Download The French Revolution 1789

The French Revolution
•1789 – French Revolution
•4 May – Meeting of the Estates-General
•14 Jul – Storming of the Bastille
•4 Aug – August Decrees
•26 Aug - Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
•1791
•20 Jun – Flight to Varennes
•3 Sep - The Constitution of 1791 is proclaimed.
•1792
•20 Apr - France declares war on the King of Hungary and Bohemia (the Austrian Francis II).
Prussia joins with Austria
•10 Aug -The Fall of the Monarchy
•22 Sep - Republic proclaimed
•1793
•21 January - Execution of Louis XVI
•1 Feb - The Convention declares war on Great Britain and the Netherlands
• 5 Sep - Terror became order of the day
•1794
•July - Thermidorian Reaction
•1795-1799 : The Directory
•1799-1815 – Napoleonic regime
Overview : The French Revolution
Outbreak of Revolution
1789
3 Sep - The Constitution of 1791
was proclaimed
1791
10 Aug -The Fall of the
Constitutional Monarchy
22 Sep - Republic
proclaimed
1792
5 Sep - Terror became order
of the day
July – Thermidorian
Reaction
The Directory was established
- Fall of the Directory
- Coup of Brumaire (9 Nov
1799) and the rise of
Napoleon
WHY?
Bankruptcy of the regime
Mismanagement by the king
Lack of commitment by all
parties to make the
system work
1793
A necessary response to
deal with an
emergency situation
1794
Terror had outlived
its usefulness
1795
1799
-Fall of Napoleon
1815
- Weak regime provided
opportunity
-Capable Napoleon to
seize the opportunity
-Passive crowd
enabled success
Success : Due to
weaknesses of enemies
Downfall : Due to
his own ambitions and
the strengths of enemies
Origins of the French Revolution in 1789
(Questions 1-8)
Was the French
Revolution
inevitable? (Q5)
•Marxist view
not valid
Underlying problems
Immediate factors
-Ramshackle nature of
ancien regime
-Failures of the EstateGeneral (Q7)
-Loss of Legitimacy
-Influence of
Enlightenment (Q4)
-Changes in
political culture
-Issue over voting –
Clash between
privileged and
unprivileged
-General disillusionment
-Effects of
vilification campaign
-Composition
-Failure to integrate
elite
-Financial problems
-Socio-economic
problems
-Demographic
problems
-Economic
conditions
-Self-interest
-Privileged Classes (Q2)
-Contributed to financial
Problems of French
monarchy
-Alienated rest of society
-Transformed a financial
crisis into a political
crisis
How important
was the King’s
role? (Q3)
•Problems could
have been solved
•Eg 1:
Factionalism
•Eg 2 :
Financial
problems
-Weakness in
leadership was
crucial
* Transformed
the crisis into a
revolution
Significance of the events of 1789
(Question 9)
-Meeting of Estates-General
-Opened the door to defiance
of king’s authority
-Formation of National Assembly
-Marked the start of the
bourgeois-led revolution
-Storming of Bastille
-Symbolised downfall of
absolute monarchy and forced
king to yield to revolutionary
demands
-Abolition of feudalism
-Removed most of grievances
of middle and lower classes
-Declaration of Rights of Man and
Citizen
-Far greater scope of individual
action than English system
-All these events
had equal
significance on
course of events
-They interacted
with one another
-They are inadequate to explain the
radicalisation of events
-Underlying problems
-Ramshackle nature of political
set-up
-Socio-economic problems
-Immediate problems
-Failures of the Estate-General
(Q7)
-Financial problems
-Role of Privileged Classes (Q2)
-Critical factor
-Mismanagement by king –
Transformed crisis into a
revolution
Significance and achievements of the National Assembly and
constitutional monarchy from 1789-1792 (Questions 10-11)
Success
Failures
The regime’s work was significant as it fashioned a new order through its reforms.
–
Politically, the regime created a new order in two ways.
A significant achievement was the abolition of feudalism and the
special privileges of the nobility through the legalization of equality.
Explain
What was more significant were the practical achievements of the
National Assembly in creating a new political order. Explain
–
Administratively, the National Assembly also did much to reform the
inefficient and uncoordinated local governmental structure in the
provinces. Explain
–
In the judiciary, the regime also created a system that was more
transparent, open and accessible. Explain
–
Financially, the Constituent Assembly was also temporarily successful in
solving the problems of the day. Explain
Yet, it would be too myopic to conclude from these that the constitutional
monarchy was successful. From a more long-term perspective, it can be argued
that the regime ultimately failed to create a stable and sustainable system.
–
Financially, in the long-term, the Constituent Assembly failed to create a
stable financial system. Explain
–
The Constituent Assembly was also not successful with regards to
implementing Church reforms. In point of fact, the issue of church reform
produced the Revolution's first and most fateful crisis. Explain
–
The work of the National Assembly also did not address the real needs of
the people. Explain
–
More damaging to the failure of the regime was the fact that it failed to
gain the support of those who mattered :
King’s attitude as an obstacle – King was increasingly hostile to the
revolution. Explain
Development of a group who did not want a monarchy. Explain
Problems with the
Constitution
Unwieldy nature of
constitution
Issue of patronage
System could
have worked
–
Initial
goodwill
Difficult situation for King
Absence of any form of cohesion
amongst the revolutionary leadership
Politicized society
Divergent pressures of political problems
Errors and miscalculations
Economic Crisis
War as an immediate trigger and led to
the immediate events that precipitated
the downfall of the regime
– Raised the stakes in political
debate
– Political mobilization of masses
– Effects of early military reverses
Downfall of the
constitutional monarchy
in 1792 and creation of a
republic
(Questions 12-15)
Obstacles to viability
actions and effects
:
King’s
King's general attitude as an
obstacle
Impact of the flight to Varennes
– Undermined public confidence
in the King
– Made republicanism appear as
a viable option
Obstacles to viability :
Development of a revolutionary
group who did not want a monarchy
Lack of commitment
to make system work
by various groups
Reasons
for war in 1792
(Questions 16-17)
Certain elements
of
traditional
French
foreign
policies played a
role
– Hatred
of
Austria
– Fishing
in
troubled water
Helping
dissident
s abroad
Gain
economic
advantag
e
War
was
not
inevitable
– Ideological
antipathy
did
not make for
war
However,
too
simplistic
to
attribute
the
decision for war to
a
mere
continuation
of
traditional French
foreign policies
– There
were
elements
of
differences eg
anti-British
feeling
not
evident
– Pursuit
of
revolutionary
principles
War fought for pragmatic
concerns and was a
result of revolutionary
developments
– To fulfill aims of
diverse groups
Court party –
restoration
of
ancien regime
Moderates
–
Stabilise
the
constitutional
monarchy
Republicans –
war
would
provide
opportunity to
change
the
system
Reasons for Radicalisation
of the French Revolution, 1789-94 (Question 26)
Role played by
fall of ancien
regime
-Created a
political power
vacuum
-Paved the way
for an open
political contest
Downfall of republic
Obstacles
to
viability : King’s
actions
and
effects
King's
general
attitude as an
obstacle
Impact
of
the
flight to Varennes
– Undermined
public
confidence in
the King
– Made
republicanis
m appear as
a
viable
option
Downfall of republic
War
as
an
immediate
trigger
and led to the
immediate
events
that precipitated the
downfall
of
the
regime
– Raised
the
stakes
in
political debate
– Political
mobilization of
masses
– Effects of early
military
reverses
Underlying reason : Transformation of political culture
Development of
the Reign of
Terror
-A response to a
critical situation
Role of specific
groups especially
sans culottes
-Their actions ended
French monarchy
-Revolutionised
French politics and
society
-A response to a
critical situation
Relatively effective in creating a
new socio-economic-political
and order
-Analyse changes effected by
Constituent Assembly (social,
economic and political)
•However, did not meet the
needs of the people or address
major problems
CPS ineffective : Had some
achievements but failed to
achieve genuine stability
-Economic policies failed to solve
problems
-Social dislocation, alienation,
suffering and hardships
Overview : Effectiveness of the
various revolutionary governments
(Question 27)
Ineffective
Constituent Assembly
1789-1791
•Division in government
Constitutional Monarchy
1791-1792
-King was not committed to
system
-Absence of cohesion in
revolutionary leadership
CPS during
Reign of Terror
1793-1794
•Politics
-Effective in the short-run in
creating a police-state to maintain
control
•Not a stable political
system – Inherent problems
in constitution
The Directory
1795-1799
-Republicans did not want a
constitutional monarchy
Directory ineffective ; Did
not achieve genuine
political peace at home
-Paralysis o government
- Did not win genuine support
-Divided deputies
•Financial
-No clear policy
- Not successful in financing armies
•Economic
- Ineffective - Policies did not
promote economic growth
The Napoleonic regime
1799-1815
Achievements of the Directory
(Question 28)
The Directory was not
without
its
achievements
Restored a certain
degree of order
– Political
– Economic
Consolidation of a
key set of institutions
– A new bourgeois
elite
– Made Paris world
centre of science
and medicine
Military
Achievements
Diplomatic
achievements
Argument : A tragic regime whose
behaviour failed to match high ideals
However,
despite
these achievements, it
could not
achieve
genuine
peace
at
home and hence was
a failure
– Lack of a strong
and
effective
government
–
government prone
to paralysis
– Lack of a strong
man in power
– Lack
of
clear
policy
– Division
in
government
– Political instability
– Growth of military
influence
– Failure to obtain
mass support
Clearly,
from
above,
the
regime was not
entirely
negative.
Thus,
it
is
important
to
explain why it
had
such
a
negative
reputation.
– Ways
n
which
it
maintained
itself
in
power
– Legacy
of
earlier
periods
Achievements of the Directory
(Question 29)
View
contains an
element
of
truth
– Arbitrary
ways
n
which it
maintain
ed itself
in power
supports
this view
Evaluating
a view –
Was it ‘an utterly
disreputable
regime’?
Argument : A tragic regime whose
behaviour failed to match high ideals
However, view is not a
holistic
and
objective
understanding – neglects
achievements of the view
The Directory was not
without its achievements
Restored a certain degree
of order
– Political
– Economic
Consolidation of a key set
of institutions
– A new bourgeois elite
– Made
Paris
world
centre of science and
medicine
Military Achievements
Diplomatic achievements
The view also fails to
underscore
the
essential
failures.
Despite
these
achievements, it could
not achieve genuine
peace at home and
hence was a failure
– Lack of a strong
and
effective
government
–
government prone
to paralysis
– Lack of a strong
man in power
– Lack of clear policy
– Division
in
government
– Political instability
– Growth of military
influence
– Failure to obtain
mass support
Failure of
Directory
Q31 and 35
Rise of Napoleon
Strengths of Napoleon
Right Connections
Image
consciousaness
Military ability
– Possessed
military strength
– Military success
enhanced
his
appeal
Clever political tactics
and strategy
* Provided him with
the ability to seize
power
His
own
personal
psychology – made
power
and
its
attendant
satisfactions
necessary
Weaknesses of Directory
Lack of effective and strong
government : Paralysis of
Government
Lack of a strong man in
power
Lack of a clear policy
Division and instability in
government
Growth of military influence
* Provided him with the
favourable opportunity
Crowd apathy
Loss of support
– Middle-class
– Other classes
* Ensured lack of
resistance from the
people
and
facilitated
the
success
of
Napoleon
Question : Why did the French Revolution end
with the establishment of a personal dictatorship? (Q42)
State of French politics
Weaknesses of Directory
– Lack of strong government
As constitution was fixed for nine years, the
Directory was to turn to the army if urgent
action was required
– Corruption and self-interestedness of the
political leadership
In a crisis, these men were easily pushed
aside by cynical revolutionary veterans like
Barras.
– Division in government and no attempt to make
the constitution work
Rendered the Directory government
ineffective and paved the way for the rise of
Napoleon.
Political apathy
– Directory’s loss of middle-class and mass
support
The people’s indifference, more and more
marked ever since the year II, prevented any
sectors of public opinion from influencing
the course of events
Napoleon
Strengths
– Right connections
– Military victories
Increased stature
enabled him to
conduct purges of
the legislature, the
army officer corps
and surviving
Jacobins
– Clever use of political
tactics and strategy
By such tactical
manoeuvres, he
entrenched himself
in the centre of the
French political
nation.
Psychology
– Psychology made
power and attendant
satisfactions a
necessity
Introduction

Not really a reactionary

Not really a reformer
Nature of
Napoleonic regime
(Question 36 and 37)


Consolidated elements
of Revolution
Not really a revolutionary

Divested it of much of its
inheritance
 Did not adhere to
revolutionary principles

Examine his intentions etc

He was a political chameleon, a
shapeshifter, a power-hungry
dictator
Reasons for the
Military
•Size of army
success of Napoleon till 1808
•Motivation and morale
of soldiers
(Question 38)
•Weaponry, Training and
Tactics
Napoleon and French
strengths not the most
critical as there were
significant deficiencies.
Weaknesses of enemies
most important.
Leadership
* Weaknesses and
divisions among enemies
•Command of army
•Shaky political and
strategic foundations of
Coalitions
•Ability to gain respect
of his soldiers
•Ability as a
commander
•Lack of Unity in Coalition
•A military genius
Domestic factors
•Real significance
•Reforms and impact
•Control over domestic
affairs
Why did Napoleon enjoy support?
(Question 40)
Napoleonic
policies
and government
Efficient
administration helped
to gain supporters
Adroit use of ‘carrot
and stick method’.
Government activities
entrenched position
Personal appeal and
qualities of Napoleon
Within military,
–
Ability
respect
to
gain
Military
successes
enhanced his appeal
with nation
Context of situation
Given
chaos
and
disorder,
he
was
supported
by
conspirators
of
Brumaire who wanted
order and stability
The support enjoyed and appeal was largely
a result of Napoleon’s own strengths
Extent of support for Napoleon (Question 41)
Had the support of key
groups
Conspirators
Brumaire
Military
Nation at large
Bourgeoisie
Opponents
previous regimes
of
of
Extent of support should
not be over-exaggerated
He faced adversaries and
not everyone supported
him.
Support obtained was
grudging.
Police-state
methods
ensured obedience
Religious policies failed
to
achieve
aims
of
winning clergy over
Increased
dissatisfaction
1810
after
Masses indifferent
Middle-classes
Not really successful in winning genuine support
Political Impact
Social Impact
•Created a powerful state
apparatus
•Erected an orderly, hierarchical
society to counteract the
excessive individualism of
revolutionary social reforms
•Enforcing centralised
control
•The foundation stones of social
change - the transfer of Church
lands, the end of the guild
system, the abolition of
feudalism were consolidated
•Creation of a
virtual
dictatorship
•Little regard for
representative
institutions
•the authority of state and family
were reasserted
•Development of a
police state
•Rehierarchisation
•Social and Property Rights
•Use of prefects
•On women
•Repression of
civil liberties
Economic impact
•Use of
censorship
Economically, Napoleon also had
a negative impact on France
•Effects of judicial
and legal reforms
•Napoleonic policies were a drain
on the system
•Napoleonic era failed to achieve
growth for France : Economy was
stagnant
Napoleonic Impact
on France
•Deleterious economic effects of
the Continental System on France
•Napoleon undid most of
this progress by restoring
the father's absolute
authority in the family
Religious policies
•Superficial success
•Not successful in
gaining support of
Church and clergy
Reasons for the origins
and continuation
of the Napoleonic wars
Ideology?
•Not an ideological conflict
•Does not fit into
chronology of events
•Countries only entered
war when their interests
were threatened
Conditions in France
•War was partly a result of the conditions in France
•There was the creation of a constituency
whose interests were bound to the
continuation of the war
Role played by Napoleon
•Peace established by Treaty of Amiens with Britain was unstable.
Hence, he had a pivotal role to play in preserving peace.
•Nature of his foreign policy made it impossible for peaceful coexistence with other powers
•Prestige
•Interests of his family
•Megalomaniac pretensions
Economic?
•Not due to Anglo-French
economic and commercial rivalry
•Britain was not able to
engineer the series of events
•Unable to satisfy other
powers
•Colonial offensives was
consistent with that period
of time.
• Did nothing to preserve the Peace of Amiens
•Policy of brinksmanship pushed Britain to war
•Why a general war?
•Again his fault
•Growth of French power under Napoleon threatened others
•Reluctant to make concessions to ensure peace
•His provocative actions further made peace impossible
•Unable to capitalise on the situation to secure peace
Impact of Napoleonic Wars
End of the
Napoleonic Wars
PROGRESS?
Revisionist View
•Simple political terms: YES!!.. There is progress. End to the
ambitions entertained by successive French rulers since the
days of Louis XIV of exercising a preponderant influence in
the international affairs of Western Europe.
•However, this is too narrow a view. The issue must be
addressed in another fashion.
Marxist View
Napoleon did bring
change to Europe, it
being in large part
through the onward
march of his armies
that the French
Revolution was
exported to the rest of
the continent.
The chief result of the Napoleonic Wars was to usher in a
new age of revolution, or, to put it in another way, they had
achieved nothing, in that, although the Old Order once again
seemed in firm control of Europe’s destiny.
As will be shown that the Napoleonic Wars brought
fundamental change to European politics, society and the
economy.
Social Impact
 Demographic
Impact?
Groups in
Society ??
Impact of the
Napoleonic Wars
Economic Impact
Political Impact
1. Short-run
 Impact on coastal ports
 Impact on agriculture
Short-run
Restoration of the monarchy
Restoration of the nobles
Long-run
Rise of Nationalism
Rise of Liberalism
Romanticism of war and insurrection
2. Long-run
 Industrial developments
•
Cotton industry
•
Silk Industry
•
Metallurgical Industry

Administrative efficiency
Overall Significance?
Conclusion: Impact on
19th century European history...
 Essentially, the Napoleonic era was important for it had dramatic effects on
European politics, society and the economy.
 Parochialism remained a powerful force that was never overcome, whilst the experience
of French rule stimulated the rise of a series of nationalist movements that, whilst ostensibly
highly cosmopolitan, eventually could not but collide with one another, culminating in the
revolution of 1820, 1830 and of course, the 1848 revolution.
 With the advent of industrialization; much of it stimulated by the legacy of the Napoleonic
Wars, war was to become an instrument of state policy that was to be rendered far more
terrible.
 The Napoleonic era had opened the way for a social disorder that was to become ever
more serious. Napoleon had actually succeeded in injecting far greater divisions than those
that existed under the ancien regime.
 On this basis, it can be said that the Napoleonic Wars far from being the precursor
to an age of general peace, had in fact herald in an age of conflict in the nineteenth
century, much to the detriment of suffering humanity.
Reasons for the
Strengths of enemies
•Britain remained strong
failure of Napoleon after 1808 (Q 45)
•Impact of Industrial
Revolution
Problems and debilitating
effects of Napoleon’s
campaigns
•The Spanish ulcer
weakened France
•Miscalculations on napoleon
relieved strain on Britain
•Russian campaign
Weaknesses of Napoleon
Weaknesses of Napoleon
•Weaknesses of army
•Political weaknesses
•Weaknesses of French
economy
•Did not effectively
control his empire
•Stagnant Economy
•Clergy
•Poor
Communications
•Growth of nationalism
•Damage of
Continental system
•Problems of
Napoleonic Empire
Impact of FR - Question 46
Social impact
•A new society established
Political impact
•End of French hegemony in Europe
•Wars weakened France
Created a new
France
•Britain had opportunity to
establish hegemony overseas
•Established new political culture in
France
•Democratic political culture
Feature : Established
mobilising potential of
democratic republicanism
Economic impact – Caused
economic backwardness of
France
•Led to political instability
•Deleterious socioeconomic effects
•Constitutionalism and greater
representation by people
•Loss of manpower
•Chaos - Reluctance
to invest
•Did not promote capitalism
•Way of life and way
of thinking remained
unchanged
•Instability only ended in 1875
•Enshrinement of principles of
Liberty and Equality
•Society of independent
individuals
•More egalitarian society
•Extension on individual
freedom e.g. freedom of rights
and opinion
•Secularization
•Religion and churches
pushed away from the
centre of state
•Prominence of secular
voluntary associations
and state
•Individual rights protected by
a written constitution
• Government represented the
citizens
•Reshaped France’s governmental
structure
•Efficient central administration
and court system
•Enhanced power of the state
Assess degree of
change – Degree of radicalism
should not be exaggerated
•Former elites not totally eliminated
•Connections to old regime
•Peasants still the majority
•Regional loyalties remained
strong
Impact on international politics
Impact of FR - Question 46
•Conservatism
•End of French hegemony
•sought to craft a viable
political program for the
post-revolutionary world
that would preserve the
monarchies and nobles
of Europe against the
liberal and national
movement
Superficial restoration of former
order
•monarchs,
•nobles
•clergy
Impact on nature of European
politics : Institution of a
dramatically new political culture
•Romanticism
•Romanticised the
honour, chivalry, and
glory in the hierarchical
society of medieval ages
•Secularisation of state
•New political culture
•Democratic political
culture : Establish the
mobilising potential of
democratic republicanism
•New kind of legitimacy :
Principle of popular
sovereignty
•Redefined the relationship
between the state and the
people : Identity with the
nation
Impact on intellectual trends
Economic impact
•Short run negative effects
•Slowed and disrupted
economic growth
•Long run positive effects
•Cleared the way for future
industrialization on the
Continent
•Liberalism
•Desired a change in the
old order.
•Drew on the ideals of the
Enlightenment and the
French Revolution,
especially the right to
liberty and freedom from
the exercise of arbitrary
exercise of government
•Dissemination of new ideas
•Liberty, equality and
fraternity
•Boost to nationalism
Created a new
Europe
Independent work
Continental System
– Q 43 – Reasons for failure
– Q 44 – Effects on France and Europe
Revision Questions
‘The First and Second Estates caused their own
destruction.’ In the light of this statement, assess the
importance of the various factors that contributed to
the development of the 1789 Revolution?
Would it have been possible for the Crown to reform
the entrenched systems of French class and privilege
without a revolution?
‘Destined to failure.’ Is this an accurate assessment
of the constitutional monarchy that was set up in
France in 1791?
Why was Louis XVI unable to satisfy the grievances of
the discontented groups in France during the period
1789-1793?
To what extent was Louis XVI responsible for his own
execution in 1793? (ACJC Preliminary Exams 2002)
Was there a logic to the development of the Terror?
Comment on the view that ‘the French Revolution
devoured its own children’?
Can the French Revolution be considered a success
for any group in France? Discuss with reference to
developments in the period 1789-1815