Chapter 19 French Revolution Pages 640-681 Overview of Age: In 1789, France was a very high point. It had a population of 25 million, the language was spoken world wide, and it was the center for Enlightenment thought. At the time, however, the government was corrupt, and there was great tension between the classes. Fueled by the Enlightenment ideas, a bloody revolution broke out across France backed by the ideas of Liberty, equality, and fraternity. This revolution caused the overthrow of the Old Regime and shook the idea of social order across Europe. 4 Big Points: -Old Regime- -Three Estates >>First = Clergy >>Second = Nobility >>Third = Citizenry (3 Social Groups) >>Bourgeoisie (Merchants, Bankers, Lawyers) >>Peasantry (Agricultural Laborers) >>Urban Laborers (Craftsmen, Journeymen) -Moderate Phase- -Demand for New Constitution >>National Assembly >>Tennis Court Oath -Storming of the Bastille -Rural Unrest Emboldens Assembly >>The Great Fear >>August Decrees >>Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen >>March to Versailles -Radical Phase- >>Civil Constitution of the Clergy -Flee Paris >>Flight to Varennes -Outbreak of War >>France, Austria, Prussia -National Assembly Divides into Political Factions -Rise of Political Laboring Faction >>Sans Culottes >>National Convention
-End of French Monarchy >>Girobins >>Jacobins -New Constitution >>Law of Maximum >>Committee of Public Safety >>Sans Culottes >>Reign of Terror -Thermidor- >>Directory >>Sans Culottes Hit List and Ids: -People Louis XVI was the king of France during the beginning of the Revolution. He cared less about the state and more about his clocks and hunting. Therefore he was put to the guillotine. Maximillion Robspierre was the leader during the First republic and led the Reign of Terror when he killed anyone that objected to the republic. Marie Antoinette was the wife of Louis XVI. She was despised in the country and was also put to the guillotine. Jean-Paul Marat was a radical journalists that was blamed for many of the violence during the revolution. -Key Events May 5, 1789- Estates General meets in Versailles Jun 13 3 rd Estate declares itself the National Assembly June 20, 1789- Tennis Court Oath o Locked out of the meeting, the National Assembly will not go away until a new French constitution is formed July 14 th, 1789- Storming of the Bastille o Parisian mob o Bastille symbolized royal injustice August 26, 1789- Declaration of the Rights of Man o Freedom of speech, religion, and thought o Rule was suppose to be in the hands of the nation June 21, 1791- The Flight to Varennes o The royal family s attempt to flee and escape France September 21, 1792- French declared the First Republic January 1793- Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette guillotined
Key Terms: Summer 1793- The Reign of Terror o Headed by Maximilien Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety August 18 1795- the beginning of the Thermidorian Reaction Thermidor Bourgeoisie Old Regime Estates General Cahiers National Assembly Tennis Court Oath Bastille August Decrees The Great Fear Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen March to Versailles Civil Constitution of the Clergy Sans-Culottes Jacobins Girobins National Convention Committee of Public Safety Flight to Varennes Reign of Terror Directory Intellectual Movements and Historical Trends: The Enlightenment was a large part in the cause of the Revolution. Thinkers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Mary Wollstonecraft and Olympe de Gouges had much of an impact on the revolution. John Locke wrote about how republics were the best type of government. Rousseau spoke about the social matters along with Wollstonecraft and Gouges. These matters helped to lead and to impact the French Revolution. Changes in Economic Structure: In the beginning of the French Revolution France was facing major debt, a result of Louis XIV s extravagant spending and many unsuccessful wars. In attempts to solve this problem, Louis XVI raised taxes on the Bourgeoisie. By the end of the Revolution, Louis made many more reforms to the economic structure of France. He issued the Chapelier Law which made workers associations forbidden. In addition, Louis XVI confiscated and re-sold the lands belonging to the Catholic Church. This caused further inflation and religious schism. Also, Louis began the issuance of assignats (government bonds). These bonds were so accepted by the public that they started to be circulated as currency. The value of the assignats decreased as inflation increased. Overall, the changes in economic structure did not help France solve their debt problem, it instead lead to further economic instability. Changes in Political Structure: In the beginning of the French Revolution the French government was set up as the Old Regime with an Absolute Monarch. This included three estates; the first estate included the clergy. At this time, the clergy held many special privileges, prohibiting them from taxes. The Second Estate consisted of the nobility whom also received special
privileges prohibiting them from tax paying. Lastly, the Third Estate, which made up a majority of the population, consisted of the Bourgeoisie, Peasantry and Urban Laborers. During the revolution, the National Assembly was formed by the Third Estate in order to have some say in government. The National Assembly took away power from The Church, which fell subject to the power of The State and lost the special privileges it previously possessed. The politics in France was a major reason why the French Revolution started. French government also was transformed from an absolute monarch to a republic. With Maximillion Robspierre as the head of the government made the first Republic a challenge after the execution of Louis XVI. The republic led to the Reign of Terror that in the end made it difficult for many people to trust the republic when it was no longer the revolutionary time period. The shift from an Absolute Monarch to the First Republic was marked by the French Revolution.
Did the authoritarian government lead to the French upheaval? Introduction: During the late 1700 s, France was experiencing many shifting and changing ideas in terms of political power. On the road to revolution, there is no doubt that the strict control of the authoritarian government lead to the overthrow. And while this was a predominant factor, the birth and openness to new ideas from events such as the Enlightenment and the American Revolution, were the most important factors that truly made the French Revolution possible. Paragraph One: Authoritarian government under Louis XVI 3 rd estate- constantly outvoted by 2 nd and 3 rd Nobles passed laws to help preserve their power and prestige Louis pressed very high taxes Paragraph Two: The Enlightenment John Locke s Two Treatises on Civil Government - introduces ideas like consent of the people and right of revolution The success of the American Revolution The Declaration of the Rights of Man- embodied ideas of American Revolution Conclusion: The French Revolution may have sparked by the authoritarian rule, but it would have never been possible with out the ideas and foundation of the Enlightenment. When the American Revolution took place it gave people hope that an enlightened society could be formed. The Enlightenment gave the French people new ideas and government policies that made there new demands and eventually the revolution possible.
To what degree did the political realm of France transform from the Ancient Regime to the post-revolution era? Introduction: In the time before the French Revolution France followed he government system know as the Ancient Regime. This consisted of three estates. The first Estate included the clergymen, who received special privileges and had the most say in government besides the monarch. The Second Estate was made up of the nobility, who also received some special privileges in government. Lastly, he Third Estate consisted the citizenry including the Bourgeoisie, Peasantry and Urban Laborers. This estate was taxed very heavily, mostly because part of the first two estate s privileges did not have to pay these same taxes. During the French Revolution, France s political realm experienced many drastic changes in regards to The Church s role, and an unsatisfied middle class leading to the formation of the National Assembly. Paragraph one: In the Old Regime, the church is considered the highest authority besides the monarch, justifying their privileges. But after the revolution, the influence and privileges fade. Paragraph two: The middle class was unsatisfied with the terms of the Ancient Regime, leading to rebellion, a revolution and the formation of The National Assembly. Conclusion: The Political realm of France drastically changed from the Ancient Regime to the post-revolution era in terms of the influence of The Church and the emergence of the National Assembly. This drastic transformation was overall very good for the strength of France. The National Assembly s formation led to The Church having less authority and having to be ruled by the State, taking away the special privileges of the clergy. This led to a more equal society, and a more satisfied middle class, lessening the chance of further revolutions.
How and to what extent did Enlightenment ideas about religion and society shape the policies of the French Revolution in the period of 1789 to 1799? Introduction: The Enlightenment period in history had many impacts on Europe as a whole. In France there was a very strong impact. The French Revolution really grasped the ideas of the Enlightenment and wanted to apply them to their government. Ideas from thinkers such as John Locke and the success of the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence impacted the politics while Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Mary Wollstonecraft, Olympe de Gouges and the ideas about church and state being separate impacted the society. Paragraph One: John Locke- Believed that a Republic was the best form of government *The French Revolution was seeking to become a Republic American Revolution- The French were very involved in the victory of the Americans in their revolution this inspired the French to begin their own revolution against their own government. The Declaration of Independence- Was inspiration for France s own declaration entitled The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Paragraph Two: Jean-Jacques Rousseau- Wrote the Social Contract and Emile, which the Revolution would model ideas after Mary Wollstonecraft/Olympe de Gouges- Both fought for women s rights in their works Vindication of Rights of Women and The Declaration of Rights of Women. *The First French Republic led to the woman receiving rights such as the right to vote. Religion- Many of the Philosphes believed that the church and state should not be linked. *Maximillion Robspierre followed through with this in completely separating the two with the Dechristianization of France. Conclusion: The French Revolution was impacted by the Enlightenment period. Much of what the revolutionists wanted to achieve during the First Republic was ideas from the time. The leaders took ideas from Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Jean- Jacques Rousseau, Mary Wollstonecraft and Olypme de Gouges along with documents such as the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen along with the event of the American Revolution. Overall the Enlightenment had a strong impact on the Franch Revolution.