French Revolution: Society, Monarchy & Republic

French Revolution Overview

• The chapter discusses French society, the struggle for survival, and the rise of the middle class.
• It includes the evolution from a constitutional monarchy to a republic.
• Also covered are the revolution's impacts on women, slavery, and daily life.

French Society in the Late 18th Century

• Pre-revolution France (before 1789), known as the Old Regime, was monarch-ruled.
• Louis XVI of the Bourbon dynasty became king in 1774 at age 20.
• Upon ascending the throne, Louis XVI found the treasury depleted and sought to find out why.
• Long wars, especially with Britain, had drained France's wealth.
• Supporting American independence against Britain worsened the financial situation.
• France accumulated debt exceeding a billion livres.
• The Palace of Versailles had high maintenance expenses.
• Managing the army, bureaucracy, and court was costly.
• French society divided into three Estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners.
• The clergy (First Estate) and nobility (Second Estate) had birth privileges and were tax-exempt.
• The Third Estate (merchants, peasants, laborers) bore the tax burden.
• Taxes included the "tithe" (1/10 of produce to the Church) and the "taille" (direct tax to the state).

The Struggle to Survive

• A subsistence crisis is life-threatening due to lack of basic necessities.
• The population increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789, leading to higher demand for food, while food production declined.
• Poor harvests (due to droughts or hailstorms) reduced food supply, leading to higher bread prices.
• Wages did not increase at the same rate as prices, increasing the gap between the rich and poor.

The Emergence of the Middle Class

• The middle class consisted of educated, successful individuals who gained wealth through trade.
• They advocated equal rights and opportunities, not inherited privileges.
• Philosophers John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu influenced their ideas.
• John Locke argued against the divine right of kings in "Two Treatises of Government."
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau envisioned a social contract between the people and their government.
• Montesquieu promoted the concept of separation of powers in "The Spirit of the Laws."
• The middle class discussed these concepts, leading to demands for change.

The Outbreak of the Revolution

• In 1789, Louis XVI called the Estates-General to address new taxes.
• The Third Estate demanded individual voting rights, but the king refused.
• Third Estate members formed the National Assembly and vowed to create a constitution.
• The storming of the Bastille prison on July 14th marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
• Due to widespread unrest, Louis XVI accepted the National Assembly and constitutional monarchy.

France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy

• Powers divided between the legislature, executive, and judiciary.
• Active citizens were men over 25 who paid taxes equal to 3 days of labor.
• Highest tax payers were chosen as electors who then voted for national assembly representatives.
• Citizens were given rights to life, freedom of speech, and equality before the law, as declared in the Rights of Man and Citizen.
• Louis XVI secretly negotiated with the King of Prussia, threatening the revolution.
• The National Assembly declared war on Prussia and Austria in April 1792.
• Volunteers sang "Marseillaise," which later became the national anthem.
• Louis XVI was captured.

France Becomes a Republic

• The 1791 Constitution favored the wealthy, causing unrest.
• Political clubs formed, the Jacobin Club being the most influential.
• Maximillian Robespierre was the leader of the Jacobin Club,
• Jacobin members, known as sans-culottes, wore striped pants to distinguish themselves from the aristocracy.
• Jacobins planned an attack and stormed the Palace of Tuileries.
• Maxmillian Robspierre gained power, initiating the Reign of Terror.
• The Jacobin government declared France a Republic.

The Reign of Terror

• The Reign of Terror was from 1793 to 1794, under Robespierre's leadership.
• Strict control and severe punishments were its characteristics.
• Perceived enemies, including nobles, clergy, and dissenting Third Estate members, were executed.
• The guillotine, invented by Dr. Guillotin, was used for beheadings.
• Robspierre's tactics led to his own execution in July 1794.

The Directory Rules France

• After the Jacobin government fell, the middle class took control.
• Voting rights were given to men who owned property which became the new constitution.
• The Legislative Council appointed a Directory of five members.
• Conflict between the Legislative Council led to political instability.
• This led to Napoleon Bonaparte becoming a military dictator.

Did Women Have a Revolution?

• Women participated in and contributed to the French Revolution.
• They hoped for improved rights and education as a result.
• Most women lacked education and job training, earning lower wages than men.
• Women created groups such as the Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women.
• Olympia de Gouges, advocated for increased women's rights.
• She was executed during the Reign of Terror for her opposition to Robespierre.
• Women in France gained the right to vote in 1946.

Slavery

• European colonies required labor for plantations producing tobacco, sugar, and coffee.
• The triangular slave trade developed between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
• Enslaved Africans were captured, branded, and transported to colonies.
• The National Assembly didn't abolish slavery due to its members' economic interests.
• Slavery was banned during the Jacobin regime but reinstated by Napoleon.
• Slavery was abolished in French colonies in 1848.

The Revolution and Everyday Life

• The revolutionary government passed laws to implement liberty and equality.
• Ideas and principles had a broad range of effects.
• Censorship was abolished.
• Wider spread of literacy and access to knowledge emerged.

Conclusion

• Napoleon Bonaparte was viewed at first as a promoter of liberty, but then became a dictator.
• He was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
• The revolution's concepts influenced movements worldwide.
• Figures such as Tipu Sultan and Raja Ram Mohan Roy in India adopted ideas from the French Revolution.

Explore French society before the revolution, Louis XVI's challenges, and the shift from monarchy to republic. Learn about the Estates system, financial troubles, and the revolution's impact on daily life.