THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

The MODERATE Stage(Bourgeoisie)ESTATES-GENERAL (1789)Called by Louis XVI to resolve the financial crisis Meets May 5, 1789First Estates-General since 1614! (175 years)The three estates DO agree on some thingsLimiting royal absolutismGranting basic freedomsVoting systemEach estate still only gets ONE VOTETHE VOTETHE FIRST ESTATE = 1 Vote

THE SECOND ESTATE = 1 Vote

THE THIRD ESTATE = 1 Vote648 reps300 reps300 repsNATIONAL ASSEMBLY3rd Estate declares itself the National Assembly (June 17, 1789)Invites both 1st and 2nd Estate to joinLouis orders them to disband (June 27, 1789)**Seen as first great act of French Rev**

THE TENNIS COURT OATHJune 20, 1789Louis XVI locks the doors of the meeting room VersaillesNational Assembly moves to an indoor tennis courtVows not to disband until a constitution is formed

LOUIS XVIJune 27, 1789 - Ordered the National Assembly to Disband (STRONG)Response ..We are here by the will of the people, and that we will go only if we are driven out by bayonets(WEAK) ordered the first two estates to join the National Assembly Moderate middle class and liberal nobility in control transfer of powerLouis Swiss and German mercenaries stationed - Paris & Versailles STORMING OF THE BASTILLERumor = King was planning a military coup against the National AssemblyBastilleFrench Royal Prison 7 prisonersWas a symbol of the abuse of powerStormed on July 14, 1789People want GUNPOWDERIs looted and destroyed by French people18 died, 73 wounded, 7 guards killedJuly 14th = French independence day

BOOM!

STORMING OF THE BASTILLEIMPACTCity now has an armed forceMarquis de Lafayette becomes the commanderTRICOLOR FLAG EMERGESPower shifts from King National AssemblyMore uprisings followed Many landowners killed and their property destroyedLEADS TO THE GREAT FEARFaced with great pressure, nobles concede a plethora of privileges (no more feudal dues)

THE GREAT FEARTime period where rumors spread (summer of 1789)Rumors included:King mounting a counterattackNobles attempting to put down revolutionPeasants ruthlessly killed nobles and destroyed their estatesThey also burn any legal documents tying them to the landQueen was hoarding grain at Versailles

LIMITING THE MONARCHYNational Assembly issues the Declaration of the Rights of Man (Aug. 27, 1789)Called for basic human rights in FranceLiberty, security, and prosperityEnded feudal rights of nobles over peasants= to American Declaration of IndependenceWas mass produced and spread throughout FRA and EuropeOne question remains: HOW MUCH POWER SHOULD THE KING HAVE?1791Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793)Written in response to the Constitution of 1791Social contract between men and womenRejected by the National AssemblyDECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN

WOMENS MARCH ON VERSAILLESAfter the fall of the Bastille, many nobles fled Versailles and left the countryThus, in demand for luxuriesWomen, who made these luxuries as a source of income, now see dwindling profitsCoupled with in price of wheat, many women and families began to go HUNGRYOctober 5, 1789 7,000 women storm Versailles (OCTOBER DAYS)

Stormed the palace looking for MARIE ANTOINETTEWe are going to cut off her head, tear out her heart, fry her liver, and that wont be the end of itNational Guard saves king, but he had to agree to go live in Paris (Tuileries Palace)Abolishes French nobility as legal orderSets out to create a constitutional monarchyKING now a ceremonial figurehead

WOMENS MARCH ON VERSAILLESTHE CIVIL CONSTITUION OF THE CLERGYThe National Assembly confiscated land from RCCWHY? TO FINANCE THE NEW GOVTABOLISHED THE TITHEThe French government would now pay the salary of the clergyBishops and priests elected by the peopleOath of allegiance? FRANCE or THE RCCRCC branch of the STATE

THE KINGS FLIGHTAmidst great fear and diminishing power, Louis and family attempt to flee June 20, 1791Louis is arrested in Varennes and sent back to Paris (was only miles from the border)King abandoning people - counterrevolutionarySome argue that the Kings flight = TREASON (JACOBINS)

PICTURE: Lynn HuntCONSTITUTION OF 1791Completed September 3, 1791Redefined French governmentThree branchesNational Assembly = Legislative AssemblyExecutive = King (only real power = VETO)JudicialABOLISHED THE ESTATES SYSTEMFranchise = tax-paying malesconstitutional monarchy

ROAD TO WARLeopold II and Frederick William II Austria, Prussia fear republicsIssue the Declaration of Pillnitz - August 1791Brunswick Manifesto July 1792Intervene if French revolutionaries infringed on Louis XVIs rights and did not restore him to powerFrench revolutionaries take this as threat, and declare war on Austria (April 20, 1792)PROBLEM = CIVIL WAR /FOREIGN WAR

THE FIRST COALITIONFRANCE1792-1797AUSTRIAPRUSSIABRITIANSPAINPIEDMONTDUKE OF BRUNSWICK - if the royal family is harmed France will be leveledSUCCESSES OF THE MODERATE STAGE Abolished special privilegesDeclaration of Rights of Man and CitizenReduce the power and influence of the Roman Catholic Church, KINGReformed local govt 83 EQUAL districtsConstitution of 1791

Picture Lynn Hunt