1789-1815 the french revolution. an age of revolutions crises of the eighteenth century american...
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1789-1815
The French Revolution
An Age of Revolutions Crises of the Eighteenth
Century American Model
The French Revolution, 1789-1815 Social and Political Crises The Meeting of the Estates
General Fall of the Bastille Declaration of Rights of Man
and Citizen
Constitutional Monarchy Defining citizens Distribution of power Reform of the clergy
Increased Radicalization
Lecture Outline
An Age of Revolutions
Crises of the Eighteenth Century
Colonial Wars and Fiscal Crises
Enlightenment thought and the imaging of something different
Which texts illuminate the discontent of the eighteenth century?
The “Atlantic Revolutions” American Revolution,
1776-1783 Dutch Republic, 1787 Belgian Independence,
1788-1789 Polish Patriots, 1788-1792 Haitian Revolution, 1791-
1802 Latin American
Revolutions
An Age of Revolutions
American Revolution serves as an Enlightenment inspiration
Fiscal reforms and new taxes
Declaration of Independence
Constitutional Convention (1787)
The French Revolution, 1789-1815
Social and Political Crises • The character of the court at Versailles
• Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette • Rampant poverty
• poor harvests• growing population
• 3 estates called to deal with tax grievances against the king
• Bankrupt kingdom• High-interest, short-term loans and a bad
collection system.
The Tennis Court Oath
King calls the Estates General and the Third Estate organizes the National Assembly when ignored
The Meeting of the Estates General
First Estate: 100,000 member of the ClergySecond Estate: 400,000 men of the nobilityThird Estate: 95% of the nationUnequal distribution of political power
leads to political break Third Estate insists on individual voting Stalemate leads to the formation of the National
Assembly Clergy eventually joins them
Tennis Court Oath: no disbandment until Constitution
The Fall of the Bastille
Why is the fall of the Bastille a pivotal moment in the Revolution?
The French Revolution
King responds to political upheaval by calling in the troops
The people of Paris respond to the King by sacking the Bastille (July 14, 1789)
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen is passed (August 27, 1789)
The nation is sovereign All men free Freedom of religion and press
Some Declarations from the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.
2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation… 4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one
else… 6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to
participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes…
The Women of Paris March on Versailles
The Women’s March to Versailles (October 5, 1789)
Constitutional Monarchy
A Constitutional Monarchy is formed—how is it different from what existed before? Active versus passive citizens Division of legislative power Formation of departements with elected officials Confiscation of Church property Reform of French Church
The French Revolution & the Jacobins
Increased Radicalization
Further radicalization leads to the establishment of a new constitution in September 1791 based on the Declaration of the Rights of Man and
Citizen King as a constitutional monarch
By this time, France has declared war against several European monarchs due to military reaction against the revolution
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette try to escape
The Capture of King
The Capture of Louis XVI at Varennes in 1791 is a turning point in the revolution
Republican Rivals
In September 1792, the newly elected National Convention declares France a republic Sans-culottes seek
representation
The Republican Rivals
The Jacobins divide King on trial for treason, December 1792 The Mountain is victorious over the
Girondins, and the King is executed in 1793
The Execution of the King
The Trajectory of the Revolution
May 1789, National Assembly is formedJuly 1789, Bastille is stormedOctober 1789, Women march to Versailles,
Louis XVI returns to ParisJune 1791, King flees ParisOctober 1791 – September 1792,
Legislative AssemblyAugust 1792, Second Revolution and
abolishment of monarchy; The Republic is formed
The Trajectory of the Revolution
September 1792, September Massacres after Prussians approach Paris
December 1792, The “Mountain” defeats the “Girondins” voting to execute the King.
The Rise of Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794)
Commission of Public Safety Formed Spring 1793 Given dictatorial power Collaborate with the sans-culotte to form a planned
economy Set maximum allowable prices Rationing Bread of equality
Rise of Robespierre
Militarized Economy Government dictates what
craftsmen produce Workshops nationalized Raw materials and grain
requisitioned from peasants Reign of Terror
Special revolutionary courts try “enemies of the nation”
40,000 men and women are executed or die in prison
Reign of Terror
The Fall of Robespierre
Intensification of the Reign of Terror March 1794 Robespierre has his critics executed 2 weeks later, several of Robespierre’s collaborators
are executed 27 July 1794 (or 9 Thermidor [Month of Heat])
according to the Republic’s calendar), a conspiracy against Robespierre to quiet him in the National Convention
28 July 1794, Robespierre executed
Thermidorian Reaction
Middle-class lawyers and professionals reassert their authority Repeal of price controls Restricting of local political organizations and sans-
culottes Cultural rebellion among the rich Military force against resistant laborers and radical
leadersResurgence of religion, especially Catholicism
Women seek to restored a pattern of life in which the rites of passage are respected and hallowed.
A conservative reaction to radical change
The Directory in France
In 1795 the National Convention elects a five-man executive: The Directory Functions as a dictatorship Uses military to make ends meet domestically Election of 1797 indicates a return to conservatism
and monarchism Directory responds with military action
1793-1815
The French Revolution
Napoleon Bonaparte’s Rise
Born in Corsica in 1769Lieutenant in French
Artillery by 1785Made a career as a
patriot and revolutionaryLeads French forces in
Italy “[In Italy] I realized I was a
superior being and conceived the ambition of performing great things, which hitherto had filled my thoughts only as a fantastic dream.”
Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon Crossing the Alps (1800)
Napoleon’s Coup d’État
A conspiracy formed to overthrow the Directory Plan for the creation of a strong executive Look to a strong military leader
9 November 1799 (18 Brumaire Year VIII): Napoleon and the Conspirators overthrow the Directory
10 November 1799: Legislature is disbanded at bayonet point
Napoleon’s Coup d’État
Napoleon named “first consul of the republic” December 1799: new constitution approved Image of a republic maintained
detail of painting by François Bouchot, 1840.
Napoleon and France
Napoleon relies on his charisma and his personal powers to maintain order Strikes unwritten agreements with groups and
rewards loyalty with favors Creation of the Bank of France serves state and
financial oligarchy Gains of the peasantry reconfirmed
Napoleon and France
Creation of a centralized state Drawing in of disillusioned revolutionaries
Concordat of 1801 Pope Pius VII gains religious freedom for French
Catholics Napoleon nominates Bishops, pays clergy and
influenced the French Church.Establishment of the family monarchy
Napoleon and his Empire
1802: Napoleon declares himself First Consul for Life
1804: Crowns himself Emperor
Coronation of Napoleon, Jacques-Louis David
Napoleonic Code, 1804
The Civil Code assured: Property rights Religious freedom Uniform legal code
The Civil Code restricted: Women’s judicial access Women’s property rights
Napoleon Abroad
Napoleon aimed to conquer the whole of Europe Redrew the map of
Germany to weaken Austria and Prussia
Restricted British trade on the Continent Battle of Trafalgar
(1805) eliminates possibility of an invasion of England
Napoleon Abroad
Considerable impact on Europe Introduced French laws Abolished feudal dues and serfdom Heavy taxation
Napoleon’s Decline Spain 1808
Replaces Charles IV with his brother Russia 1812
The Napoleonic Legacy
From 1799 to 1815 Napoleon’s grew from popular military hero to dictator
He won several major victories allowing Napoleon and France to conquer much of western Europe
He instituted the Napoleonic Code, which was enforced through a vast bureaucracy
The Napoleonic Legacy
Napoleon brings his conquered countries under the code, creating social and economic unity
The Alliance of Russia, Prussia, Austria and Great Britain against France led to the creation of the “Congress of Vienna” in 1815
The Congress crushed revolutions throughout Europe over the next thirty years
The Meaning of the Revolution
Implemented the thought of philosophes Destroyed the hierarchy of the old regime
Nobles become ordinary citizens Property determines status, not heredity
Promoted the interests of the bourgeoisie (middle classes)
The Meaning of the Revolution
Creation of the modern state National Liberal Secular Rational
State belongs to the people, not just a territory Individuals become citizens with rights and duties
Separation of Church and State No divine justification for power No privileges for members of the church
The Meaning of the Revolution
Economic growth Elimination of peasants’ manorial obligations Expansion of agriculture Abolishment of barriers to economic expansion Taxes based on income, and collection streamlined Creation of a competitive market economy
Demonstration that governments can be toppled
Creation of modern nationalismCreation of a revolutionary mentality