FRENCH REVOLUTION

SOCIAL SYSTEM 1789 OUTDATED SOCIAL SYSTEM THREE CLASSES EMERGED IN MIDDLE AGES THREE CLASSES FIRST ESTATE SECOND ESTATE THIRD ESTATE

FIRST ESTATE CLERGY CHURCH OWNED 10% LAND COLLECTED TITHES BISHOPS & ABBOTS LIVED WELL PARISH PRIESTS – POOR PROVIDED SOME SOCIAL SERVICES CONDEMNED THE ENLIGHTENMENT

SECOND ESTATE “NOBILITY OF FRENCH SOCIETY” TOP JOBS: GOVERNMENT ARMY COURTS CHURCH FINANCIAL PINCH (PRICES RISING) HATED ABSOLUTISM FEARED: LOSING JOBS FREEDOM OF NOT HAVING TO PAY TAXES

THIRD ESTATE 1797 – 27 MILLION PEOPLE (98%) DIVERSE GROUP 1) BOURGEOISIE (MIDDLE CLASS) LAWYERS DOCTORS PROFESSORS 2) PEASANTS (9 OUT 10) 3) URBAN WORKERS PRINTING CLOTH MAKING UNEMPLOYED (BEGGING & CRIME)

ECONOMIC TROUBLES DEFICIT SPENDING LOUIS XIV HOW DID THEY SOLVE THIS? FRANCE IN DEBT SEVEN YEARS’ WAR AMERICAN REVOLUTION HALF GOV. TAX INCOME WENT TO THE INTEREST ON THE DEBT HOW DID THEY SOLVE THIS? http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

ECONOMIC TROUBLES FAILURE TO REFORM HEIRS OF LOUIS XIV NOT FIT TO SOLVE ECONOMIC CRISIS LOUIS XV PLEASURE BEFORE BUSINESS LOUIS XVI WEAK & INDECISIVE CRISIS DEEPENED PRESSURE FOR REFORM MOUNTED

ESTATES GENERAL 1788 FRANCE – EDGE OF BANKRUPTCY LOUIS XVI SUMMONED ESTATES GENERAL TO MEET @ VERSAILLES (175 YEARS)

THE CAHIERS ALL ESTATES PREPARE CAHIERS LIST OF GRIEVANCES FAIRER TAXES FREEDOM OF PRESS REGULAR ESTATE MEETINGS CHAOS “BLOODSUCKERS OF THE NATION WHO DRINK THE TEARS OF THE UNFORTUNATE FROM GOBLETS OF GOLD” “20 MILLION MUST LIVE ON HALF OF THE WEALTH OF FRANCE WHILE THE CLERGY….. DEVOUR THE OTHER HALF”

ESTATES GENERAL DELEGATES TO THIRD ESTATE WERE ELECTED ONLY PROPERTIED MEN COULD VOTE (MIDDLE CLASS) VERSAILLES SOLVE FINANCIAL CRISIS INSIST ON REFORM (ENLIGHTENMENT)

ESTATES GENERAL MAY 1789 ISSUE OF VOTING OLD WAY: 3RD ESTATE: EACH ESTATE HAD ONE VOTE 1ST & 2ND = ALWAYS OUTVOTED THE 3RD 3RD ESTATE: ALL 3 TO MEET AND VOTES COUNTED BY HEADS

ESTATES GENERAL WEEKS OF STALEMATE DECLARED THEMSELVES “NATIONAL ASSEMBLY” INVITED DELEGATES FROM 1 & 2 CONSTITUTION BASIC LAWS & RULES OF GOV. MEETING HALL LOCKED INDOOR TENNIS COURT OATH: NEVER TO SEPARATE AND MEET WHENEVER NECESSARY “TENNIS COURT OATH”

UNREST LOUIS XVI GRUDGINGLY ACCEPTED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RUMORS TROOPS OCCUPY PARIS JULY 14, 1789 800 PARISIANS STORMED BASTILLE (MEDIEVAL FORTRESS) FIRED ON CROWD IS IT A REVOLT? “NO IT’S A REVOLUTION”

NEW FRANCE REVOLUTIONARY ERA 1) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (1789-1791) 2) REIGN OF TERROR (1792-1794) 3) Directory (1795-1799) 4) AGE OF NAPOLEON (1799-1815)

GREAT FEAR FAMINE UNEMPLOYMENT 80% INCOME – BREAD RUMORS OF GOV. SEIZING CROPS PEASANTS ATTACKED NOBLE HOMES STOLE ANGER WITH UNJUST REGIME

REFORMS AUGUST 4, 1789 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY VOTED TO END THEIR PRIVILEGES ALL EQUAL CITIZENS 1ST STEP OF CONSTITUTION MODELED AFTER THE DEC. OF IND. PROTECT NATURAL RIGHTS LOUIS XVI SLOW TO ACCEPT REFORMS STARVATION

PARIS IN ARMS REVOLUTIONARY CENTER FACTIONS COMPETED TO GAIN POWER MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE MODERATES HERO HEAD OF MIDDLE CLASS MILITIA WORE RED – WHITE – BLUE BADGE

WOMEN MARCH ANGER QUEEN MARIE ANTOINETTE EXTRAVAGANT SOURCE OF SCANDAL REFUSED TO LEAVE IMPORTANT DEMAND – RETURN TO PARIS CROWDS SANG & CHEERED TRICOLOR LOUIS & MARIE PRISONERS

CONSTITUTION 1791 LIMITED MONARCHY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY MAKE LAWS COLLECT TAXES WAR & PEACE ASSEMBLY ELECTED 50,000 OUT OF 27 MILLION QUALIFIED AS CANDIDATES

THE GETAWAY JUNE 1791 LOUIS – MARIE – ROYAL CHILDREN DISGUISED FAILED MONEY SHOWED HIS FACE TAKEN TO PARIS “TRAITOR TO THE REVOLUTION”

REACTION OUTSIDE FRANCE SUPPORTERS OF ENLIGHTENMENT APPLAUDED EUROPEAN RULERS & NOBLES DENOUNCED THE REV. BORDER PATROLS HORROR STORIES PRUSSIA & AUSTRIA DEC. OF PILNITZ THREATENED TO PROTECT FRENCH MONARCHY

RADICAL ACTION OCTOBER 1791 NEWLY ELECTED LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY TOOK OFFICE LESS THAN ONE YEAR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS RENEWED INFLATION FAMINE SANS-CULOTTES (WORKING CLASS) DEMANDED A REPUBLIC BATTLE FOR POWER WITHIN LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SANS-CULOTTES JACOBINS (MIDDLE CLASS)

WAR APRIL 1792 SPREAD REV. WAR DECLARED EASY VICTORY? 1792-1815 FRENCH REVOLUTIONARIES V. EUROPEAN MONARCHS SPREAD REV. WAR DECLARED AUSTRIA PRUSSIA BRITAIN EASY VICTORY? 1792-1815