The French Revolution

Before the French Revolution

• French territories and society resembled an ancient regime
• Feudal lords controlled the country's political system
• French society was divided into three Estates: clergy, nobility, and peasants/workers
• The upper two estates had close ties to the royals and received preferential treatment
• The third estate faced heavy taxation and hardship

Initial Stage of the Revolution

• King Louis XVI's ascension occurred during a period where France was in dire financial straits
• The King convened the Estates-General, acting on the Finance Minister's counsel, to impose new taxes
• Voting in the Estate General was conducted on a per-estate basis
• The Third Estate advocated for votes to be counted on a per-head basis
• The King's rejection of the Third Estate's proposal led to their representatives abandoning the assembly

The French Revolution in 1789

• Paris was in chaos due to rumors of the King's planned attack on citizens
• People responded by assembling and attacking government buildings to acquire weapons
• The commander of the Bastille was killed, and prisoners were released
• The Bastille was a symbol of the king's authoritarianism
• Protests over rising bread prices triggered events that led to the King's execution

French Society in the Late Eighteenth Century

• Louis XVI became King of France in 1774
• France was financially strained due to wars and support for American colonies
• Taxes increased to cover regular expenses like the army and government
• French society was divided into three estates under a feudal system from the Middle Ages
• 90% of the population were peasants, but a small fraction owned land
• Nobles, the Church and affluent Third Estate members owned 60% of the land
• The clergy and nobility had privileges, including tax exemptions and feudal rights
• The Third Estate paid taxes like taille and indirect taxes on goods like salt and tobacco

Struggle to Survive

• The demand for food grains increased due to population growth
• Grain production couldn't keep up with demand
• This led to a sharp rise in bread prices
• The gap between the rich and the poor widened due to low wages for laborers
• Droughts or hailstorms worsened the situation by damaging harvests

Rising Middle Class Challenges Privileges

• Peasants frequently rebelled due to high taxes and food shortages
• A prosperous middle class emerged in the 18th century through overseas trade and textile manufacturing, specifically wool and silk
• The middle class, including professionals, valued education and believed social status should be based on merit, not birthright
• They advocated for a merit-based government with no privileges based on birth
• Rousseau proposed a social contract where representatives are accountable
• Montesquieu suggested a separation of powers in government, later implemented in the USA
• Louis XVI planned to impose more taxes to address the state's financial needs

Outbreak of Revolution

• The monarch needed the Estates-General's approval to impose taxes
• Louis XVI called an Estates-General assembly on May 5, 1789, to discuss taxes
• The first and second estates and affluent, educated members of the third estate were present
• Traditionally, each estate had one vote, but the third estate demanded individual votes

France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy

• The National Assembly created a constitution in 1791
• The constitution limited the monarch's powers
• Powers were separated into legislative, executive, and judicial branches
• France became a constitutional monarchy
• Citizens elected electors, who then chose the Assembly, but voting was limited
• Only men over 25 paying taxes equal to three days' wages could vote
• The constitution began with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
• Rights like life, freedom of speech, opinion, and equality were established as ‘natural and inalienable'

France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic

• In April 1792, the National Assembly declared war on Prussia and Austria
• "Marseillaise" became France's national anthem
• Women managed household responsibilities as men went to war
• Dissatisfaction grew with the 1791 Constitution, which only gave political rights to the wealthy
• Political clubs emerged, with the Jacobins becoming influential
• The Jacobin club consisted of small shopkeepers, artisans, and workers
• They wore long striped trousers like dockworkers, called sans-culottes
• On August 10, 1792, Jacobins stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, temporarily holding the king hostage
• Elections granted voting rights to men 21 and older
• The monarchy was abolished, and France became a republic

Role of Women in the Revolution

• Women played a significant role in the French Revolution
• Third estate women had limited access to education and job training
• Noblewomen could study at convents, while working women balanced work and family
• Women's wages were generally lower than men's
• Women formed political clubs and newspapers such as The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women
• They advocated for equal rights, including the right to vote and hold office
• The government enacted laws improving women's lives, like compulsory education and legal divorce
• Women could run small businesses
• Women's political clubs were shut down during the Reign of Terror, and their activities were banned
• Women secured the right to vote in France in 1946

Abolition of Slavery

• The Jacobin regime abolished slavery in French colonies
• The transatlantic slave trade began in the 17th century
• Slaves were captured, branded, and transported from Africa to the Caribbean
• They were forced to work in harsh conditions to meet European demand for sugar, coffee, and indigo -Slavery in French overseas territories was abolished in 1794
• Napoleon reinstated slavery a decade later
• Slavery was permanently abolished in French colonies in 1848

Revolution and Everyday Life

• The French Revolution brought major changes to everyday life in France, beginning in 1789
• One key reform was the abolition of censorship in the summer of 1789
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen established freedom of speech and expression as fundamental rights
• The press, plays, songs, and festive processions flourished, reflecting diverse opinions

Tennis Court Oath

• The Third Estate formed a National Assembly to draft a constitution limiting the monarchy's powers
• The King and Clergy conceded to the National Assembly, shifting legislative powers
• The Legislative Assembly was divided into political groups
• The Constitutionalists
• The Republicans (The Girondins and The Jacobins)

Rise of the Jacobins

• France was in havoc due to war
• The Girondins lost power, and the Jacobins became rulers
• France was declared a Republic but the Jacobins lost their value when they turned into tyrants
• It was a brutal period of terror
• Robespierre, their leader, was killed in 1794

Rise of the Middle Class

• After the Jacobins lost power, the middle class gained influence in the National Convention
• The National Convention created a new constitution
• The Legislative Assembly became bicameral
• There were 5 directors in the Executive
• Two-thirds of the members were from the National Convention
• In 1795 the public unsuccessfully attacked the convention
• Napoleon stopped the attack and became commander-in-chief of the French Army, and supreme leader of France in 1799

Important Dates of the French Revolution

• 1774: Louis XVI became King
• May 5, 1789: The king called the Estates-General
• June 20, 1789: Tennis Court Oath
• July 14, 1789: The storming of the Bastille, start of the French Revolution
• 1791: The National Assembly completed the draft of the new constitution
• France became a constitutional monarchy
• 1792: The National Convention declared France a Republic
• 1793-1794: The Reign of Terror
• 1794: Robespierre was killed
• The Directory system was introduced
• 1799: Napoleon Bonaparte becomes the first consul

Interesting Facts

• The French Revolution brought radical political and social changes to France in the late 18th century
• The French Revolution began on July 14, 1789, with the storming of the Bastille prison, a symbol of the revolution, celebrated as Bastille Day
• The French Revolution was fueled by Enlightenment ideas like liberty, equality, and fraternity
• The aim was to overthrow the monarchy and establish a democratic government
• The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) involved intense violence and political repression
• King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were executed
• The French Revolution introduced the metric system, used today to standardize measurements
• The Gregorian calendar was replaced with the French Republican Calendar
• The revolution had a profound impact on the arts and culture
• Revolutionary ideals were expressed in literature, music, and visual arts
• Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power and eventually became Emperor of France, ending the revolution and marking the beginning of the Napoleonic era
• The French Revolution inspired similar movements and the spread of liberty, equality, and nationalism
• Women played a significant role, participating in political clubs, marching on Versailles, and advocating for their rights
• The revolution had a long-lasting impact and led to the rise of nationalism, revolutionary ideas, and the downfall of monarchies