History Revolutions: French Teach Yourself Series Topic 1: Chronology of key events

Transcription

1 History Revolutions: French Teach Yourself Series Topic 1: Chronology of key events A: Level 14, 474 Flinders Street Melbourne VIC 3000 T: W: tssm.com.au E: TSSM 2015 Page 1 of 7

2 Contents Chronology of key events... 3 Overview of revolutions... 3 As it appears in Units 3 and Key events in the French Revolution... 5 As it appears in Units 3 and Political, economic and social change... 5 As it appears in Units 3 and Solutions to Review Questions... 6 TSSM 2015 Page 2 of 7

3 Chronology of key events The French Revolution is often considered one of the key moments in history, marking the end of the 'old world' and the beginning of the 'new world.' In the years leading to the French Revolution, various groups challenged the power of the king, Louis XVI. During 1789, these challenges were embedded in a new political system called a constitutional monarchy. However, dissatisfaction continued and in 1792, the monarchy was abolished and France became a republic. France was forced to go to war against foreign powers and also internal enemies, resulting in civil war. The revolutionary government believed victory could only be achieved with extreme measures, known as The Terror. By 1794, however, many Frenchmen were sickened by years of bloodshed and fear of continual suspicion. The revolutionary government was overthrown in mid-1794 and France returned to a more moderate government. Overview of revolutions As it appears in Units 3 and 4 This is the overview of revolutions that appears in the Study Design. Revolutions are the great disjuncture of modern times and mark deliberate attempts at new directions. They share the common aim of breaking with the past by destroying the regimes and societies that engender them and embarking on a program of political and social transformation. As processes of dramatically accelerated social change, revolutions have a profound impact on the country in which they occur, as well as important international repercussions. Because revolutions involve destruction and construction, dispossession and liberation, they polarise society and unleash civil war and countrer-revolution, making survival and consolidation of the revolution the principal concern of the revolutionary state. In defence of the revolution, under attack from within and without, revolutionary governments often deploy armed force and institute policies of terror and repression. The process of revolution concludes when a point of stability has been reached and a viable revolutionary settlement made. Review Questions 1. Using your dictionary to help you, write working definitions of these words and phrases as they appear in the Study Design: Word/phrase Working definition as it applies to Revolutions disjuncture breaking with the past regimes engender political and social transformation TSSM 2015 Page 3 of 7

4 dramatically accelerated social change profound impact international repercussions Destruction and construction dispossession and liberation polarise society civil war counter-revolution deploy armed force terror repression 2. Rewrite the overview of revolutions using your own words. TSSM 2015 Page 4 of 7

5 Key events in the French Revolution As it appears in Units 3 and 4 Overview of France in the 18th century In the 18th century, France was a feudal society based around agriculture. During the 18 th Century it became more mercantile: there was an increase in overseas trade, port cities grew rapidly, and people began to find employment in towns rather than only on the land. It was also traditionally Roman Catholic. French society was (on paper anyway) divided into three orders or estates: First Estate (priests, nuns, representatives of the Church); Second Estate (nobility); Third Estate (everyone who wasn t in 1 st or 2 nd estates.) The Third Estate paid most taxes; the First and Second estate were privileged so paid fewer taxes and received special treatment/rights. Above all three estates stood the king who ruled, in theory, as an autocratic appointment from God. Since 1774, Louis XVI was king. During the 18 th Century, some in the Third Estate became disenchanted: if they made lots of money and were increasing in number, why were they treated less well. In particular, the bourgeoisie (businessmen, merchants, traders, doctors and lawyers) didn t want to be treated like other Third Estate members. They resented the privileges given to the Second Estate. The Scientific Revolution of the 17 th Century encouraged questioning. The Enlightenment of the 18 th Century encouraged a new way of viewing the world; based on reason rather than faith. Perhaps it wasn t true that God appointed the king? Perhaps reason could provide a better way of governing? Perhaps men could decide for themselves how to be governed? During the 1770s and 1780s, France was frequently on the verge of bankruptcy. It overspent on wars such as the Seven Years War and the American War of Independence ), and the court (especially Queen Marie Antoinette) was extravagant. To make it worse, it had an inefficient system of collecting taxes. Between 1770 and 1789 there were numerous attempts to reform the taxation system, but always, the 1 st and 2 nd estates refused to give up their privileges, so the only solution seemed to be to increase taxes which mostly fell on the poor Third Estate. In 1787, an Assembly of Notables had been unable to agree to the necessary changes to taxation. By 1788, the crisis had reached breaking point. To resolve the problem, in August, the king was forced to call the Estates General. This assembly of representatives of the three estates hadn t met since Now, however, things had changed. The bourgeoisie seized the moment! They demanded the Third Estate be treated seriously the Third Estate, after all, was more than 85% of France. They wanted their voice heard representation should reflect how important they were. If at the Estates General, voting was by order, the two privileged orders would always outvote the Third Estate. Once the Estates General had been called, a fierce propaganda campaign ensured, promoting the importance of the Third Estate. Calling the Estates General meant something else happened: all three estates were invited to draw up lists of grievances (called cahiers de doléances). Having been asked to list their grievances, many in France hoped the king would solve them. France s tax problems forced King Louis XVI to call the Estates General. But once the Estates General met, in May 1789, the political issues became more important than the financial. The Third Estate dominated debate and on 17 June 1789 announced they were the National Assembly. When the king increased troops around Paris in July 1789, many saw this as an attempt to overthrow the National Assembly. On 14 July, Parisian workers (called Sans-culottes), stormed the Bastille prison, in a symbolic gesture of support for the Assembly and to stop the king asserting his authority. During 1789, France changed from being an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. Feudalism was abolished on 4 August. The Assembly drew up a constitution and declared its values in the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen, passed on 26 August. TSSM 2015 Page 5 of 7

6 Solutions to Review Questions 1. Word/phrase disjuncture breaking with the past regimes engender political and social transformation dramatically accelerated social change profound impact international repercussions destruction and construction dispossession and liberation polarise society civil war counter-revolution deploy armed force terror repression Working definition as it applies to Revolutions The point that separates two things. The breaking point or dividing point. Things change; the new is very different to the past. Government; the system of government. Give rise to, to bring about. To change the political system and society. Society goes through very fast and significant change. The revolution forces the society to make rapid and deep change. Great effect; significant change. Other countries take notice of the revolution and may react to it. Revolutions destroy aspects of the old and create new structures for the new society. Some groups in the country lose greatly (they are dispossessed) and other groups may gain greater freedom. Divide society into two 'poles', two very different groups with very different views. War between two or more groups within the country. Those who oppose the new revolutionary government. Use armed forces. The government imposes extreme measures against counter-revolutionaries. These often include perfunctory trials and rapid execution. Stop or suppress, often with force. TSSM 2015 Page 6 of 7

7 2. Revolutions mark the point where there is a significant break with the past. The revolutionary group deliberately tries to destroy the old regime and build a very different political system and society. Revolutions have a great impact on the country, as society goes through rapid and great change. They often affect more than their own country. Revolutions involve destroying that country's former political and social systems and constructing new ways of governing and structuring society. Some groups lose their previous status/role, other groups are freed by the revolution. This divides the country. Those who lose may openly oppose the new government, which creates civil war. If the revolutionary government is to survive, it may resort to extreme measures, including terror. It often silences opposition. The revolution is said to be over when a point of stability has been reached. 3. Date Event What changed or why is it significant? During 18th century Feudalism Three estates Enlightenment Agriculture became less dominant, commerce grew in importance Division between bourgeoisie (in third estate) and second estate became blurred Encouraged new way of viewing the world Seven Years War 1774 Louis XVI becomes king American War of Independence 1787 Assembly of Notables France overspent Louis XVI was king during the revolution France overspent. New ideas were also brought back from America to France. Attempts to reform France's taxation system always failed. August 1788 Latter part of 1788 Early 1789 May 1789 King called Estates General to meet May 1789 Bourgeoisie demand more representation at Estates General Elections of deputies to Estates General; drawing up cahiers Estates General meet King was powerless to solve financial problems without representatives from 'the nation.' Estates General hadn't met for 175 years: France was now a very different country. How should it meet and vote? Bourgeoisie voice is more dominant. They use propaganda to promote their importance to France. Sense of hope that the Estates General and the cahiers will solve France's economic problems. Economic issues turned into political issues. Third Estate dominate debates in Estate General TSSM 2015 Page 7 of 7