The French Revolution May 2015 Background
Jan 11, 2016
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…