Age of Montesquieu Bastille July 14 1789 Began

“Age of Montesquieu”

Bastille • July 14, 1789 • Began in response to food shortage – Bread prices rose 25% • King summoned troops to Versailles • Mob stormed the Bastille in search for gunpowder and weapons • The uprising helped the National Assembly

Great Fear • Spirit of rebellion spread to the French countryside • Peasants attacked manor houses in an effort to destroy the legal records of their feudal obligations • Taxes went unpaid • Common land • Middle class formed a militia to help protect

Abolish Feudalism • August 4, 1789 • National Assembly abolished feudalism and changed taxing • This was an attempt to stop violence

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen • August 26, 1789 • Became constitutional blueprint for France • Enlightenment philosophy (classical liberalism) – “Men were born and remain free and equal in rights” – Natural rights “liberty, property, security” – “General will”

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen • Freedom of expression and religion • Taxes could be raised only with common consent • Separation of powers through separate branches • “Citizen” applied to all French people, regardless of class

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy 1790 Created a national church with 83 bishops Biggest mistake by National Assembly Secularized religion Convents and monasteries abolished (sold to pay debt) • Clergy was forced to take loyalty oath to new gov’t • Deeply divided France over the issue of religion • • •

Constitutional Monarchy • France used an unicameral Legislative Assembly • Middle class controlled the gov’t through indirect voting and property qualifications • Divided France into 83 departments governed by elected officials

Economic Reform • Favored the middle class rather than the lowest class • Metric system replaced sloppy system of weights and measures • Strike, workers coalitions, and assemblies outlawed • Church land sold to pay off debt