The French Revolution Part Un

Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes 1 st What is the Third Estate? Everything! 2 nd What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing! 3 rd What does it demand? To become something therein! Abbé Sieyès

Intervention of the Common People Series of uprising in the name of the 3 rd Estate Wage war on the rich accusing them of various plots King increased troops at arsenals and near Versailles This angers the public and leads to an increase in mob activity Parisian leaders form “Permanent Committee” Capture Invalides from royal army

Storming the Bastille, July 14, 1789 YA rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the National Assembly. Y18 died. Y73 wounded. Y7 guards killed. YIt held 7 prisoners [5 ordinary criminals & 2 madmen]. This becomes the symbol of popular triumph over despotism

Further downhill Paris abandoned Louis XVI suffers collapse of royal authority seeing his troupes are unreliable Lafayette commands new citizen’s militia aka National Guard Save the National Assembly Nantes – mobs seized citadels = Permanent Committee and National Guard keep order Marquis de Lafayette

Peasant Revolt due to growing Resentment and rumors that there was to be a foreign invasion plotted by aristocrats Forced lords to renounce dues and tithesForced lords to renounce dues and tithes Burned charters – renouncing obligationsBurned charters – renouncing obligations Many thought they had the king’s supportMany thought they had the king’s support

The Path of the “Great Fear”

Down with the Old Regime!! Abolish seigniorial rights Fiscal privileges of nobles, towns, clergy, province

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen August 26, 1789 VIdeological foundation V“the Natural and imprescriptible rights of man” VLiberty! VProperty! VResistance to oppression! VThomas Jefferson was in Paris at this time.

1. men are born and remain free and equal 2. aim of politics should be to preserve; liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression 3. all sovereignty come from the people, no individuals 4. liberty = harming no others 6. law = general will with all equal 7. no accusation, arrest, or detention w/o cause 10. opinions and religious toleration

11. freedom of speech, writing and printing 12. force (police/army) is to protect rights 14. citizens have final voice in taxes 15. society can demand accounting from administration 16. constitution guarantees rights and separation of powers 17. right to property (can’t take it away w/o good reason

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen Posed New Dilemmas 1.Did women have equal rights with men? 2.What about free blacks in the colonies? 3.How could slavery be justified if all men were born free? 4.Did religious toleration of Protestants and Jews include equal political rights?

Olympe de Gouges ( ) Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Citizen (1791) VWomen played a vital role in the Revolution. VBut, The Declaration of the Rights of Man did NOT extend the rights and protections of citizenship to women.

March of the Women, October 5-6, 1789 We ware bringing back the baker, the baker’s wife and the baker’s boy! King was inactive 12 miles to Versailles King was inactive 12 miles to Versailles King meets with leaders, hears of starving children, and promises grain National Guard insists king return to Paris He returns with wagons of flour escorted by women King is now “prisoner” in Paris King meets with leaders, hears of starving children, and promises grain National Guard insists king return to Paris He returns with wagons of flour escorted by women King is now “prisoner” in Paris

New Relations Between Church & State V Government paid the salaries of the French clergy and maintained the churches. V The church was reorganized:  Parish priests  elected by the district assemblies.  Bishops  named by the department assemblies.  The pope had NO voice in the appointment of the French clergy. VIt transformed France’s Roman Catholic Church into a branch of the state!!

How to Finance the New Govt.? 1. Confiscate Church Lands (1790) One of the most controversial decisions of the entire revolutionary period.

2. Print Assignats V Issued by the National Constituent Assembly. V Interest-bearing notes which had the church lands as security.

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy The Civil Constitution of the Clergy July 12, 1790 Pope forbade oath of allegiance 54% of clergy took it Majority of the bishops said “NO” The oath of allegiance permanently divided the Catholic population!

Louis XVI “Accepts” the Constitution & the National Assembly. 1791

The French Constitution of 1791: A Bourgeois Government Constitutional Monarchy 745 Representatives serve 2 year terms Indirect elections keeping wealthy in power All citizens had the same civil rights 50,000 electors (men paying taxes = 10 days unskilled labor) chose Deputies (must pay “silver mark” in taxes = 45 days unskilled labor)

The French Constitution of 1791: A Bourgeois Government V“Active” Citizen [male over 25 who pays taxes amounting to 3 days labor] could vote vs. “Passive” Citizen.  1/3 of adult males were denied the franchise.  Domestic servants were also excluded. VA newly elected LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. GOAL  Make sure that the country was not turned over to the mob!

Administrative Restructuring 83 departments = in size and population Divided into districts and communes Supervised by elected counsels and officials who Oversaw finances, administration, judicial and ecclesiastical institutions Often bourgeoisie lawyers were elected

83 Revolutionary Departments February 26, 1790

Problems Clerics angered by Civil Constitution of the Clergy Lower classes hurt by increase in cost of living Peasants still had dues Political clubs with radical ideas sprouted –Jacobins were most widespread Finances tax evasion and more

Depreciation of the Assignat V Whoever acquired them were entitled to certain privileges in the purchase of church land. V The state would retire the notes as the land was sold. V They began circulating as paper currency.  Government printed more  INFLATION [they lost 99% of their value ultimately].  Therefore, future governments paid off their creditors with cheap money.

The Royal Family Attempts to Flee Y June, 1791 Y Helped by the Swedish Count Hans Axel von Fusen [Marie Antoinette’s lover]. Y Headed toward the Luxembourg border. Y The King was recognized at Varennes, near the border Y Boureoisie still trust him and many say “kidnapped”

Opposition from Abroad Emperor Leopold II of Austria and King Frederick William of Prussia issue “Declaration of Pillnitz” to try and strengthen French Monarchy European countries didn’t trust each other enough to work together France declares war on Austria –Want to keep revolution alive –France fights very badly

French Soldiers & the Tricolor: Vive Le Patrie! VThe French armies were ill-prepared for the conflict. V½ of the officer corps had emigrated. VMany men disserted. VNew recruits were enthusiastic, but ill-trained. VFrench troops often broke ranks and fled in disorder.

Results from war against Austria More economic shortages More radical behavior –Mobs –Communes (radical political groups – Paris) –A plot to capture the king –Desire for universal male suffrage –Enter the “sans culottes” ordinary patriots w/o fine clothes (although still not the very poor)