French Revolution: Louis XVI Case Study

• Part 3 focuses on case studies of the French Revolution

Louis XVI and the Revolution

• Louis XVI was raised by traditions at Versailles, in a court system described as a ‘golden cage.’
• He was concerned by the budget crisis and the risk of State bankruptcy, as well as the risk of chaos and social divisions.
• Louis XVI tried to find compromise, but could not comply with the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, it "hurt his feelings", as well as the calls to revolutionary overturns.
• He needed to preserve a social and political order but sent a wrong message at Varennes.
• Louis XVI was judged for not being a Republican "by nature" ("a king must rule or die").
• Politically sentenced to death.
• Called a "tyrant" by future tyrants such as St. Just and Robespierre.

Guilty or Not?

• YES: Louis XVI contributed to the division of the nation, and people felt betrayed since the flight to Varennes; he was seen as a danger for the Republican regime.
• NO: Louis XVI wasn't the only guilty one, as the deputies had imprisoned him at the Tuileries; the Convention needed to make an example; the context of warfare was the real reason for his death sentence.
• WRONG JUSTICE: Louis was sentenced for political reasons mainly; the court mixed three powers (legislative, executive, and judicial) instead of separating them, so it was not democratic.
• The Republican spirit of revenge had him sentenced before the trial itself; popular pressure and political conflicts presided over the trial instead of being independent.

Freedom of the Press

• The press was both a democratic conquest and a political issue.
• Law of June 17, 1791: equal stamp duty to publish.
• There was no State approval.
• There were 80 to 1,300 newspapers.
• Press diversity increased.
• Freedom of expression increased.
• Political partisanship and critical thinking was allowed.
• Spread of knowledge occurred.
• Limitless right to offend and criticize existed.
• Biased partisanship became common.
• Libeling (= calumny) and politicization occurred.
• Emotional opinion became greater than comprehension.
• Constant denunciation occurred.
• Manichean vision arose.
• Censorship.
• A single-voice narrative developed.
• Fake news increased.

The Republican Terror

• Context: Growing dangers / warfare / multiplied frontlines
• Political radicalization: rise of the Montagnards within the Republican supporters.
• Fair or xenophobic patriotism: Rejection of "anti-French” people (even inside the country).
• Manichean vision: Patriots Vs. "Enemies of the Revolution".
• Ideological dictatorship = sanctification of the Revolution: no one can contest its measures or leaders.
• Institutionalisation: Committee of Public Safety and Law of Suspects led to the reign of the guillotine.
• 50,000 were executed, plus 200,000 Vendéens & Chouans massacred.
• Radicalized at home lead to the decline of the moderate camp (Girondins) and the rise of the radicals (Montagnards, Jacobins, Sans-Culottes).
• Isolated in Europe because of the rise of Austrian-English opposition Vs. anti-royalist French government. Multiple attacks took place.
• Law of 22 Prairial: Only self-defense was allowed when accused = arbitrary executions.
• France in 1793 saw the execution of Louis Capet in unfair judicial conditions.
• The beginning of the Reign of Terror, a committee of Public Safety was installed.
• The notion of “enemies of the Revolution" was instated under the Law of Suspects.
• Revolutionary paranoia swept the nation.
• The execution of Robespierre (July 1794) led to the end of the Reign of Terror in 1794.