The French Revolution of 1789

Origins Absolutism Absolutism The Enlightenment philosophes The Enlightenment philosophes-Montesquieu-Voltaire-Rousseau Deism and Anti-Catholicism Deism and Anti-Catholicism

Underlying Causes of the Revolution (1789) The French monarchy in debt The French monarchy in debt Bad harvests and starvation Bad harvests and starvation Enlightenment philosophies Enlightenment philosophies and increasing literacy and increasing literacy Nobles resent political weakness (Divine Right, absolute monarchy) Nobles resent political weakness (Divine Right, absolute monarchy) Commoners resent feudal privileges Commoners resent feudal privileges

The Estates-General Meets (May, 1789) First Estate (Clergy of 130,000, 10% landholding) First Estate (Clergy of 130,000, 10% landholding) Second Estate (Nobles number Second Estate (Nobles number about 350,000, 30% of the land) about 350,000, 30% of the land) Sword and robe nobility Sword and robe nobility First two estates have tax exemptions and privileges (taille) First two estates have tax exemptions and privileges (taille) Third Estate (Bourgeoisie, artisans, peasants, commoners) Third Estate (Bourgeoisie, artisans, peasants, commoners)

Estates-General Provisions and Internal Conflicts Third estate representation is doubled Third estate representation is doubled Voting by head or order? Voting by head or order? Third estate wants vote by head, First estate by order Third estate wants vote by head, First estate by order Cahiers De Doleances (Abbe Cahiers De Doleances (Abbe Sieyes) and peasant grievances Sieyes) and peasant grievances Third estate moves to create Third estate moves to create national assembly, draw up constitution (Tennis Court Oath, June 20) national assembly, draw up constitution (Tennis Court Oath, June 20)

The King’s Response and the Start of the Revolution Louis XVI prepares to use force against the Third Estate Louis XVI prepares to use force against the Third Estate Storming of the Bastille (July 14) Storming of the Bastille (July 14) Violence in the countryside (The Great Fear) Violence in the countryside (The Great Fear)

The National Assembly ( ) The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen (August 1789) The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen (August 1789) Feudalism abolished (August 1789) Feudalism abolished (August 1789) Department structure created Department structure created King resists, March of Women on Versailles (October, 1789) King resists, March of Women on Versailles (October, 1789) The Civil Constitution of the Clergy (July 1790) The Civil Constitution of the Clergy (July 1790) Limited Monarchy, voting and office holding based on wealth (active and passive citizens) Limited Monarchy, voting and office holding based on wealth (active and passive citizens) Denial of women’s equality and participation Denial of women’s equality and participation

Events of The King’s flight to Austria and capture at Varennes (June 1791) The King’s flight to Austria and capture at Varennes (June 1791) French declaration of war on Austria (April 1792) French declaration of war on Austria (April 1792) Austrian invasion of France, the search for internal enemies, and radicalization of Paris Austrian invasion of France, the search for internal enemies, and radicalization of Paris King and Assembly arrested by King and Assembly arrested by Sans-Culottes (August 1792) Sans-Culottes (August 1792) September Massacres September Massacres

The National Convention and Radical Revolution ( ) Unicameral National Convention elected, monarchy abolished (September 1792) Unicameral National Convention elected, monarchy abolished (September 1792) Rousseau inspired republic (the General Will) Rousseau inspired republic (the General Will) Robbespierre, the Committee of Public Safety, and the Reign of Terror Robbespierre, the Committee of Public Safety, and the Reign of Terror Purge of the Girondins and the Purge of the Girondins and the Hebertist factions Hebertist factions Suppression of Federalism Suppression of Federalism

Jacobin Rule Louis XVI (January 1793) and Marie Antoinette (October 1793) guillotined Louis XVI (January 1793) and Marie Antoinette (October 1793) guillotined Sans-culottes and the Paris Commune Sans-culottes and the Paris Commune French Republic officially created French Republic officially created (September 1792) (September 1792) Levee en masse Levee en masse Revolutionary Calendar and festivals Revolutionary Calendar and festivals De-Christianization De-Christianization Maximum laws and press censorship Maximum laws and press censorship State sponsored education State sponsored education Universal manhood suffrage (national elections) Universal manhood suffrage (national elections)

The Thermidorian Reaction ( ) Robespierre guillotined, Jacobins overthrown Robespierre guillotined, Jacobins overthrown The Directory and the Constitution The Directory and the Constitution of the Year III (moderate revolutionaries) of the Year III (moderate revolutionaries) Churches reappear, price controls end, propertied assembly elected Churches reappear, price controls end, propertied assembly elected Left and right uprisings against the government require reliance upon the Army (Napoleon Bonaparte) Left and right uprisings against the government require reliance upon the Army (Napoleon Bonaparte)