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The French Revolution
France: Politically, Socially:
1. The French Opulent Absolute Monarchs
Louis XV
Ruled 1715-1774
2. French Aristocrats:
Louis XVI
Ruled 1774-1793
3. Rise of a Middle Order: The Bourgeoisie
4. Sans-Culottes (urban merchants)
5. Peasants
France Economically, Militarily
France’s Financial Crisis:
Necessary Tax Reform
The French Revolutions
Aristocratic Revolution
Bourgeois Revolution
Popular Revolution
Radical Revolution
The Aristocratic Revolution: May 1789
Louis XVI forced (by aristocrats) to convene the Estates General
Estates General:
Last convened 1614
Three Estates:
First Estate - The Clergy
Second Estate - The Nobility
Third Estate - The Commoners (95+%)
Bourgeoisie (dominate the delegates)
Sans-Culottes (urban merchants)
Peasants
The Bourgeois Revolution:
Third Estate’s demand of representation equal to the first
Two Estates
The Third Estate seceded June 17, 1789
Tennis Court Oath:
Formation of the National Assembly
Popular Revolution:
Sans-Culottes in Paris:
Bad harvest - Food shortages
Parisian Mob storms the Bastille - July 14, 1789
Development of National Guard
Peasants:
“The Great Fear” sweeps the countryside
The First Phase of the French Revolution, 1789-1792
All Three Estates Draft a New Constitution
National Assembly August 4, 1789
Aristocrats renounce their privileges
“Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen” - August 26, 1789
Preamble to a New Constitution
Includes Enlightened Ideals
October 5, 1789
Women Protest Food Shortage
Crowd (led by Women) from Paris to Versailles
Royal Family returns to Paris with National Guard
The Constitution of 1791
Elections : Vote given to two-third of adult males (property
requirements)
System of Checks and Balances established
Civil Administration reorganized
Church Property confiscated
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Produces a Constitutional Monarchy
The Revolution Radicalizes 1791-1792
Fear of Counter-Revolution:
1. Fear of Nobility:
Fled to Prussia and Austria (Émigrés)
Louis XVI attempts to leave Paris (June 1791)
Louis XVI seeks aid from Leopold II (Austria)
2. Fear of Foreign Intervention
Declaration of Pillnitz
National Assembly declares war on Austria - April 1792
Brunswick Manifesto
3. Fear of the Power of the Church
Priests who refused to take Revolutionary Oath
Radical Revolution begins 1792
Jacobins seize control 1792 - Call for a Republic
Hysteria - September Massacres (1792)
Monarchy Abolished
New Form of Government - National Convention
(New Constitution Needed)
Execution of Louis XVI: Jan. 20, 1793
The Revolution under “Siege”:
Internationally:
First Coalition, March 1793
Led by England
Included Holland, Spain, Naples
Domestically:
Peasant Uprising in the Vendee
2500 killed in Lyon - Enemies of the State
Economically:
Deteriorating Economy
The Reign of Terror, 1793-1794
Executive Power: Committee of Public Safety
Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794)
“Republic of Virtue”
Reinforce ideology - Re-educate
“Great Terror” -Summer 1794
France develops Great National Army through the Draft
Thermidorian Reaction of July, 1794
Execution of Robespierre: July 28, 1794
End of Terror
Committee of Public Safety stripped of its powers
Jacobin Clubs closed
Revolution moderates
The Period of the Directory, 1795-1799
Moderate Constitution
Deputies elected through Indirect election
Executive Power - 5 Man Directory
Council of Elders (over 40)
Council of 500
Overthrown November 9, 1799 by Napoleon Bonaparte