French Revolution and Old Regime

The French Revolution and the Making of the Modern World

• The French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and the rise of Nazism were significant events that shaped the modern world.
• The French Revolution marked the end of monarchy in France and the beginning of a new system of governance.

The French Revolution

• The revolution began on July 14, 1789, with the storming of the Bastille, a symbol of the despotic power of the king.
• The event was sparked by the king's decision to command troops to move into the city of Paris, leading to rumors of an order to open fire on citizens.
• A people's militia was formed, and government buildings were searched for arms, leading to the release of seven prisoners from the Bastille.

French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century

• In 1774, Louis XVI ascended the throne of France, finding an empty treasury due to years of war and the cost of maintaining an extravagant court.
• The French government helped the American colonies gain independence from Britain, adding to the debt.
• The state was forced to increase taxes, which burdened the third estate, comprising commoners, including peasants, artisans, and merchants.

The System of Estates

• French society was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.
• The first two estates enjoyed privileges, including exemption from taxes, while the third estate bore the burden of financing state activities.
• The nobility extracted feudal dues and services from peasants, while the Church extracted tithes.

The Struggle to Survive

• The population of France grew from 23 million to 28 million between 1715 and 1789, leading to a rise in demand for foodgrains.
• Grain production could not keep pace with demand, leading to a rise in bread prices and a subsistence crisis.
• The gap between the poor and the rich widened, and workers' wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices.

A Growing Middle Class Envisages an End to Privileges

• The eighteenth century saw the emergence of a middle class, including merchants, manufacturers, lawyers, and administrative officials.
• This group believed that social position should be based on merit, not birth, and advocated for a society based on freedom and equal laws.
• Philosophers like John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu influenced the development of these ideas, which were spread through books, newspapers, and discussions in salons and coffee-houses.

The Role of Philosophers

• Locke's Two Treatises of Government refuted the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch.
• Rousseau proposed a social contract between people and their representatives.
• Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws advocated for a division of power within the government.### The French Revolution
• The French Revolution was sparked by the financial crisis and social inequality in France in the late 18th century.
• The monarch, Louis XVI, was forced to call a meeting of the Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes, which had not been done since 1614.
• The Estates General was a political body that represented the three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.
• The third estate, which represented the commoners, was the most populous but had the least amount of power and influence.

The National Assembly

• The representatives of the third estate, led by Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyès, declared themselves a National Assembly and swore to draft a constitution that would limit the powers of the monarch.
• The National Assembly was determined to create a democratic government that would represent the people, rather than the monarch.
• The Assembly was influenced by the ideas of philosophers like Rousseau, who argued for the principles of democracy and the social contract.

The French Revolution Timeline

• 1774: Louis XVI becomes king of France and faces an empty treasury and growing discontent within society.
• 1789: The Convocation of Estates General, the Third Estate forms the National Assembly, and the Bastille is stormed.
• 1791: A constitution is framed to limit the powers of the king and to guarantee basic rights to all human beings.
• 1792-1793: France becomes a republic, and the king is beheaded.
• 1792-1793: The Jacobin republic rules France, and a Directory rules France after the overthrow of the Jacobin republic.
• 1804: Napoleon becomes emperor of France and annexes large parts of Europe.
• 1815: Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo.

The Great Fear

• A severe winter in 1789 led to a bad harvest, and the price of bread rose, leading to widespread anger and discontent among the population.
• The king ordered troops to move into Paris, which sparked rumors of an aristocratic plot to destroy the ripe crops.
• Peasants in several districts seized hoes and pitchforks and attacked chateaux, looting hoarded grain and burning documents containing records of manorial dues.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was a document that established the principles of liberty, equality, and democracy.
• The document declared that men are born and remain free and equal in rights, and that the aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and inalienable rights of man.
• The document also established the principles of the social contract, stating that the source of all sovereignty resides in the nation, and that no group or individual may exercise authority that does not come from the people.

The Constitution of 1791

• The Constitution of 1791 limited the powers of the monarch and established a system of government that separated powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

• The Constitution vested the power to make laws in the National Assembly, which was indirectly elected by citizens.

• However, not all citizens had the right to vote, as only men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a laborer's wage were given the status of active citizens and entitled to vote.### Symbols of the French Revolution

• The Red Phrygian cap symbolizes liberty and is worn by a freed slave.

• The winged woman represents the personification of the law.

• The Law Tablet signifies that the law is the same for all, and all are equal before it.

The French Revolution and the Constitution of 1791

• The Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer sections of society.
• The document did not provide equal rights to all citizens.
• Small shopkeepers, artisans, and daily-wage workers were among the groups that would have gained from the Constitution of 1791.

France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic

• The National Assembly declared war against Prussia and Austria in April 1792.
• The war was seen as a fight against kings and aristocracies all over Europe.
• The Marseillaise, a patriotic song, was composed by Roget de L’Isle and became the national anthem of France.
• The Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer sections of society.
• Political clubs, like the Jacobins, became important rallying points for people to discuss government policies and plan action.

The Jacobins and the Sans-Culottes

• The Jacobins were a group of people who mainly belonged to the less prosperous sections of society.
• They included small shopkeepers, artisans, and daily-wage workers.
• The leader of the Jacobins was Maximilian Robespierre.
• The Sans-Culottes, a group within the Jacobins, wore long striped trousers to distinguish themselves from the fashionable sections of society.

The Reign of Terror

• The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the Reign of Terror.
• Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.
• The revolutionary tribunal tried and executed those seen as enemies of the republic.
• The guillotine was used to behead those found guilty.

The Abolition of the Monarchy

• The monarchy was abolished on September 21, 1792.
• France was declared a republic, where the people elect the government, including the head of the government.
• Louis XVI was sentenced to death and executed publicly on January 21, 1793.

The Role of Women in the Revolution

• Women were active participants in the events of the French Revolution.
• They hoped that their involvement would pressurize the revolutionary government to introduce measures to improve their lives.
• Women from the third estate worked as seamstresses, laundresses, or sold flowers, fruits, and vegetables at the market.
• Women did not have access to education or job training, except for daughters of nobles or wealthier members of the third estate.