Europe on the Eve of theEurope on the Eve of theFrench RevolutionFrench Revolution

It was the best of times, It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…it was the epoch of incredulity…

-- Charles Dickens-- Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities A Tale of Two Cities

The French Revolution

• In the late 1700's France was divided into 3 social classes (estates)

• 1st Estate-Clergy and church officials

• 2nd Estate-landowning Nobles and

Political Leaders

• 3rd Estate-Bourgeoisie or Middle Class merchants, bankers, tradesmen, etc. and Lower Class peasants

In 1789, the 3rd estate started a revolution in order to overthrow their government.

So, why was France on the brink of revolution by

1789?

Revolutionary PIES

• Key ingredients usually present at the start of a revolution.

• Political

• Intellectual

• Economic

• Social

Problems

• High taxes placed burden on poor

• Poor harvests

• High bread prices

• Enlightenment spreading

• American Revolutionary ideas spreading

• Poor leadership and lack of representation

The French Revolution

• The French Revolution was partly precipitated by the American Revolution and the ultimate breakdown of the old order.– Many French soldiers served in America

during the American Revolution.– By the 1780s, the French government was

nearly bankrupt.

Thinkers called philosophes believed that the use of reason could lead to reforms of government, law,

and society.

Argued that a woman should be able to decide what is in her own interest and should not be completely dependent on her husband.

Called for equal education for girls and boys.

Men and women would benefit from sexual equality

Believed that people were basically good.

Argued that government controls should be minimal and should only be imposed by a freely elected government.

Felt the good of the community should be placed above individual interests.

Defended the principle of freedom of speech.

Used wit to expose abuses and corruption.

Opposed the slave trade and religious prejudice.

MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT

ROUSSEAUVOLTAIRE

1

The French Urban PoorThe French Urban Poor

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

% of Income Spent on Bread

1787

1788

The French Monarchy:The French Monarchy:1775 - 17931775 - 1793

Marie Antoinette & Louis XVIMarie Antoinette & Louis XVI

• Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette – lived extravagant lives and squandered much

of France's money on parties, gambling, and Sports.

– Louis also neglected many of his political duties, and affairs of state.

Marie Marie AntoinettAntoinette e and the and the Royal Royal ChildrenChildren

Marie Antoinette’sMarie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”“Peasant Cottage”

Marie Antoinette’sMarie Antoinette’s“Peasant Cottage”“Peasant Cottage”

Economic Trouble• Economic woes added to the social unrest and heightened

tension

• For years, the French government had engaged in deficit spending that is, a government’s spending more money than it takes in.

• Louis XIV had left France deeply in debt. Recent wars, a general rise in costs in the 1700s, and the lavish court were incredibly costly. To bridge the gap between income and expenses, the government borrowed more and more money.

• Bad harvests in the late 1780s sent food prices soaring and brought hunger to poorer peasants and city dwellers.

• In 1787 – The Assembly of Notables met to discuss Tax reform

1

• Urban Commoner’sUrban Commoner’sBudget:Budget:– Food 80%Food 80%– Rent 25%Rent 25%– Tithe 10%Tithe 10%– Taxes 35%Taxes 35%– Clothing 20%Clothing 20%– TOTAL 170%TOTAL 170%

• King’s Budget:King’s Budget:– Interest 50%Interest 50%– Army 25%Army 25%– Versailles 25%Versailles 25%– Coronation 10%Coronation 10%– Loans 25%Loans 25%– Admin. 25%Admin. 25%– TOTAL 160%TOTAL 160%

Financial ProblemsFinancial Problemsin France, 1789in France, 1789

• (1789) Estates-General-Louis was forced to call a meeting of the Estates-General to get permission to pass new taxes on the nobles

• -Traditionally, the Estates-General's 3 factions met separately and each Estate had one vote. (This almost always guaranteed that the 1st and 2nd Estate could out vote the 3rd).

The Old Regime

The BOURGEOISIE and PEASANTS

Peasants were 90 percent of French population

Resented privilege of first and second estates

Burdened by taxes

Many earned miserable wages and faced hunger and even starvation

The NOBILITY

Owned land but had little money income

Hated absolutism

Feared losing traditional privilege, especially exemption from taxe

The CLERGY

Enjoyed enormous wealth and privilege

Owned about 10 percent of land, collected tithes, and paid no taxes

Provided some social services

THIRD ESTATE

SECOND ESTATE

FIRST ESTATE

Under the ancien regime, or old order, everyone in France belonged to one of three classes.

1

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Suggested Voting Pattern:The Suggested Voting Pattern:Voting by EstatesVoting by Estates

1

1

1

• The 3rd Estate had more delegates than the other 2 combined. So they requested that all 3 Estates meet together and have 1 vote.

• Louis XVI denied their request

Commoners3rd Estate

Aristocracy2nd Estate

Clergy1st Estate

The Number of RepresentativesThe Number of Representativesin the Estates General: Vote by Head!in the Estates General: Vote by Head!

300

300

648

Cartoon: People crushed by powerIn this contemporary French cartoon, a nobleman in military dress and a clergyman crush a commoner under the rock of burdensome taxes and forced labor (corvees). The victim's situation reflects that of the peasantry, but his stylish clothes would allow affluent townspeople to identify with him.

Cartoon: People crushed by power

• Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyes-a priest who supported the 3rd Estate suggested that the 3rd Estate create a National Assembly or lawmaking body that would pass laws and reform the government

 According to Sieyes the third estate was the true

strength and backbone of the French Nation

• June 17, 1789-The 3rd Estate voted the National Assembly into power

• But they had been locked out of their meeting room, so they broke into Tennis Court and promised to stay until France had a new constitution. This is called the Tennis Court Oath

 

• In response, Louis called a Swiss mercenary Army to Versailles

• People believed that Louis XVI would use his army to destroy the National Assembly or kill French citizens in Paris. They began collecting weapons to defend Paris against Louis

““The Tennis Court Oath”The Tennis Court Oath”

June 20, 1789June 20, 1789

Bell Assignment: (To turn in)

Which PIES factor do you think was the most

important in leading France to revolution? Explain.

Storming the Bastille, July Storming the Bastille, July 14, 178914, 1789

July 14, 1789-An angry mob looking for gunpowder and more supplies stormed the Bastille, the Parisian •1st ‘battle’ of the revolution

The Great Fear:The Great Fear:Peasant RevoltPeasant Revolt

July 20, July 20, 17891789

After the Bastille was attacked, a great fear spread through France that the peasants would be terrorized by the nobles and hired thugs. SO the peasants took up arms and began burning legal papers and many noble manors.

National Constituent AssemblyNational Constituent Assembly1789 - 17911789 - 1791

August DecreesAugust DecreesAugust 4-11, 1789August 4-11, 1789

(A renunciation of aristocratic (A renunciation of aristocratic privileges!)privileges!)

Liberté!

Liberté!

Egalité!Egalité!

Fraternité!

Fraternité!

V Equality & Equality & MeritocracyMeritocracy

The Tricolor (1789)The Tricolor (1789)

The WHITE of the The WHITE of the Bourbons + the Bourbons + the RED & BLUE of RED & BLUE of

Paris.Paris.

Citizen!Citizen!

The Tricolor is the Fashion!The Tricolor is the Fashion!

The “Liberty Cap”: The “Liberty Cap”: Bonne RougeBonne Rouge

Revolutionary Playing CardsRevolutionary Playing Cards

The Declaration of the The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Rights of Man and of

the Citizenthe Citizen

August August 26, 26, 17891789

• Aug.1789.

• Declaration of the Rights of man and of the Citizen-declaration which is very identical to the Declaration of Independence: stating rights for the people

83 Revolutionary Departments83 Revolutionary Departments

February 26, 1790February 26, 1790

Planting the Tree of LibertyPlanting the Tree of Liberty

17901790

The Confiscation of Church LandsThe Confiscation of Church Lands

17901790

AssignatsAssignats

V Issued by the National Constituent Issued by the National Constituent Assembly.Assembly.

Depreciation of the AssignatDepreciation of the Assignat

f They were backed by the sale of They were backed by the sale of Church lands.Church lands.

• The national assembly took over Church lands and sold its lands to pay off some National Debt

 • church officials were now to be elected and

paid as gov't officials

• many peasants opposed the national assembly because of their devotion to the Pope.

March of the Women,March of the Women,October 5-6, 1789October 5-6, 1789

Women’s March-Oct 1789Oct. 1789-Armed women rioted in Paris over the rising prices of bread. They demanded that the National Assembly provide bread and stormed the palace, killing several guards and demanded that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette return to Paris -Louis returned to Paris never to see Versailles again.

Divisions Develop• June 1791-Louis XVI tried to escape to the Austrian

Netherlands but was captured in N. France and returned to Paris

• Sept. 1791-The new constitution is completed and reluctantly approved by Louis XVI

• -it stripped away much of the King's authority

• -it created the Legislative Assembly

• 1792-To prevent the revolutionary ideas from spreading, Austria and Prussia asked the French to restore Louis XVI to the throne

• -The national assembly responded by declaring war (April 1792)

What should be done about the king?

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly. 1791& the National Assembly. 1791

The Political The Political SpectrumSpectrum

JacobinsJacobins

MontagnarMontagnardsds

(“The (“The Mountain”)Mountain”)

GirondistsGirondistsMonarchíeMonarchíe

nn(Royalists)(Royalists)

1790s:1790s:The PlainThe Plain

(uncommitt(uncommitted)ed)

TODAY:TODAY:

Attitudes Attitudes & actions & actions

of of monarchymonarchy& court& court

Attitudes Attitudes & actions & actions

of of monarchymonarchy& court& court

Fear ofFear ofCounter-Counter-RevolutiRevoluti

onon

Fear ofFear ofCounter-Counter-RevolutiRevoluti

onon

ReligioReligiousus

divisiodivisionsns

ReligioReligiousus

divisiodivisionsns

PoliticPoliticalal

divisiodivisionsns

PoliticPoliticalal

divisiodivisionsns

WarWarWarWar

EconoEconomicmic

CrisesCrises

EconoEconomicmic

CrisesCrises

The Causes of The Causes of Instability in FranceInstability in France

1792 - 17951792 - 1795

The Causes of The Causes of Instability in FranceInstability in France

1792 - 17951792 - 1795

• Storming of Tuileries Palace-August 10, 1792

• -September massacres-Mobs raided the prisons killing over 1000 prisoners, priests, nobles, and royalists 

• Sept. 1972-The National Assembly was pressured into setting aside the constitution, dissolving the Monarchy, dissolved the Assembly, and declared a new National Convention-new elections were held immediately, but rejected women the vote.

The The Sans-Culottes:Sans-Culottes:The Parisian The Parisian

Working Working ClassClass

The Storming of the The Storming of the Tuilieres:Tuilieres:

August 9-10, 1792August 9-10, 1792

The The Sans-CulottesSans-Culottes

Depicted as Savages by a British Depicted as Savages by a British Cartoonist.Cartoonist.

The JacobinsThe Jacobins

Jacobin Meeting HouseJacobin Meeting House

The new radicals responsible for the September massacres and the New National reforms were known as Jacobins (person holding extreme revolutionary views)

Georges Jacques Georges Jacques DantonDanton

(1759 – 1794)(1759 – 1794)

Jean-Paul MaratJean-Paul Marat(1744 – 1793)(1744 – 1793)

-Headed by Jean-Paul Marat, called for death to any supporter of the KingGeorges Danton was also a Jacobin leader and a strong supporter of the Poor.

-Headed by Jean-Paul Marat, called for death to any supporter of the KingGeorges Danton was also a Jacobin leader and a strong supporter of the Poor.

““The Death of Marat”The Death of Marat”by Jacques Louis David, 1793by Jacques Louis David, 1793

The Assassination of MaratThe Assassination of Maratby Charlotte Corday, 1793by Charlotte Corday, 1793

The Assassination of The Assassination of MaratMarat

by Charlotte by Charlotte CordayCorday

(Paul Jacques (Paul Jacques Aimee Aimee Baudry,Baudry, 19c)19c)

• Jacobins Take Control– Once the Jacobins came

into power, they tried Louis XVI for treason.

– He was found guilty and sentenced to Die

– Jan. 21, 1973-Louis XVI was publicly beheaded by the Guillotine

– Committee of Public Safety

Terror Grips France

• Maximillien Robespierre– Became the Jacobin leader– he set out to reform France

by wiping out its past

The Reign of TerrorThe Reign of Terror

Terror is nothing other than Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.inflexible. -- Robespierre-- Robespierre

Let terror Let terror be the be the

order of order of the day!the day!

The Guillotine:The Guillotine:An Enlightenment An Enlightenment

Tool?Tool?Oh, thou charming guillotine, Oh, thou charming guillotine, You shorten kings and queens;You shorten kings and queens;

By your influence divine,By your influence divine,We have reconquered our rights.We have reconquered our rights.

Come to aid of the CountryCome to aid of the CountryAnd let your superb instrumentAnd let your superb instrument

Become forever permanentBecome forever permanentTo destroy the impious sect.To destroy the impious sect.

Sharpen your razor for Pitt and his Sharpen your razor for Pitt and his agentsagents

Fill your divine sack with heads of Fill your divine sack with heads of tyrants. tyrants.

The “Monster” GuillotineThe “Monster” Guillotine

The last guillotine execution in France was in 1939.The last guillotine execution in France was in 1939.

Louis XVI as a PigLouis XVI as a Pig

Louis XVI’s Head Louis XVI’s Head (January 21, 1793)(January 21, 1793)

The Death of “Citizen” Louis CapetThe Death of “Citizen” Louis Capet

Matter for Matter for reflectionreflection

for the crowned for the crowned jugglers.jugglers.

So impure bloodSo impure blooddoesn’t soil our land!doesn’t soil our land!

Marie Antoinette as a SerpentMarie Antoinette as a Serpent

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette on the Way to the on the Way to the

GuillotineGuillotine

Marie Antoinette Marie Antoinette Died in October, Died in October,

17931793

The Contrast:The Contrast:“British Liberty / French Liberty”“British Liberty / French Liberty”

The Contrast:The Contrast:“French Liberty / British Slavery”“French Liberty / British Slavery”

Religious Terror:Religious Terror:De-Christianization De-Christianization (1793-1794)(1793-1794)

The Catholic Church was linked withThe Catholic Church was linked withreal or potential counter-revolution.real or potential counter-revolution.

Religion was associated with theReligion was associated with theAncien RégimeAncien Régime and superstitious and superstitiouspractices.practices.

Very popular among the Very popular among the sans-culottessans-culottes..

Therefore, religion had no place in aTherefore, religion had no place in arational, secular republic!rational, secular republic!

The De-Christianization ProgramThe De-Christianization Program1.1. The adoption of a new The adoption of a new Republican Republican

CalendarCalendar:: ** abolished Sundays & religious abolished Sundays & religious holidays. holidays. ** months named after seasonal months named after seasonal features. features. ** 7-day weeks replaced by 10-day 7-day weeks replaced by 10-day decades. decades. ** the yearly calendar was dated from the yearly calendar was dated from the creation of the Republic the creation of the Republic [Sept. 22, 1792] [Sept. 22, 1792]

The Convention symbolically The Convention symbolically divorced the state from the divorced the state from the

Church!!Church!!

A Republican CalendarA Republican Calendar

The New Republican CalendarThe New Republican CalendarNew Name Meaning Time Period

Vendemaire Vintage September 22 – October 21

Brumaire Fog October 22 – November 20

Frimaire Frost November 21 – December 20

Nivose Snow December 21 – January 19

Pluviose Rain January 20 – February 18

Ventose Wind February 19 – March 20

Germinal Budding March 21 – April 19

Floreal Flowers April 20 – May 19

Prairial Meadow May 20 – June 18

Messidor Harvest June 19 – July 18

Thermidor Heat July 19 – August 17

Fructidor Fruit August 18 – September 21

A New Republican A New Republican Calendar YearCalendar YearI 1792 – 1793

II 1793 – 1794

III 1794 – 1795

IV 1795 – 1796

V 1796 – 1797

VI 1797 – 1798

VII 1798 – 1799

VIII 1799 – 1800

IX 1800 – 1801

X 1801 – 1802

XI 1802 – 1803

XII 1803 – 1804

XIII 1804 – 1805

XIV 1805

The Gregorian System returned in 1806.

The De-Christianization The De-Christianization ProgramProgram2.2. The public exercise of religion The public exercise of religion

waswasbanned.banned.

3.3. The Paris Commune supported The Paris Commune supported the:the: ** destruction of religious & royal destruction of religious & royal statues.statues. ** ban on clerical dress. ban on clerical dress. ** encouragement of the clergy to encouragement of the clergy to give up their vocations. give up their vocations.

4.4. The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris was turned into the was turned into the “Temple of “Temple of Reason.”Reason.”

5.5. The deportation of priests denounced The deportation of priests denounced bybysix citizens.six citizens.

The “Temple of Reason”The “Temple of Reason”

Come, holy Liberty, inhabit this temple, Come, holy Liberty, inhabit this temple, Become the goddess of the French people.Become the goddess of the French people.

The Festival of Supreme BeingThe Festival of Supreme Being

A new secular A new secular holiday.holiday.

Backlash to theBacklash to theDe-Christianization De-Christianization

ProgramProgram It alienated most of the populationIt alienated most of the population(especially in the rural areas).(especially in the rural areas).

Robespierre never supported it.Robespierre never supported it. ** he persuaded the Convention to he persuaded the Convention to reaffirm the principle of religious reaffirm the principle of religious toleration. toleration.

Decree on the Decree on the “Liberty of Cults”“Liberty of Cults”was passedwas passed ** December 6, 1793. December 6, 1793. ** BUT, it had little practical effect! BUT, it had little practical effect!

The Reign of TerrorThe Reign of TerrorJuly 1793-1794July 1793-1794

Terror is nothing other than Terror is nothing other than justice, prompt, severe, justice, prompt, severe, inflexible.inflexible. -- Robespierre-- Robespierre

Let terror Let terror be the be the

order of order of the day!the day!

• July 1793-Robespierre became leader of the Committee of Public Safety.

• This began the Reign of Terror.

• The Jacobins began hunting down, trying, and executing all of the enemies of Robespierre (including Marie Antoinette and fellow Jacobins) Georges Danton became a target of the Reign of Terror. Nearly 40, 000 French people were executed. 85% were peasants,

whom the revolution was begun for.

The Revolution ConsumesThe Revolution ConsumesIts Own Children!Its Own Children!

Danton Awaits Danton Awaits Execution, Execution,

17931793

Robespierre Lies Robespierre Lies WoundedWoundedBefore the Before the Revolutionary Tribunal Revolutionary Tribunal that will order him to that will order him to be guillotined, 1794.be guillotined, 1794.

The Arrest of RobespierreThe Arrest of RobespierreThe Arrest of RobespierreThe Arrest of Robespierre

Napoleon’s Rise to Power• Rose through the ranks of the military.• Supported the Revolution in 1789.• Put in charge of several successful military

campaigns increasing his popularity in France.• November 11, 1799, Napoleon seized control of

France in a coup d’ etat (swift takeover of power). • Napoleon called for a plebiscite (vote) to approve

a new constitution. Napoleon made sole ruler.• 1804- Napoleon crowned emperor of France by

the pope.

Changes made by Napoleon

• New Constitution.

• Fair tax code.

• Lycees

• Merit-based system

• Concordat

• Napoleonic Code

• Expansion in Europe

• Loss of land in the Americas.

NAPOLEON’S REFORMSECONOMY GOVERNMENT

SOCIETY

RELIGION

GOALS OF THE REVOLUTION

•Equal Taxation•Lower inflation

•Reduce government corruption•Equal opportunity

•Reduce power of Church•Religious tolerance

NAPOLEON’S ACTIONS

•Set up fair tax code•National bank•Stabilized currency•State loans to businesses

• Merit based government•Fired corrupt officials•Created lycees•Napoleonic Code

• Catholicism recognized as ‘faith of the Frenchmen’•Signed with concordat with pope•Retained seized church lands

RESULTS •Equal taxation•Stable economy

•Honest, competent officials•Equal opportunity in government•Public education

• Religious tolerance•Government control of church lands•Government recognition of church influence

NAPOLEON’S DECLINENAPOLEON’S MISTAKE

DESCRIPTION EFFECT ON THE EMPIRE

CONTINENTAL SYSTEM

Blockade of Britain, enforced on all countries in continental Europe

-Countries relied on trade with Britain and refused to follow Napoleon’s blockade.

PENINSULAR WAR

-War with Portugal to enforce Continental System.

-Napoleon invaded Spain to get to Portugal and deposed the Spanish king

-Napoleon lost 300,000 men

-Spanish retaliated with guerrilla warfare.

INVASION OF RUSSIA

-Invaded to enforce Continental System.

-Russians used scorched-earth policy to slow French advance.

-Got caught in the Russian winter.

-lost over 400,000 men

-Napoleon lost respect

Europe in 1812Europe in 1812

The Congress of Vienna(September 1, 1814 – June 9, 1815)The Congress of Vienna(September 1, 1814 – June 9, 1815)

Main ObjectivesMain Objectivese It’s job was to undo everything

that Napoléon had done:

V Reduce France to its old boundaries her frontiers were pushed back to 1790 level.

V Prevent future French aggression.

V Restore the balance of power.

V Restore as many of the old monarchies as possible that had lost their thrones during the Napoléonic era.

e It’s job was to undo everything that Napoléon had done:

V Reduce France to its old boundaries her frontiers were pushed back to 1790 level.

V Prevent future French aggression.

V Restore the balance of power.

V Restore as many of the old monarchies as possible that had lost their thrones during the Napoléonic era.

Key Players at Vienna

Key Players at Vienna

The “Host”Prince Klemens von Metternich (Aus.)

Foreign Minister, Viscount Castlereagh

(Br.)

Tsar Alexander I (Rus.)

King Frederick William III (Prus.)

Foreign Minister, Charles Maurice

de Tallyrand (Fr.)

Key Principles Established at Vienna

Key Principles Established at Vienna

V Balance of Power

V Legitimacy

V Compensation

V Balance of Power

V Legitimacy

V Compensation

e Coalition forces would occupy France for 3-5 years.

e France would have to pay an indemnity of 700,000,000 francs.

e Coalition forces would occupy France for 3-5 years.

e France would have to pay an indemnity of 700,000,000 francs.

V France was deprived of all territory conquered by Napoléon.

V Switzerland recognized as a neutral nationV Austrian Netherlands and Dutch Republic join to form

the Kingdom of the Netherlands

V Russia was given most of Duchy of Warsaw (Poland).

V A Germanic Confederation of 39 states created from the 300.

Changes Made at Vienna (1)Changes Made at Vienna (1)

Containment of France

Changes Made at Vienna (2)Changes Made at Vienna (2)

V Norway and Sweden were joined.V The neutrality of Switzerland was guaranteed.V Hanover was enlarged, and made a kingdom.V Britain was given Cape Colony, South Africa, and

various other colonies in Africa and Asia.V Sardinia was given Piedmont, Nice, Savoy, and Genoa.V The Bourbon Ferdinand I was restored in the Two

Sicilies.V The Duchy of Parma was given to Marie Louise.V The slave trade was condemned (at British urging).V Freedom of navigation was guaranteed for many rivers.

Europe After the Congress of Vienna

Europe After the Congress of Vienna