The French Revolution

May 2015Background

Remember France… We spoke of French Absolutism

We looked at Kings’ Henry IV, Louis XIII and Louis XIV

We toured Versailles, Louis XIV’s Summer Palace, today a museum

Louis XIV was known as The Sun King and he considered that he was the state – L’etat c’est moi

All these factors cost France large amounts of money, and like many other European nations, few peasants had the ability to pay.

Events which weakened France:

Grandeur of King Louis XIV

Palace of Versailles

Weakness of King Louis XV ~ Nobles shared power

Seven Years’ War between Britain & France for the control of overseas empires

Aid to the American Colonies against Britain

High debt, poor taxation, failing government

American Revolutionary War

Marquis Da LafayetteAdmiral De Grasse

Versailles & Royal

Family

Several Attempts atFixing the Finances

Turgot (Finance Minister) – Cut spending, Abolished the trade guilds, ended the Corvee (Peasant labor service)

Necker (Finance Minister) – Borrowed more money & increased spending

Neither worked

King Louis XVI had to call the Estates-General to meet – he needed new taxes and he expected to get them, but he was wrong.

Estates GeneralOpening Session

May 5, 1789

Estates-General

France’s law-making body

Made up of the three estates (social classes) of France

1st Estate – Clergy <1% of population – Most did not pay taxes

2nd Estate – Nobility <2% of population – They did not pay taxes

3rd Estate – Bourgeoisie (Agricultural Workers, Artisans, Merchants, Scientists, Doctors & Lawyers) – 97% of the population, Paid all the taxes, but controlled very little of France’s wealth.

May 5, 1789:

Estates-General meets for the first time since 1614

Discussion over Taxation and Voting Rules creates the first trouble.

Calonne (Finance Minister) wants the Nobility & Clergy to pay taxes

3rd Estate want to vote individually rather than ‘en bloc’ (?)

Cahiers de doleances (grievances) are brought into the discussion

June 10, 1789:

National Assembly formed by the 3rd Estate and members of the 1st & 2nd estates eventually joined them.

Tennis Court Oath – Locked out of their chambers, they issue this statement that they will meet until they give France a constitution (?)

July 12, 1789

King Louis XVI & his family are asked to conserve their spending

The king fires Jacques Necker (Finance Minister) and the French people see this as the beginning of the Revolution.

July 14, 1789:

Bastille, a former fort in Paris that is used as a prison for political detainees is stormed by the crowds

Prisoners were released

No weapons or powder were found

Storming the Bastille becomes a symbol for the people of France – represents the years of abuse by the monarchy Today, July 14th is seen as French Independence

Day

The Bastille

Summer 1789 The Great Fear

Peasants attacked those above them - the upper classes – Nobility and Clergy fled to save their lives.

The peasants wanted to wipe out the records of Feudalism and to even the score with their harsh lords.

Arson, Theft & Violence swept the countryside

Strangers were attacked and/or feared

August 4, 1789: The nobles vote to end their privileges, especially Feudalism

It is too little & way too late.

France’s Declarations:

August 26, 1789:

Declaration of the Rights of Man as Citizens issued Males citizens were equal in the eyes of the law

Women were disappointed, but they had another document ready:

Declaration of Rights of Woman & Citizens was written by Olympe de Gouges

Declaration of Rights of Woman & CitizensOlympe de Gouges

Declaration of

Rights of Man &

Citizens

Declaration of Rights…

COMPLETE READING AND DISCUSSION OF the DOCUMENTS:

October 5, 1789:

6,000 women march on Versailles shouting for bread & asking to see their king

They refuse to leave until the King agrees to return to Paris

Next day:

All the women along with the King & his family return to Paris, many of them wearing the Tricolor – Blue – White – Red, a symbol of the Revolution.

Changes in France:

Catholic Church placed under civil control – Civil Constitution of the Clergy – They clergy became elected & paid by the state.

By 1791 the Constitution was written – The National Assembly could make laws, collect taxes, decide issues of war & peace. Male suffrage for all those over 25 years who paid taxes.

June 1791:

King Louis and his family attempt to flee France, but they are intercepted at the border and escorted back to Paris.

Louis is now seen as a Traitor to the Revolution

Other nations become concerned that the French revolutionary spirit may spread to their nations…