The French Revolution Application of the Fever Model

Much like an illness, revolutions can also be studied in stages Fever Model of Revolution

Causes - Incubation Social Inequality - three estates –Three estates –First Estate (upper clergy) - 1% of population, taxed peasants –Second Estate (nobles) % of population, paid no taxes, taxed peasants –Third Estate (Bourgeoisie, peasants, workers) - paid up to 1/2 of income in taxes

Causes - Incubation Enlightenment Ideas/American Rev. –Belief all men should have liberal freedoms –Right and just to remove unjust government –Equality for all –United States Declaration of Independence and Constitution

Causes - Incubation King Louis XVI –Weak leader –Preferred personal interests, delegated authority –Incapable of decisive action

Causes - Incubation Economic Crisis –French economy bankrupt –Wars, Louis XVI lifestyle –Nobles not taxed –Crop failures –Debt - 1/2 budget goes to interest –Bourgeoisie begin questioning King

Moderate Stage-Symptoms Estates General called, Third Estate demands reform - resisted by others

National Assembly declared (June 20, 1789) Moderate Stage-Symptoms

Bastille stormed (July 14, 1789) in response to king mobilizing Swiss troops Peasants rioting and burning feudal records - “The Great Fear” Moderate Stage-Symptoms

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen (Aug., 1789) –Influenced by America –Equality of all men, sovereignty resided in the people, and individual rights to libery, prosperity, and security March of the Women (Oct., 1789) –Food protests turn into march to Versailles –King forced to move to Paris Moderate Stage-Symptoms

Reforms on National Assembly –“Liberty, equality, fraternity” - motto –Dismantled feudal system –Seized Church lands –Abolished estates –Creates Constitution of limits power of king (constitutional monarchy) –Men of property could vote Moderate Stage-Symptoms

Radical Stage - Crisis King Attempts to Flee (June, 1791) Brunswick Manifesto September Massacres French Republic established - King dethroned, the Convention set up Large scale draft King tried and executed (Jan. 1792)

Robespierre / Jacobians take control of the Convention Committee of Public Safety oversees the Reign of Terror (40,000 people executed, 300,000 arrested) Tried to eliminate influence of the church Radical Stage - Crisis

Moderate - Convalescence Convention arrests Robespierre - executes him The Directory takes over –Committee of five conservative men –Tries to find middle ground –Military successes outside of France –Domestically, still many problems Napoleon stages coup, imposes new constitution - declares himself first consul What do you think is the reaction of the French?