French revolution.France in 1789.

What is revolution? A term used to describe an aggressive

overthrow of a government structure or social construct or a massive sudden societal values.

Usually represents a complete turnaround from one way of doing things to another way, which is drastically opposite.

• In fact is a complete change in the way things are done or thought about.

French Revolution.

French Revolution was the mass uprising of the people of

France against the dictatorial and anti-people policies of the

monarch.

It started on 14th July 1789 with an incident known as

Storming of Bastille.

Political conditions.• the political system of absolute Monarchy.•The system of government was known as

absolutism.•The king was a hereditary monarch- born into the

role of king.•Believed to rule by divine right-placed by God.•The king was not supposed to be despot or cruel.

In 1774, Louis XVI of the Bourbon family of kings

ascended the throne of France.

He was 20 years old when he married to the

Austrian princess Marie Antoinette who always

interfered with the administration.

He ruled as an absolute monarch.

He had maintained a huge army and built a big

extravagant court at the immense palace of

Versailles which drained the wealth of France.

Common people had no say in administration. All

bureaucratic posts were occupied by the aristocrats.

Social conditions.

Social conditions.• In France, people were divided into three estates–First Estate • High-ranking members of the Church• Privileged class

–Second Estate• Nobility• Privileged class

–Third Estate• Everyone else – from peasants in the countryside to wealthy

bourgeoisie merchants in the cities• Unprivileged class

First Estate.• The First Estate, which made up about one percent of the total population, was divided into two groups: upper and lower. The upper clergy included archbishops, bishops, and abbots. • Due to the power of the Roman Catholic Church, these people were exempt from most taxes. These men of high status and privilege enjoyed luxurious lives in their large palaces. Meanwhile, the lower clergy, whichincluded poorly-paid village priests, had to suffer along with the third class peasants.

Second EstateThe Second Estate was composed of about 30,000 families who belonged to the

nobility ㅡ Duke and Duchess, count and countess, and marquis and marquess. Like the clergy, the nobility represented another privileged Estate.

They held the highest position in the Church, the army, and the government. As well, they were exempt from paying taxes of any kind.

They collected rent from the peasant population who lived on their lands. They also collected an extreme amount of customary dues, as

well as dues on salt, cloth, bread, and wine. Most of the nobility was descendants from the warriors, who helped the King

conquer Francein the early days.

They lived a life of lordly ease and luxury and enjoyed great privileges.

Third Estate• About 26 million citizens, the Third Estate consisted the bourgeoisie,

the peasantry, and the urban artisans. The bourgeoisie,which included merchants, manufacturers, bankers, doctors, lawyers, and intellectuals, were generally prosperous and often as wealthy as nobles• Third Estate was dominated by the middle class• Blending of aristocratic and bourgeois classes by 1789• Middle class were Big Winners• Revolutionary goals of the middle class

Estates Cont.Estate Population Privileges Exemptions Burdens

First •Circa 130,000

•High-ranking clergy

•Collected the tithe•Censorship of the press•Control of education•Kept records of births, deaths, marriages, etc.•Catholic faith held honored position of being the state religion (practiced by monarch and nobility)•Owned 20% of the land

•Paid no taxes•Subject to Church law rather than civil law

•Moral obligation (rather than legal obligation) to assist the poor and needy•Support the monarchy and Old Regime

Second •Circa 110,000

•Nobles

•Collected taxes in the form of feudal dues•Monopolized military and state appointments•Owned 20% of the land

•Paid no taxes •Support the monarchy and Old Regime

Third •Circa 25,000,000

•Everyone else: artisans, bourgeoisie, city workers, merchants, peasants, etc., along with many parish priests

•None •None •Paid all taxes•Tithe (Church tax)•Octrot (tax on goods brought into cities)•Corvée (forced road work)•Capitation (poll tax)•Vingtiéme (income tax)•Gabelle (salt tax)•Taille (land tax)•Feudal dues for use of local manor’s winepress, oven, etc.

Economic conditions.

• France was in a period of financial crisis.• Expenses exceeded income.• The main problem was how to raise enough money to meet

government needs.• The only two ways to solve this were to borrow money or

increase taxation. • Since the peasants were already heavily taxed, the obvious

answer to the problem was to tax the clergy and nobility more heavily.

Finance ministers tried to solve the problem.

• Necker tried to reduce court expenses but the king refused. • Calonne, proposed tax on land, but faced opposition from first

and second estates.• Brienne, proposed a weaker version of Calonne’s land tax. Even

so, he faced much opposition and public violence.

Self assessment questions.

What were the three social classes that the French population was divided into? Discuss them in details.

What social class complained about inequality & high taxes?What kind of government is it when the people have no rights

& are ruled by one person?