attempts to reform? (1)
 ‘The main feature of pre-revolutionary societies was the alienation of the rulers for the ruled.’
Do you agree with this statement? Argue your case. (1)
 ‘Pre-revolutionary governments provided stability in society.’ How far do you agree with this
statement?
Year 12 Modern History 2011
Thematic Study
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Area of Inquiry Two:
The role of internal and/or external forces in the collapse of the old order and in
the seizure of power.
Area of Inquiry Two:
The role of external and/or external forces in the collapse of the old order and in the seizure of power.
Revolutionary Ideology
The ideas, wants and needs of those who sought change.
The American Revolution
The French Revolution
The Enlightenment.
A traditional and popular explanation of revolution was that it was
caused by changes in public perception created by this intellectual
movement.
See p.23 Adcock for names.
 Generally emphasised using Science, progress and reason to
create a more human world.
 More ‘critical thinkers’ than philosophers. Used human reason
to suggest a more enlightened way of organising human
existence.
 The critical thinker or philosophes had a common critique of
the church. Their ideas generally were critical of divine
monarchy but did not call for revolution, or suggest
alternatives. Adcock p.24.
 Rejected religious orthodoxy, condemned religious
intolerance,
 Did not accept liberal interpretation of the bible and rejected
anything that could not be explained by reason.
 Main object of attack were Catholic church and despotic rule
(Rees p.6)
 Only Rousseau questioned the institution of the monarchy.
 Revisionists feel that the philosophes were not opposed to Old
Regime, just its excesses.
 Readers of the philosophes were small, groups of nobles and
bourgeoisie. Very few if any of their ideas would have filtered
through to peasantry. Adcock, p.28
The effect of the enlightenment on revolution is widely debated.
Rees concludes that it was only after collapse of ncient régime that
the ideas of Enlightenment produced a revolutionary ideology.
This is clear in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the actions
and policies adopted by the Assembly.
Subsequent ideally of the revolution was to reduce the power of the
monarchy and remove all privilege from society
Revolutionary Groups,
Leaders and their skills
French Revolution
No real political parties as such
Popular Clubs and Societies emerged in Paris and some of the larger
provincial cities. Some were liberal ie moderate change; some were
radical, calling for end of the Monarchy.
Political Clubs first formed after Estates-General of May 1789
Jacobin club – founded 1789. Wealthy liberal-constitutional
monarchists. High entrance fee. Originally called the Breton Club
Robespierre led more radical branch of Jacobins.
By end of 1793 over 2 000 branches over France, mainly in SE
Cordeliers Club – founded 1790. More radical. Unlimited
membership. Led by members of bourgeoisie. Against notion of
active and passive citizens. Large working class following.
Leaders, Danton and Desmoulin. Main spokesperson, Marat and
Hérbert through newspapers.
Example of these clubs led to formation of many ‘popular’ or
‘fraternal societies’. Soon found in every district in Paris.
Marquis de Lafayette
A French aristocrat
Served in American war of independence
Admired by Parisian crowd.
First commander of National Guard
Wrote Declaration of the Rights of Man
See Adcock pp.79-81
Mirabeau
Popular hero of the Revolution. Great speaker, natural leader of
National Assembly. In favour of constitutional monarchy.
Abbe Sieyès
Priest. Intellectual, wrote pamphlets especially ‘What is the Third
Estate’
Instrumental in setting up of National Assembly
See Adcock p.57-58
Other Groups
Sans-culottes and the Parisian Crowd
Workers in the towns. Not a class. Included artisans and workers.
Fundamental group in the revolutionary events of 1789.
 Storming of the Bastille
 Bringing Royal Family and the Assembly from Versailles to
Paris
 Often victim of inflation, food shortages especially bread.
 Rioted often
 Drove the revolution on a radical path
Role of External Forces in collapse of Old Order
French Revolution
The American War of Independence
Serious Debt from large scale borrowing
Role of internal forces in collapse of Old Order
French Revolution
Crop failures and the resultant rising cost of bread.
The image and reputation of Marie Antoinette.
Linked closely to Groups, Leaders and their skills.
The four phases of the revolution. Details in the next section.
Covers all the elements of who did what and when.
The Outbreak of Revolution and the seizure of power
French Revolution
Four distinct phases1788-1789
See Adcock Chapter 6
The Revolt of the Nobles 1788 (Assembly of Notables, Calling of
the Estates-General)
Revolt of the Bourgeoisie- July 1789 (Tennis Court Oath)
The Revolt of the Parisian Crowd (Storming of the Bastille)
The Revolt of the Peasants (The Great Fear July 20-Aug 6, 1789)
See Appendix Two B for a very extensive analysis of the
four stages.
Some of this you have received previously.
Past Exam questions. Remember there is an overlap with Area 1 to an extent.
2007. ‘Social discontent contributed greatly to the collapse of the old order’. Do you agree with this
statement? Argue your case.
2008. ‘The old order collapsed because it failed to solve economic problems.’ Do you agree with
this statement? Argue your case.
Area of Inquiry Three: The consolidation of power by the revolutionaries
For the French Revolution it is vital that you understand the sequence of events that lead up to
the end of the Monarchy and the establishment of the Republic Sept 21, 1792. This date ends
Area of Inquiry 3. There is a PowerPoint ‘End of the Monarchy’ that has all of this in it. Here the
King actions, the Clubs and the sans-culottes play an important role.
In this comparison section focus on the changes in the economy, the political structure and the
structure of society the new revolutionary governments tried to bring in. Area of Inquiry Four is left
to deal with such topics as War and the Terror in France and the effect of WW1 on the Provisional
Government and the rise of Lenin.
For France the key question is why France abandoned the Monarchy and established a republic.
Remember in this study in France it is the National Assembly/Constituent
Assembly/Legislative Assembly /National Convention. It is essential that you are familiar with
the various names the French Revolutionary governments adopted.
This chart is much briefer than the others as various PowerPoints have much greater detail.
Textbook references are listed and are essential reading!
Prior to the sitting of the Constituent Assembly some key revolutionary developments took
place in France that set the tone for future developments. This is the role of the Parisian
Crowd and the increasing radicalisation of the Revolution. The Bourgeoisie, with good cause
felt that control was slipping out of their hands. These events are included separately as
follows:
French Revolution: Key Events prior to calling of Constituent Assembly
Key events prior to the sitting of the Constituent Assembly
The August Decrees 1789. Made in haste by National Assembly to calm the peasant
revolt.
 Feudalism, privilege abolished, fair taxation established
The Declaration of the Rights of Man.
 Drawn up by Lafayette
 Principles under which new constitution would be formed. Emphasised
freedom and human rights.
 Views a clear break from ancien régime reflected thinking of Rousseau and the
enlightenment.
 Bourgeois document as it emphasised sanctity of property.
The October Days and the Women’s March to Versailles 1789.
The women’s march to Versailles was one of the most crucial strategic moments
in French Revolution
 Loyal King’s Guard, Flanders Regiment returned to Versailles and made a
mockery of the Revolutionary Cockade.
 Paris crowd believed Aristocratic takeover imminent.
 Coincided with bread shortage.
The women’s march to Versailles was one of the most crucial strategic moments in
French Revolution.
 Loyal King’s Guard, Flanders Regiment returned to Versailles and made a
mockery of the Revolutionary Cockade.
 Paris crowd believed Aristocratic takeover imminent.
 Coincided with bread shortage.
The women’s march to Versailles was one of the most crucial strategic moments in
French Revolution.
 Loyal King’s Guard, Flanders Regiment returned to Versailles and made a
mockery of the Revolutionary Cockade.
 Paris crowd believed Aristocratic takeover imminent.
 Coincided with bread shortage.
 October 5th 6000-7000 women assemble with 20 000 National Guard and
decide to march on Versailles and bring King back to Paris.
 National Assembly invaded, deputation sent to Louis.
 Mob descended on Place and King and Queen narrowly escape. Place
ransacked.
 National Guard restore order.
 Both Louis and National Assembly brought back to Paris
 Louis approves Rights of Man and August Decrees.
Both Louis and Assembly now back in Paris and in the heartland of the
revolutionary and powerful Parisian Crowd. Assembly Moderate members of
Assembly now distrusted crowd as much as they did Louis.
Political, economic, social and cultural actions of the new government to secure the revolution
French Revolution
Adcock Chapter 11.
The work of the Constituent Assembly 1789-91 and the
Legislative Assembly.
The period is dominated by the need to reform, change laws
and limit/remove the power of the King and the nobility.
Adcock Chapter 12.
Army responsible to the Assembly not the King
New currency introduced
Laws, rights and all aspects of the economy were addressed.
Constitution of the Clergy (Clergy now servants of the state –
no longer independent, separate class). Created deep divisions.
New Constitution of France: re – classification of citizenship
(passive and active citizens)
New justice system with elected judges (no more Royal
Appointments)
Local Government reorganised
Parliamentarians could only sit for one term of office (no more
positions in government for life)
By 1790 most thought the revolution was over and this period
was relatively peaceful.
Adcock Chapters 11 & 12 cover all of these reforms and there
is discussion as to how fair, successful or otherwise these
changes were.
See Handout entitled Chapter 4 How did the revolution
develop. Area 3 starts on p. 35 and p.38 has excellent
reference to economic reform. Also Chapter 5 Why did
France become a Republic? as part of this handout is
essential reading.
The effects of Constitution and the Constitution of the Clergy
discussed in later sections of this chart.
The establishment of a new, revolutionary government and society
French Revolution
The Constitution of the Clergy
No serious conflict with Church until Civil Constitution of the
Church of July 1790.
Came about after Assemblies restructuring of church.
Democracy was to come to the Church. Church called for
National Synod but permission refused as meetings by separate
states had been abolished.
November 1790 Assembly demanded Clergy vote on
Constitution of Clergy.
Clergy split. Pope condemned C of C.
Juring Priests: Those Clergy who supported constitution on
side of revolution. Took an oath of loyalty to the government
that employed them.
Refractory Priests: Those who sided with Pope were called
‘refractories’ and deemed against revolution. Refused to take
the oath.
While King sanctioned it he was bitterly opposed to it. Created
doubts about his sincerity for the revolution.
Consequences.


Destroyed revolutionary consensus
Created stronger counter-revolutionary movement where
before there was none.
 Sowed seeds for later civil war
 Large sections of peasantry dismayed by these events
 Refractory priests and peasants became targets during
the Terror
Adcock Chapter 12
The constitution was delivered and formally accepted by
the King on September 14, 1791 (under great pressure!) Prior
to this there was an enormous amount of conflict and
turmoil, which will be covered in the next section.
Details of new Constitution of France
 A Constitutional Monarchy
 King retained heredity position, and a limited veto.
 Constituent assembly dissolved.
 Elections to take place under new system it created.
The new parliament known as Legislative Assembly (see
Appendix Three A)
October 1 1791: Legislative Assembly met for first time
 745 members: 264 Feuillant Club, 130 Jacobin Club,
136 loosely affiliated groups who became known as the
Girondins and 345 unattached members
 Almost entirely bourgeois
 Few clergy, few nobles, no artisans or peasants
See p.123 Adcock
The ancien régime had passed on into history!
Reactions of Individuals, groups and the people to revolutionary government and policies
French Revolution
This section is mainly to do with Louis, the Clergy and the
Nobility’s response to changes
Rich Clergy fled France becoming émigrés.
It is Louis’ reaction to the constitutional changes and the
involvement of foreign powers in the Revolution that sees him
deposed as monarch and a republic established. Violence and
radicalisation emerge as key factors in the Revolution.
The Flight to Varennes: June 1791. Louis, so incensed by
Constitution of Clergy and the fears he held for his family,
secretly escaped with plan to invade France with Austrian help.
He is captured and returned in disgrace to Paris. All support for
him evaporates.
Massacre at Champs de Mars July 1791
Declaration of Pilnitz (Aug 27, 1791. King of Prussia’s
declaration to restore the monarchy)
Call for War: Newly named Legislative Assembly calls for a
revolutionary war across Europe, declaring war on Austria.
Louis supports declaration.
September Massacres 1792: acts of violence against suspected
revolutionaries.
The fall of Louis: Tried for treason and executed (Jan 1793)
The Establishment of the Republic: 21 September 1792.
Government renamed The National Convention.
All of this is covered in detail on the PP: End of the
Monarchy.
See Adcock Chapter 13
Growth of Revolutionary Groups
French Revolution
The Girondons: (formerly Brissotons). Held key posts in
National Assembly and in favour of the war to root out
counter-revolutionaries. Became more moderate as war
progressed. Disliked Robespierre intensely.
The Jacobins: against the war and in favour of a Republic.
Robespierre a key figure. Had valuable support for sansculottes.
The focus here is on the increasing rivalry between the
Girondins and the Jacobins.
The sans culottes: working people of Paris who comprised a
large militant crowd who could quickly assemble, invade
buildings and take over whole sections of Paris. There main
concerns were bread, food, wages and also national security.
During the war and various times of emergency they were a
popular movement and powerful one. They saw themselves as
defenders of the Revolution.
They despised the nobility and privilege.
Governments, especially the Legislative Assembly, and the
National Convention were forced to give in to the demands of
the sans culottes such as price fixing. Remember it was they
who stormed the Bastille, forced Louis and the Assembly back
to Paris, led the Champ de Mars attack in 1791, two marches
and attacks on the Tuileries in 1792, the September Massacres
in 1792 and the fall of the Girondins in 1793: All key turning
points in the Revolution.
The sans culottes prevented the revolution from ending on a
moderate note in 1791.
The formation of the National Guard in Paris gave them
powerful central organisation. Also had strong attachment to
Cordeliers Club.
While Robespierre and the Jacobins influenced the sans
culottes, they never controlled them. He did use them to his
advantage during the Terror. The Terror moved beyond the
control of the sans culottes by 1794. The Committee of Public
Safety removed key popular leaders and the revolutionary
armies and popular societies in Paris were broken up.
Once Robespierre was removed the influence and power of the
sans culottes disappeared. Adcock Chapter 17 essential
reading . The Jacobin Club and the Paris Commune were
closed and protests by them over bread prices were crushed.
They were disarmed , large scale arrests took place and 42
National Guard leaders were executed.
Reactions to foreign governments to revolutionary governments. Relations with foreign governments
French Revolution
Very similar section to previous as foreign governments begin
to take an active interest in the revolution and to conclude that
their own monarchies might be come under threat. This is dealt
with in particular detail in Area of Inquiry 4.
Refer again to PowerPoint ‘End of the Monarchy’ also
Adcock Chapter 13.
Summary:
Summary: Again opinion of MCO. Yours may
differ!
They began by writing and laying down a new constitution,
which completely overhauled the ancient regime,
dismantling it forever. The Constitution of the Clergy
created a division in the revolutionary society where before
none had existed.
As Louis’s unwillingness to cooperate under the new
constitution was revealed, the Paris mob, the sans culottes
put pressure on the government to take action against
Louis.
Foreign interference and war drove the revolutionary
government to adopt more radical measures to preserve the
revolution. War was seen as a way to root out traitors and
counter revolutionaries. The Girondins who favoured the
war clashed continually with the Jacobins who were against
the it.
The sans culottes together with 20 000 National Guard
attacked the King’s palace and under pressure the
Assembly imprisoned Louis in the Temple Prison and
called for fresh elections for a new assembly.
The first act of the new National Convention, now
dominated by the Jacobins was to establish a republic.
France this point 21 September 1792 was deeply divided
and the revolution not consolidated. While substantial
political, social and economic changes had taken place, the
issue of the King remained a source of division. The events
of 1791-92 had driven the revolutionary government on a
more radical path, seeking out counter-revolutionaries,
émigrés and refractory priests. A deeply divided
Convention now turned towards dealing with the internal
and external pressures that threatened the stability of the
revolution: The King, war, counter-revolution.
The Revolution was consolidated through ever increasing
radical measures. The new government went from being in
favour of a constitutional monarchy with the King very much a
part of the new France to abolishing the monarchy and
eventually killing the King.
Past Essay Questions:
‘Revolutionaries were successful in putting their ideas into practice.’ Do you agree with this
statement? Argue your case.
(Mainly Area 3 but 4 or both)
To what extent did opposition to the new regimes influence the actions of revolutionary
governments? (3&4)
To what extent were the policies of the revolutionaries, once in power, supported by the people?
Revolutionaries found it difficult to consolidate their power because of the divisions between them.’
Assess the validity of this statement.
Year 12 Modern History
Area of Inquiry 4: French Revolution:
The internal and external threats to the revolution and how they were dealt with.
The impact of the revolution upon groups within society; resistance to revolutionary
governments, internal and external; impact of civil war on society and government; terror;
dictatorship; success of measures taken to preserve the revolution.
There is some overlap with Area of Inquiry 3.
Key points and relevant issues
A. Period of the Constituent Assembly
Internal unrest
Political Clubs of Paris impatient and dissatisfied with the progress of revolution, especially plight
of the poor. Champs de Mars Massacre July 16-17 July 1791. Mass protest by poorer sections of
Paris who were fired on by National Guard. Seen as threat to Middle Class control of Paris.
External unrest:
Threat of war by Austria and Prussia. Declaration of Pillnitz
Flight to Varennes
B. Period of the Legislative Assembly
External unrest
Assembly called for war against Austria. Declared April 1792. Army poor organised and collapsed.
Fear of invasion.
Internal unrest:
Fear of counter-revolution. Action taken against those suspected. Food riots, suspicions of Royal
Treachery. Insurrectionary Commune formed to gain control pf Paris. Deposition of the King. Raid
on the Tuileries Palace. King imprisoned.
September Massacres
Austrian Army driven out of France: September 1792.
C. Period of the National Convention and the Committee of Public Safety
Internal unrest:
The Monarchy. Source of division. Republicans dominate the Convention. Monarchy abolished,
King tried and executed for treason and for being a rallying point for counter-revolution.
External unrest and threats and how the were dealt with.
Encouraged by success against Austria, France declared war on Britain and Spain. Once again
France suffered defeat and faced invasion. Girondins’ (Brissotins) position in the Convention
weakened by this new threat.
Reaction:
Revolutionary Tribunal established: root out and try suspected counter-revolutionaries.
Committee of Public Safety: set up as watchdog for the government. Becomes a dictatorship.
Fall of the Girondins: June 1793. 80 000 National Guards and sans culottes surrounded the
Convention. Robespierre orchestrated the arrest of the Girondins (Purge: leaders executed, others
imprisoned)
The Terror: government policy created to remove all enemies of the revolution. Reaction to the
threat of invasion, reaction to the fear of Royalist plots to restore the Monarchy.
Internal Unrest:
Civil War in the Vendee SW France and Toulon (SE France)
Federalist Revolt. Anti Jacobin and anti Paris. Took place in the provinces as a reaction to harsh
dictatorship of the Convention
De-Christianisation. Led by the Paris Commune
D. Robespierre
Leader of the Jacobins. Ruled by decree
Levee en masse: total mobilisation for war
Economic Terror: food prices fixed, émigrés confiscated, hoarders executed
Members of Left and Right in the Convention executed
Disbanded Parisian Revolutionary Army and political clubs
Passed Prairial Law: Juries could try people without hearing evidence, imprison without
trial
Widespread executions. 85% form old Third Estate.
Power of the sans culottes
Set up Cult of Supreme Being!!?
Moderates within the Convention arrested Robespierre and his Jacobin supporters. They
were executed.
E. The Directory 1795-99
The Thermidorean Reaction
The White Terror.
The Establishment of the Directory. A period of moderation
Increased Royalist presence in the Convention by 1796
War, continuing economic crisis
Legacy of the Terror
Directory lost all support by 1799.
Army bought to Paris to seize control and prevent a Royalist restoration.
Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in a military coup.
Issues/themes/concepts addressed in past exams
 Actions of revolutionary governments in response to opposition.
 The influence of external threats on Revolutionary government policy and action
 The effect of foreign intervention on revolutionary governments.
Issues/themes/concepts addressed in past exams
 Actions of revolutionary governments in response to opposition.
 The influence of external threats on Revolutionary government policy and action
 The effect of foreign intervention on revolutionary governments.
 The effect of the fear of counter-revolution on the actions and decisions of revolutionary
governments
There is a lot of overlap between Area 3 and 4. It would be ideal to focus on these two areas.
In the exam there may well be one question that covers the two areas or two separate
questions on each area of inquiry.
Area of Inquiry Four. The internal and external threats to the revolution and
how they were dealt with.
In addition you must refer to the handout “What effect did the war and the Terror have on
France, 1793-4” Page 66 of this handout has a handy table of the titles of the various
revolutionary governments. You must be familiar with these titles.
The internal and external threats to the revolution and how they were dealt with
American Revolution
French Revolution
For this section the handout “What effect did the war and
the Terror have on France?” is essential reading as it
PowerPoint ‘End of Monarchy’
Period of Constituent Assembly 1789-1791
Internal threats and how they were dealt with
 Revolutionary unrest amongst the clubs of Paris about the
plight of the poor. Reaction: The Champ de Mars massacre
instigated by the National Guard July 16-17 1791. First time
the Revolutionary government turned on its citizens
 Flight to Varennes. Louis ill fated attempt to flee and
engage Austrian support leads to his arrest and
imprisonment as a traitor. The Revolution takes a radical
turn
External threats and how they were dealt with
 March 1791: King of Austria and King of Prussia (egged on
by émigrés) declared war on France, provided Britain joined
in.
 August 27 1791: Declaration of Pillnitz, pledge by Austrian
King to restore Louis to the throne.
Period of Legislative Assembly 1791-1792
External threats and how they were dealt with
 New government called for war in Europe to spread
revolution and to expose traitors and counter-revolutionaries
 Declared war April 1792. Poorly organised and led.
Collapsed in defeat. France now feared invasion. Food riots,
desertions and Duke of Brunswick’s threat to destroy Paris
brought serious and violent outburst and government led
reprisals against ‘traitors, émigrés, refractories etc.
September Massacres. Defection of Lafayette.
In a major reversal the Austrians are swept out of France
September 1792.

Period of the National Convention and the
Committee of Public Safety 1792-1795
Malone Chapters 15 & 19 essential reading
Internal threats to the revolution and how they were dealt
with.
 The King was a source of disunity. Monarchy abolished
after Jacobins gain control of the Convention, tried and
executed for treason. Marie Antoinette follows suit.
 Republic declared
External threats to the revolution and how they are dealt
with
 France again fearful of invasion from Austria and Prussia.
The Revolutionary Tribunal is set up to round up and try
(execute) counter-revolutionaries. Beginning of the Terror.
 The Committee of Public Safety is established and France id
effectively rule by a dictatorship with Robespierre in
control.
 The Girondins (formerly Brissotins) who had dominated the
Assembly and were the major advocates for war were
weeded out of the Convention, tried and executed.
Internal threats to the Revolution and how they were dealt
with


Terror is the order of the day as a coalition of Britain,
Austria, Prussia, Spain and Holland unite to take on France.
Rising in the Vendee: Began in Feb 1793. Revolt among
peasants over taxation. Led by local royalist nobles. Local
constitutional priests and National Guard massacred.
Brutally suppressed by 30 000 soldiers from the Republican
Army who and to leave the front to deal with rebels
Federalist Revolt: essentially a regional uprising. Not anti
Republic but more anti Jacobin and the centralised style of
Government ie everything directed from Paris. Crushed by
Republican Army: Toulon was retaken by Napoleon in October
1793 and Lyon was flattened after a two-month siege.
 Terror is the order of the day as a coalition of Britain,
Austria, Prussia, Spain and Holland unite to take on France.
Revolutionary France: Robespierre and the
Terror

Levee en masse: whole country mobilised for war, male
conscription, women, children geared in arms and clothing
manufacture: first instance at attempt at Total War. Ensured
eventual victory
 Economic Terror: food prices fixed, peasants were freed of
debt, émigrés land confiscated, food hoarders and profiteers
were executed
THE TERROR to reorganise the country against possibility of
treason and military defeat.
 A time where extremist sans-culottes knocked the
revolution off course
 Their support was necessary to preserve the revolution but
they made no gains for themselves or any lasting changes
 Forced government to adopt policies that were contrary to
the liberal reforms of the Constituent Assembly
Role of armée révolutionaries – volunteer sans culottes raised
to Round up hoarders, seize grain, and destroy counterrevolutionaries. Convention recognised Paris armee reluctantly
but never those raised in the provinces.
Began job in Paris and subs in provinces: targets; refractory
priests, deserters, political enemies and hoarders. Paris armee
successful in keeping Paris supplied with bread until 1794 –
preserving revolution.
New Law of Suspects: 17 September, 1793.
 Arrest, imprisonment without trial of anyone suspected
of being against revolution
 Brought before Revolutionary Tribunal
 Harsh justice and violence not new to French society but
for first time it was government sanctioned and organised
as a matter of policy.
Series of show Trials and subs guillotining of Marie Antoinette,
Activity in provinces was far more savage and unrestrained.
Carried out by watch-committees, representatives-on-mission
and the armée revolutionary.
Representatives-on-mission (fanatical Jacobins) were
responsible for the worst atrocities and were fully supported by
the Government and especially Robespierre. Esp in Nantes and
Lyon.
By 1793 most rural communes had a Revolutionary Tribunal, a
committee which came to symbolise the Terror
Victims of the Terror? Numbers of those victims hard to
judge. One study shows 17000 official executions. 16% in
Paris. (52% in the Vendee) 28% were peasants, 31% urban
workers esp from Lyon and Marseilles. (Rees p.86) 15% were
clergy and Nobles (Waller p.61) Rees p.86 total arguably 200
000.
Terror did not reach all of France and most of country remained
unaffected.
DECHRISTIANISATION.
Catholic Church under attack. Campaign to close all churches,
destroy religious symbols, force priests to marry and adopt
orphans. Paris commune led the way.
Like the abolition of the Monarchy, it was driven by the sans
culottes who saw the destruction of the church as another way
of destroying everything connected to the ancient régime.
Brutal attempt to uproot centuries of Christian belief was
deeply resented in the rural areas and the main aspect of the
Terror that affected the peasants the most.
Even after success in the war Robespierre continued to purge
the country of all potential opposition.
The Great Terror
took place in Paris. The terror was to continue even if the
innocent suffered according to Robespierre.
The Prairial Laws. Juries could try suspects without hearing
evidence and citizens could be imprisoned without trial under
the Law of Suspects
More people were tired and executed June/July 1794 than
in previous 14 months. (1594) Most were nobles and Clergy,
half were wealthy bourgeoisie.
Trials were largely to determine liberty or death. Defendants
had no rights.
Nobody dared criticise Committee of Public Safety or
Robespierre.
The End of Robespierre
Embarks on a series of measures that see his support from sans
culottes fall and his control over the Convention fail. He is
arrested and executed.
 Disbanded the Paris revolutionary armee
 Arrested and executed 19 popular sans culottes leaders
who supported the Terror, the Hérbertistes.
 Turned on those who favoured end to Terror – Danton and
Desmoulins who are executed amidst trumped up charges
of financial scandal. (April 1794)
 Closed down clubs and societies like Cordeliers club
 Announced the cult of the Supreme Being angering the
traditional Catholics
After Robespierre
Known as the Coup of Thermidor as it took place in the
revolutionary calendar date of 10 Thermidor. Leaders were
moderates, combination of men from both committees, exsupporters of the terror.
Marked the end of revolutionary extremism
Fall of Robespierre did not bring Terror to quick end but
gradually the elements of it were phased out.
Key outcomes
Work began on new constitution
Freedom of religion guaranteed
Paris Commune abolished
Jacobin club closed
All restrictive legislation implemented by Robespierre and
the Committee of Public Safety was overturned.
Post Thermidor
Poor harvests
Massive inflation
Severe winter
Prospect of famine
The rising of Germinal (April 1st)
 Peaceful march of 10 000 on Convention demanding
bread.
Prairal Day 20 May 1794
 Hunger riots led by women and National Guard.
 Invasion of National Convention and forced it to agree to
a food commission
 Next day 20 000 National Guards surround Convention
 22 may 20 000 loyal Regular Army forced rebels to
give up arms and surrender.
 Severe repression. Some 42 National guards and
Montagnards arrested and executed.
This marked the end of the sans culottes as a revolutionary
force. They were disarmed, dispirited, their leadership dead.
First time Regular Army had been used against citizens army
since the time of Reveillon Riots of 1789.
The White Terror
A reaction against the revolution
Not a royalist reaction
Just those who had persecuted by the revolution
The Royalist Revolt
Violent guerrilla warfare in the Vendee.
An attack on ex-terrorists and those who had done well out of
the revolution
Comprises returning émigrés and non-juring priests
Target were those who been members of popular societies
and watch committees. People who had provide victims for
the Revolutionary Tribunals.
Other targets included constitutional priests, purchasers of
state land and gov officials.
Did not cover all of France
The Final Armed Uprising in Paris of Revolutionary period
 5 October 1794 25 000 armed Parisians (not only sans
culottes) marched on the convention to protest against
new constitution.
 Government troops, of whom Napoleon Bonaparte, was
an officer, fought them off killing some 300.
This marked the last attempt to intimidate an elected
Assembly until 1830.
From here until the take over by Napoleon, the Convention
was led by the Directory; a council of five under the
guidance of a new constitution. Its aim was to avoid the
extremism of the Jacobins and the sans culottes and the
conservatism of the royalists.
Past Essay Questions: Remember to check previous area’s questions
‘External threats strongly influenced revolutionary governments.’ How valid is this statement (3&4)
‘Foreign intervention forced revolutionaries to become more extreme.’ To what extent do you agree
with this statement?
(Area 3 or 4 or both)
‘Fear of counter-revolution pushed the revolutionaries in more extreme directions.’ To what extent
do you agree with this statement?
(Area 3 & 4)
Appendix One A: The Estates of pre-revolutionary France.
First Estate : The Clergy





Numbered some 130 000
Ranked from Archbishops to humble priests. Impossible to rise through the ranks
Church hierarchy were fabulously wealthy.
Wealth of Church came from land owned (10%, largest landowning group) and from tithes.
Tithes: a tax of 8-10% of peasants income or value of crops and stock. Supposed to support
lower clergy but mostly went to bishops and abbots.
 Church completely exempt from royal taxes. Gave small donation to King instead.
 Responsible for hospitals and schools, poor relief, registrar of birth, deaths and marriages.
Wide censorship powers.
Second Estate: The Nobility.






300 000 to 400 000.
Owned 40% of land and control of public office
Paid some taxes but had numerous exemptions
Dominated highest administrative posts
4000 court nobility were most powerful. Nobility of the Sword.
Next were Nobility of the Robe – legal and administrative nobles esp. 1200 of who were
magistrates of the parlements.
 Rest lived in country estates
 Oldest son inherited estates. Other sons who were granted noble status joined clergy, army or
administrative posts.
 Had tax exemptions see Waller p.8, Rees, p.9, tried in special courts, exempt for forced
labour.
Third Estate:
 Everyone else who was not in the other two estates: 26-28 million people
 Enormous fluctuations of wealth in this estate.
 80-90% of population were peasants
22 million lived in countryside, 6 million in urban areas of which there were several working
classes

At top end were rich merchants, industrialists and business people. Known as the
bourgeoisie (the whole group) or bourgeois (individual). Ports were main sites of merchant
bourgeoisie activity
 Other bourgeoisie included financiers, landowners, doctors, writers, lawyers, civil servants,
teachers, master craftsmen. All in all numbered about 2.3 million.
 They sought noble status themselves and until 1788 supported status quo. Successful
bourgeoisie could purchase venal public office. In time noble status may be granted by the
king. By 1780 there was abiding frenzy for these positions.
The Peasants: formed largest group of Third Estate. Approx 28 million by 1790.





Many peasants owned some land, 9probably 45% of land in France owned by peasants) and
a small group (600 000, Rees, p.12) pf large scale farmers who employed other labourers.
Bottom end of peasants were the labourers.
Half peasants were share croppers, no capital, gave half produce to landlords
25% of peasants were landless labourers
1 million serfs, subject to dues paid to their Lord.
Poor peasantry had no hope of improvement – a stone’s throw from destitution.
The Urban workers made up third section of Third Estate. Many were skilled artisans and owned
workshops (see Adcock, p.18).
 Sans-culottes. Small property owners and artisans in Paris. Educated and militant.
 Majority of workers in towns lived poorly in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions.
 Skilled workers organised guilds. Not allowed to obtain higher wages or better conditions.
In Paris in 1776 there were 100 000 members.
 No large-scale production. Pre industrial revolution factory system.
NOT ALL PEASANTS WERE POOR AND NOT ALL NOBLES, CLERGY AND
BOURGEOISIE WERE RICH. THERE WERE RICH PEASANTS AND DESTITUTE
NOBILITY
Appendix One B: Sources of Discontent in Pre-revolutionary France
Marxist interpretation: that has been one of the main vehicles for analysing FR has been largely
discredited. Not a clash of one class against another.
Was there any one class or Group identifiable as responsible for the French Revolution?
It was not a case of the First and Second Estate united together on the side of the King. Similarly
they were not so set apart from rest of society by their privileged positions.
Sources of discontent amongst Second Estate.
1. The Frondes : Group of traditional Nobles who had rebelled against king causing civil war
in 17th century. Excluded from political office, harboured deep grudge against the monarchy.
2. Nobility of the Robe: ran bureaucracy and parlements . Had been frustrated by Louis XV1’s
grandfather. Openly critical of monarchy and there as a decided lack of respect for
Monarchy. In 1774 Louis XV1, in an attempt to win back the favour of the parlements,
gave them back the powers previously stripped from them.
3. Nobility not simply divided in to the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Robe. Many
were industrialists who invested heavily in coal and textiles.. They had little in common
with those at Court or in Administration or those who frequented the salons on Paris There
were many impoverished Nobility in the country who struggled to make a living from their
estates.
The First Estate
There was a great discrepancy also amongst the clergy. Nobility who had become clergy and those
Archbishops and Bishops were unspeakably wealthy. Many lower clergy were impoverished and
identified with peasants, workers and artisans.
Sources of Discontent amongst Third Estate.
The Bourgeoisie
Through mos of 18th Century wealth of bourgeoisie had grown. Not so their social mobility.
Purchase of hereditary office, either army or state had been blocked. Army Law of 1781 and
number of offices for sale in the parlements had declined. 1774-8 fewer than 20% of new 680
magistrates were non noble.
The more numerous, wealthy and educated the bourgeoisie became the scarcer the positions of
privilege there were available. (Marxist theory has this class responsible for the outbreak of
revolution Waller p.151.) Many powerful leaders of the revolution came from the nobility. Similar
many nobles were engaged in bourgeoisie activity merchants and industry.
However, by 1789 there circumstances had not really changed. There were still positions to be
had and money to be made. They made no attempt to demand social equality until after the
parlements and the Nobility kick start the revolution. Waller p.151
Peasantry
French population had risen steadily throughout 18th century and much of the strain of this increase
fell on the peasants.
Land prices went up and wages down. Significant increases in rent charged by landlords.
Burdened with Fedal dues and rent to landlords and Nobles, forced labour the corvée royale and the
tithe to the Clergy, which amounted to a 10th of a person’s income. Originally paid for in produce.
However there were many rich peasants with large well-run and profitable farms. They were as a
group, not as impoverished as other European peasant societies. Also the mass migration of
peasants in to the cities looking for work in industry had not taken place as in England.
Bread was a key food and economic factor. Bumper crops and surpluses were stored on the large
estates and key town depositories. Crop failure and shortages had severe effect on peasantry.
75% of peasants had some land. Half of these were sharecroppers i.e. gave half of crop to landlords
instead of rent. Supplemented work with domestic work such as weaving. Remaining 25% had no
land and were dependent on their lord for work. In bad times many were forced in to vagrancy and
begging.
Series of bad harvests. 1730 48% food price increased to 65% by 1789. Wages only peaked at a
26% increase. Demand also effected supplementary incomes Wine and weaving fluctuations in
1770s and 1780s. Taxes rose steadily.
1788 recession in agricultural industry. Year France enters American War of Independence.
1787-88 catastrophic harvests. Wheat prices doubled. Inflation. Domestic industry collapsed as
demand fell. Many lost their land and joined the ranks of the vagrant and the landless some drifting
to the cities for work.
Urban workers
1786 free trade agreement with England. Hit the French textile industry. Less jobs for more
workers.
In Paris the floating population of casual labourers, immigrants, criminals, vagrants and vagabonds
grew to 50 000.
1788 the price of bread had risen to 80% of income. In 1789 there were economically motivated
riots in Paris and around France.
However: urban workers, peasants, artisans and to lesser extent manufacturers brought together
with a common bond of hostility towards government, landlords, merchants etc. These links were
not clearly visible in 1788 and only gradually so in 1789. The peasants played no part in the events
that started the revolution and the workers only after calling of the Estates-General and the forming
of the National Assembly
Loss of confidence in the ancien régime. Many important, liberal nobles – people of the system,
were opposed to the regime
Tensions within the nobility- ill feeling between the court nobles and the provincial nobles.
Liberal nobles spent time in the salons of Paris. A form of upper-class sociability, the Clubs, The
Breton Club , half the Nobles who belonged were from nobility of the Robe and there were 23
Nobility of the robe.
Noble Society was itself a place of real power, above and beyond the structures of Royal
Government
Appendix Two B: The Four Stages of the French Revolution 1788-89
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Revolt of the Nobles 1788 (Assembly of Notables, Calling of the Estates-General)
Revolt of the Bourgeoisie – June 1789 (Tennis Court Oath)
The Revolt of the Parisian Crowd (Storming of the Bastille, revolution in Paris) July
1789
The Revolt of the Peasants (The Great Fear 20 July-Aug 6, 1789)
Wars and Financial difficulties (Adcock pp 40-41)
Prelude to Stage 1.
Turgot, Controller General (1774-May 1776).
 Warned of impending disaster.
 Against French involvement in American War of independence
 Attempted tax reform which Paris parlement rejected.
 Dismisses 1776
Necker, Controller General (Oct 1776-May, 1781)
 Did not attempt tax reform
 Undertook borrowing to finance war in America
 Juggled the books
 Coincided with poor harvests
 Urban unemployment
 Inflation
Calone, C-G Nov 1783-1787
 Inherited unsolvable economic situation
 Louis and Ministers resisted change
 Forced to secure more loans
 Proposed a new land tax with no exemptions
 Unwilling to present tax reforms to parlements
 Persuaded Louis to call an Assembly of Notables to discuss the proposals
 Notables resist Calone who is dismissed
Brienne C-G
 Again faced losing battle with the Notables
 Notables declared that King could no longer impose new taxes without the approval of
representatives of the nation eg The Estates-General
 Brienne had to introduce reform. He was now forced to go back to the parlements who
again refused to cooperate.
 NOBLES SEEN AS OPPONENTS OF DESPOTISM AND KING’S WASTE.
 Crowds begin to gather outside the Paris parlement
 The Royal Session 17 Nov 1787. With Brienne on the verge of success of convincing the
ministers of the merits of his reforms, Louis, with typical heavy-handedness orders the
parlements to register the new tax laws. Parlements response?
Louis XV1
 Cracks down on opponents
 Arrests and exiles
 Paris and provincial parlements bombard Louis with remonstrances, denouncing him as a
despot and refuse to register any further laws
 Furious callings for an Estates –General
May 8, 1788 Paris parlement issued its ‘fundamental laws of the kingdom
 Right to vote taxes belonged to Estates General
 Frenchmen could not be imprisoned without trial
 King could not change rights and privileges in provinces
Louis’ Response
 Deprived parlements of right to register and protest against royal decrees. This would be
carried out by new Plenary Court comprising nobles appointed by him
 parlements would be closed.
Stage One: The Revolt of the Nobles
 day of tiles
 violent uprising across France
 leadership provided by members of First and Second Estates
 many parlements reconvened despite Royal Orders
August 1788. France slide into bankruptcy : Spending completely outstripping earnings.
Brienne given no choice but to call an Estates-General
Stage 2: The Revolt of the Bourgeoisie – June 1789
August 1788 – Bankruptcy, economic collapse and the reinstatement of Necker. Calling of EstatesGeneral
The 10 months that elapsed between the calling of the Estates-General and its convening.
 Compilation of the Book of Grievances
 Disastrous crop failures in 1788 had led to bread shortages and food price rises.
 By 1789 88% of Parisian workers wages spent on food.
 Grain convoys attacked and food riots all over France.
 Flashpoint: The Reveillion Riots April 1789. (Adcock, p.55)
Tension between the Estates over voting and representation.
 Upper Estates very wary of Third Estate
 Push for a new model of representation based on voting per head rather than one vote per
Estate. Paris parlement chose to support in favour of the old system. Consequences?
How would this decision be interpreted by the Third Estate?
An outraged Third Estate demanded a doubling of the vote.
December 1789 King makes a poor decision that highlights his indecision and uncertainty. Decides
to double the number of Third Estates’ representatives without making any judgement about voting.
January 1789: What is the Third Estate? Abbé Sieyès
May 4 1789 Estates-General convenes
 561 deputies for 1st and 2nd Estates
 578 deputies for 3rd Estate. (400 lawyers, 100 bankers, merchants, industrialists and some
nobles and clergy.
 Expectations are high especially on the King.
Time is wasted as King remains aloof and there is much bickering about voting.
 No agenda of reform
 Estates made to meet separately
 Royal advisers and Marie Antoinette add to Louis’ inability to act decisively.
June 17 1789. Third Estate, out of patience, and declares itself the National Assembly of France
calling other Estates to join them.
 Represents the majority of France
 Has the right to manage the country and decide taxation.
June 19 1789. Clergy voted to join them. A direct challenge to the King. Often celebrated as the
beginning of the revolution.
King now forced to act. Persuaded by Necker he, called a Royal Session of all Estates for June 23
where he would announce new reforms.
The Tennis Court Oath
June 20 1789. Third Estate arrive at their assembly hall to find it locked. They March off in
defiance to a local tennis court where the famous ‘Tennis Court Oath’ is declared.
 Not to disperse until they give France a constitution
 King has no right to disperse them.
June 23rd 1789. Louis’ reaction at the Royal Session
 Ignored Necker who urged reform
 Surrounded the meeting hall with armed soldiers
 Regarded the Tennis Court Oath as a personal attack
 He did agree to a raft of tax reforms
 Social structure of ancien régime to remain the same
 Declared all decrees issued by the National Assembly (The Third Estate and allies) as null in
void.
 Declared Estates-General should continue to meet separately and ordered deputies to
disperse to their different meeting areas.
June 24 1789. Escalation of Events
 151 clergy join National Assembly (3rd Estate and allies)
 day after, 157 Nobles join
 Popular demonstration in Paris supporting National Assembly
Rumours abounded that Louis was going to use force to dissolve National Assembly
 Since June 22nd Louis had been calling troops into the city including 2300 Germans. By 1st
July some 20 000 troops were in Paris
June 27th. Louis backed down. All nobles and clergy were ordered to join 3rd Estate and to vote by
head.
By July 4 there were 40 000 (Waller, p.26. Rees says 30 000 by July 11) troops in Paris and
rumours spread that Louis was about to use force to disperse assembly by force.
In this atmosphere the Assembly was saved by the Revolt of the Parisian Crowd.
Stage Three. The Paris Revolt: July 1789. Storming of the Bastille
July 11. Louis now buoyed by the presence of troops sacked Necker. News of this spread like
wildfire and members of the assembly braced for military force to dissolve them.
Crowds of Sans Culottes (mixture of craftsmen, shopkeepers, traders, labourers etc see Waller
p.27) gathered at the Palais Royal where a call to arms was advocated. Stiired up by radical
bourgeoisie such as Danton and Desmoulin. Search for weapons began.
July 11-12 crowds of poor menu people attacked customs posts. Food stores and prisons were
attacked.
Proprietied and wealthy bourgeoisie alarmed. Things getting out of hand Paris Electors (those that
had chosen the Third Estate deputies) alarmed at the prospect of anarchy met and formed a
commune or committee to run the city and created a National Guard (Lafayette at its head) of
citizen militia to protect property from menu people and from attack by King. (Where does Duc
d’Orleans fit into all of this?)
Tension within revolutionary movement see p.61 Adcock
July 14, 1789. The Storming of the Bastille
Parisian crowd of 8000 seizes muskets and cannon but no ammunition. (Figures of crowd and of
weapons differs in each text) Make way to Bastille. Crowd and National Guard impatient. Governor
opens fire. Bastille stormed. Governor killed. Sans Culottes had taken part, not wealthy middle
class. Royal troops had stood by, some defecting.
Louis had lost control of Paris.
 Withdrew troops from Paris
 Lost control of armed forces
 Reinstated Necker
 Confirmed Bailly as mayor of Paris and Lafayette as Head of National Guard.
 Recognised new revolutionary council
20 000 nobles fled France.
The Municipal Revolution: King’s authority collapsed quickly in most French towns. His orders
only obeyed if approved by National Constituent Assembly as named on July 7th.
Bourgeoisie played major part. Revolt took different forms. See Rees p.29-30. Everywhere National
Guard were formed to control violence and prevent counter revolution.
Stage Four: The Peasant Revolution.
Peasants played no part in revolution until spring 1789.
1788 bad harvest. Rising price of bread. Misery and suffering in countryside.
Unemployment
From Jan 1789 grain storage and hoarders were attacked
Important because against backdrop of political events.
Calling if Estates-General led peasants to believe change, via King was about to happen.
Following Fall of Bastille, uprisings against taxes, the tithe and feudal dues spread across country.
Great Estates were where grain was stored. Landlords seen as hoarders. Hundreds of Chateaux were
attacked, ransacked and burnt.
20 July-6 August 1789: The Great Fear.
 Rumours spread that agents of aristocracy were to assembly militia were going to destroy the
harvest.
 Peasants took up arms, took out anger on landlords.
 Great Fear spread peasant uprising throughout six provinces.
 Created impression in Paris of a massive insurrection and collapse of all order
The August Decree: Enacted by National Assembly to abolish Feudal dues
The Women’s March on Versailles: massive protest march by 6000 – 7000 women accompanied by
20 000 National Guard to King’s Palace. King and Marie Antoinette taken back to Paris as were the
National Assembly.