The French Revolution The Liberal Revolution 1789 1792

The French Revolution The Liberal Revolution, 1789 -1792

Calling the Estates General • • • The representative body of the Three Estates was the Estates-General Called in July 1788 (last met 1614), to meet in 1789. This was the crucial step: the end of absolutism Parlements were recalled and asked on how the Estates General should be conducted. They replied that nothing should change This disgusted the Third estate, who would only have 1/3 of votes so… Royal Council decided that the Third Estate would get twice as many reps as the other two

Aristocratic Revolt

Political Developments, 1788 • • 1. A rapid growth of political ideas The most famous pamphlet was by the Abbé Sieyes, What is the Third Estate? Everything 2. What has it been until Now? - Nothing 3. What does it ask? - to become something

Cahiers des Doleances • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. A national survey of people’s opinions was compiled between the calling of the Estates General and its assembly. The survey revealed that the people wanted: Due process A taxation system agreed upon by all An Estates General every four years All estates taxed equally Third estate to have justices in the parlements

Results of the Cahiers • There was NO call for a republic in any Cahier but there were reports of peasants already believing that they were free of manorial dues

May 5, 1789 – The Meeting of the Estates General • • Third Estate probably ready to strengthen hand of King vs. nobles and clergy but…. There is a background of rising bread prices from 1788 -89 - people in Paris being radicalized by this at just the right moment

The Liberal Revolution The Estates General May 1789 - July 1789

The Meeting • • • The King was still in charge Third Estate had twice as many reps and they were largely lawyers and govt officials Still disputes over voting - e. g. should all estates meet together or separately. The Third Estate kept being slighted - it refused to sit alone. The other Estates invited to join with it on June 1 st

Menus Plaisirs

The Tennis Court Oath – Jacques Louis David

Early Events of the Revolution 1. 2. 3. 4. The Third Estate declares itself National Assembly June 17 th Tennis Court Oath June 20 th 1789 The king opposed it but majority of the clergy and some nobles joined it June 27 th the King capitulated National assembly takes name NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

The King’s Fatal Decision 1. 2. 3. 4. Louis tried to re-assert his authority with an army near Versailles King acts stupidly and tries to undermine Nat Assembly but not effectively because it creates anxiety amongst its supporters The King abandoned the bourgeoisie, which monarchs had supported for a century and now supported the nobility Now to revolt against the nobility the Third Estate also had to revolt against the King

The Poor of Paris Revolt 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Rising bread prices 1788 -89 cause riots Paris politicized by the elections to the Estates General Paris mob storms the Bastille - JULY 14, 1789. It was a prison but not used very much. It was raided for weapons. troops fired into crowd, killing 98. The crowd stormed the fortress and killed troops Symbolic importance: First re-direction of the revolution by population of Paris. Also caused similar disturbances in other cities Militias take name NATIONAL GUARD - led by Lafayette Take Tricolor as flag (Blue and red for Paris, white for the bourbon king)

The Poor of Paris Revolt

Peasant Revolts • • • Begin in spring of 1789 July - Massive revolts throughout France The Great Fear - fear of royal troops Destruction of medieval documents Forced the National Assembly to abolish feudal dues After this the Peasantry had a quiet role. It had what it wanted - LAND.

Actions of the National Constituent Assembly 1. 2. 3. August 4 th Laws All French now subject to the same laws Declaration of the Rights of Man Ideals equality before the law liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression freedom of religion and free speech

King and Government Move to Paris • • The poor made government function under threat of mob violence but… France was now peaceful for almost 3 years

National Constituent Assembly in Control • • • faced massive control problems. It would not repudiate the state debt (since many of its members were men of property and were owed money) It also had to find a way to rule France now that the power of the monarch was in shreds Provinces replaced by departments Uniform courts and laws throughout France Tariffs eliminated Guilds restricted

The Debt Problem • • solution was to attack the Church and reclaim Church lands But many people were loyal to Church and this action made the Revolution unpopular to them the émigrés begin to leave as a result Printed bonds based on value of Church land now used as money

Reforming the Church • • Civil Constitution of the Clergy Priests and bishops to be elected + paid by state. Anyone could vote, including atheists. There was no separation of Church and state Religious orders were abolished The Pope condemned the Revolution, liberalism, and the Rights of Man. Thus began an attack on liberalism for next century

Constitution of 1791 • • • One Chamber House Only men paying tax could vote Members of National Assembly not eligible for election

The King’s Reaction • • The King was becoming powerless Louis XVI tried to flee, but was stopped at Varennes and brought back a virtual prisoner The attitude of the King made the constitutional monarchy of the 1791 constitution faulty An alternative to the constitution was needed…

Legislative Assembly • • • A constitutional monarchy with a strong executive War is promoted to solve domestic problems Still a state Church and official religion • It was ineffective and led to a radicalization of the revolution

Reaction to the Revolution • • Intellectuals and philosophes, like Adam Smith and Beethoven praised it Edmund Burke and conservatives opposed it because people are not good and things will not change over night

Reaction of Monarchs • • Most upset but they were not unhappy to see France weakened. They did not want revolution to spread This was the end of Enlightened Despotism. There were attempts all over Europe to stop reform movements

The Wars Begin • • • 1791 Declaration of Pillnitz August 27 threatens invasion by Austria and Prussia not really a threat as Britain would not join in • • France’s reaction was to declare war on Austria Radicals thought war was a good idea because success would bring them popularity Louis XVI and his supporters believed war was a good idea because if France lost some people would want his powers fully restored •

The War Period • • April 1792 began a long period of war forming the background of the next 30 years In retaliation to Declaration of Pillnitz the French declare war on Austria Radicals thought a successful war would bring them support Louis XVI supported the war - he hoped a loss would restore his position as did many monarchist members of the Leg Assembly