1. The French Revolution

2. Roots of Liberalism Judeo-Christian and Greek roots
Enlightenment Foundation
Locke’s Notion of the Rights of Englishmen
Liberalism does not equal what Americans mean by “liberal”
Classical liberalism supports a system of laws
No one is above said law – direct opposition to an autocratic, absolutism system

3. Liberty is not the same as equality Liberty Equality
The notion of individual human rights
A new type of government in which the people are sovereign
The importance of a representative assembly
The importance of a written constitution
The notion of self- determination
Freedom to accumulate property
Equality of rights and civil liberties
Equality before the law
No special privileges for the rich
Equality of opportunity
“Careers Open to Talent”
Inherent tension between liberty and equality

4. “A Dual Revolution” = Modern Era
The French Revolution was the inaugural European revolution
The French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution together transformed the western world
This “Dual Revolution” changed everything politically, socially and economically
Triumph of European states and economies globally

5. “The Atlantic Revolution”
French Revolution was a part of a whole series of revolutions which took place beginning in the late 18th century
--Political agitation in England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the American colonies (not just North American, either)
One big movement of revolutionary agitation

6. British North America Landmark idea of “All Men are Created Equal”
Realities of this thought much different (slaves, women, non-landowners, etc)
The significance of the American constitution
The influence of the American Revolution on other revolutions

7. Central and South America
Independence from Spanish rule
Simon Bolivar, the father of Latin American independence
Despite “liberating the colonies” there was a continued dominance of the white minority
The abolition of the slave trade is set in motion
--United States abolished this trade in 1808

8. The French Revolution
More fundamental and profound consequences than the American Revolution
France = most powerful and populous state in Europe (~25 million people)
Massive social revolution
Worldwide impact
Becomes model for future revolutions –think about why this might be as we move forward through our studies

9. Origins Began as a revolt of the aristocracy
Attempt to capitalize on the financial woes of the monarchy
Breaking down the Absolutist system set up by Louis XIV and his ministers
Only solution = tax reform and a direct tax on all property
Aristocracy refused and forces the issue

10. The Estates-General An old feudal assembly that had not met since 1614
Three Estates:
Clergy – 1st
Nobility (or aristocracy) – 2nd
All Others (peasants, professionals, artisans, etc) – 3rd
The significance of the voting procedure
1st and 2nd estates, by numbers about 2 – 3% of population had a majority of votes in E-G
The miscalculation and lack of social awareness of the aristocracy

11. The Third Estate Who were they?
Third Estate was dominated by the middle class or bourgeoisie (boug-wah-zhee)
Blurring of aristocratic and bourgeois classes by 1789
Old money v. New Money
Overall -Middle class would come out to be winners through revolution
Revolutionary goals of the middle class inspired by Enlightenment

12. An Agenda of Classical Liberalism
For bourgeoisie, a representative government did not mean democracy or “mob rule”
Estates-General became the National Assembly in June of with the power to frame a constitution
Locked the 3rd estate out of the discussion
3rd estate vowed to not go unheard - “Tennis Court Oath” (6/20/1789)

13. Revolutionaries in the Streets
Who were they?
“Sans-culottes” (without knee britches)
Picked up the ideas and slogans of the Revolution from the more educated leadership of lawyers and journalists

14. What were the Motivations of these Revolutionaries?
Poverty and Hunger
Low wages and fear of unemployment
Heightened expectations and the exposure to a political perspective
-- “Cahiers”
Strong dislike for and distrust of the wealthy
The role of conspiracy

15. A Case Study: Storming the Bastille
Events of the night of July 13, 1789
Reasons for the attack on the Bastille the next morning
The stubbornness of the governor of the fortress
Celebrations on the night of July 14th
Sparks tremendous popular revolution all over France

16. The Great Fear Independent revolutionary agitation in the countryside
Rumors of Royalist troops becoming wandering vandals
Fear breeds fear and peasants start marching
Within 3 weeks of July 14, the countryside of France had been completely changed

17. Declaration of the Rights of Man—August 27, 1789

18. The Court Returns to Paris
Mounting unemployment and hunger in Paris in the fall of 1789
March to Versailles
“October Days”
“The point is that we want bread!”
Women nearly killed the Queen
The Royal Family forced to return to Paris on October 6, 1789

19. The Consolidation of the Liberal Revolution
Events from October 1789 through September 1791
Abolition of the French nobility as a legal order
Constitutional Monarchy established
Economic centralization
Nationalization of the Church
Stage set for subsequent civil war

20. Meanwhile…Popular Political Mobilization
Revolutionary Talk
More than 500 new newspaper
Oath of Loyalty
motto -“Liberte, Equalite, Fraternite!”
Revolutionary symbols
Revolutionary Clubs
The Jacobins
Girondins (other club, less radical)

22. Growing Radicalism Reasons: Results: Snowball Effect
Unsatisfied Expectations
Outbreak of war against France by outside forces
Results:
Increasing Violence
Change in Political Leadership

23. Robespierre: Reign of Terror
Jacobin that formed his own sect within the club –
“The Mountain” with lawyer, Georges Danton
Creates the Committee of Public Safety
Works in the concept of “Total War” for the revolution
More socialist
Maximum price ceilings on certain goods
Nationalization of small workshops

24. The Reign of Terror (cont.)
Under Robespierre’s reign:
Execution of 40,000 “Enemies of the Nation” – many were from 3rd estate
Stressed radical definition of equality – forcing it upon the people of France
Wanted a legal maximum on personal wealth
Wanted a regulation of commercial profits
End of Robespierre’s dictatorship on July 28, when his followers turn against him

25. The Directory and Napoleon Bonaparte
Bourgeois return to order
Focus on upper middle class desires
Suppression of other members of 3rd estate
A call to rationalism (some say too far)
Thermidorian calendar
Suppression of any faith
Through Directory - Napoleon’s Rise to Power
Things to come under Napoleon:
The Napoleonic Code
Establishment of the Bank of France
Reconciliation with the Catholic Church - Concordat of 1801
Heavy Censorship
Napoleon’s “Art of War”

26. Legacies of the French Revolution
A revolutionary “model”
Rise of mass political consciousness
Varying interpretations of the Revolution
Conservative View: Edmund Burke
Liberal View: Thomas Jefferson
Conflict within the Liberal Tradition
Raised the question of “Libertarianism” vs. “Egalitarianism”