Genesis Of The French Revolution PDF

GENESIS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION  Content Introduction Causes of the revolution Social Economical Intellectual Political  Revolution action taken by a large group of people to try to change the government of a country, especially...

GENESIS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION  Content Introduction Causes of the revolution Social Economical Intellectual Political  Revolution action taken by a large group of people to try to change the government of a country, especially by violent action – American Revolution, French Revolution, Revolution of 1857 in India. a complete change in methods, opinions, etc., often as a result of progress – For example Neolithic Revolution, in history of human, Industrial revolution or revolution by Internet and communication  Introduction The French Revolution of 1789 had far-reaching effects on the social and political life of people. The revolutionary principles of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity generated a new political force, namely, dynamic nationalism, which first swept France It was responsible for the overthrow of absolute monarchy and the privileges of the feudal lords.  The French revolution completed the process of transition from medieval to modern age Which has started from Renaissance & Reformation. The revolution shook France between 1787 and 1799 and reached its first climax there in 1789. In its wake it brought new ideas and conceptions which made drastic changes in realm of politics, law and government.  Causes of French Revolution For the sake of convenience we divide it into four categories. – Social – Economical – Intellectual – Political  Social Causes France was divided into three Estates or Classes 1. The Clergy 2. The Nobles 3. The Commoners The first two classes were called the “privileged” classes and the third was the “under- privileged” class. The members of the first two estates, that is, the clergy and the nobility, enjoyed certain privileges by birth. Population: 3% / 97% Land: 35% / 65%  Privileges of Clergy The privileges of the clergy dated back to medieval times when the Church was supposed to be the guardian of the “souls” of the people. In the lieu of spiritual service the clergymen were granted large estates and the Church owned a good deal of landed property.  In the 16th 17th 18th centuries the name of the Church had suffered much on account of the corruption and vices of the clergymen and the consequent Reformation movement, yet the clergymen in the 18th century still enjoyed their old privileges and influence. In the social and political matters the clergymen always made common cause with the noble and all attempts to impose taxes on them were resisted bitterly.  Privileges of the Nobles The nobles in France formed a hereditary caste and unlike England, the sons of French nobles kept themselves aloof from the commoners and were jealous of their rights. The nobles often monopolized trade and were extremely rich and lived in a grand style. They did not pay any direct taxes and were exempted from a number of indirect ones. They were satisfied with an easygoing life, enjoyed shooting and hunting. French Nobles  The Miseries of Masses (95%-97%) The masses comprised as the third estate, were composed of peasants and the new middle class “bourgeoisie” both belonged to the under-privileged classes 1. The Peasants 2. The Bourgeoisie 1-The Peasants and Non- farming people The peasants and Non- farming people were subjected to “triple taxation” they paid taxes to the king, to the nobles and to clergy. The king claimed both direct and indirect taxes. 2. The Bourgeoisie A new middle class had steadily emerged through the last two or three centuries. It consisted of the bourgeoisie or towns- people who controlled commerce and industries and worked for a living in some profession or the other.  They mostly controlled all industry through guilds. They had become fairly rich on account of overseas trade in tobacco, wine, spices, tea, coffee and cotton with the colonies and quite a few of them could compete very favorably in wealth with the nobles. But no respect & representation But they belonged to the underprivileged class and were subjected to taxation.  Economic Causes Though there had been considerable economic and agricultural development in the 17th century King Louis XVI had just spent millions of francs helping the American colonies fight against the England. Because of this and others debts, just the interest payments on loans took up over half of the France’s economy.  Earlier it was considered that economic crisis is a most favorable condition for the outburst of revolution. But in the opinion of William C. Davis After the long term of prosperity if any short term of economic crisis may be one reason In between the 1730-1770 France was growing economy, but after the 1770 downfall in the economy and recession occurred. In the 1787, 1788 & 1789 continuous crop failure due to excessive rain and drought.  The Struggle to Survive The subsistence crisis in France traces its genesis in the rise in population from about 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. The rise in population led to demand for food grains. But the production of food grains could not keep pace with the demand and as a result price of staple items rose rapidly.  Most workers were employed as laborer’s in workshops whose owner fixed their wages. But wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices. Moreover, the gap between rich and poor widened. Things became worse whenever drought or hail reduced the harvest. Thus, the rise in population, meager wages, and natural calamities led to a subsistence crisis.  Political Causes Degeneration and decline of Monarchy Political condition after Louis XIV (1638-1715) (Bourbon Dynasty) was far from happy. The monarchy though still absolute had degenerated in many respects. Louis XV (1715-1774) was an easy-going man, pleasure- loving monarch whose court was steeped in immorality and licentiousness.  He was deeply under the influence of mistress was responsible for the Austrian alliance in 1756 and all its evil results in terms of loss of colonies and foreign commerce and prestige. Involvement in the 7 years (1756-1763) wars with England. Helped the American Revolution against British. Economic Crisis and debt increased  Louis XVI (1774-1793) who succeeded him in 1774 was weak- willed through religious, pious, kind and moral. He lacked all those qualities of leadership and kingship which were required at this crucial time in history of France, when the king was faced with a grave financial and political crisis. He was too much under the influence of his young and beautiful queen, the Austrian princess, who was intensely hated by the French people because she was foreigner.  She had no love for the French people and was extravagant and unsympathetic. While France was passing through a serious financial crisis and was faced with the problem of food, she was lavishly spending money on her pleasures and was absolutely unconcerned about the miseries of people.  Intellectual Causes During the French Revolution, philosophers played a significant role in shaping the intellectual and ideological foundations of the revolution. Philosophers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu influenced the revolutionaries with their ideas of individual rights, liberty, equality, and social contract.  Their writings inspired the notions of popular sovereignty and the pursuit of equality, which fueled the revolutionary spirit. The common man was now convinced that the Church and State had made an unholy alliance to exploit him and so both of them should be revolutionized.  Discontentment and dissatisfaction and grievances of people was properly address by intellectual people and in to right direction. They gave their popular voices and phrases for the struggle and movement of common people. Citizenship, Patriotism and Rule of law like phrase given by these thinks. This is only lack of Indian Freedom movement of 1857.  Jean-Jacques Rousseau: (1772-1778) Rousseau's influential work, "The Social Contract," emphasized the concept of popular sovereignty and the idea that governments derive their authority from the consent of the governed. His ideas resonated with the revolutionary spirit, inspiring the revolutionaries to challenge the absolute authority of the monarchy and advocate for a more democratic system.  Voltaire (1694-1778) He was a great philosopher, historian, poet, dramatist and satirist of his age and was a very widely known. He mocked Church by means of his sarcasm and satire, and completely shook people’s faith in it. He indirectly diluted their faith in the theory of the Divine Right of Kings. His writings had a tremendous effect on millions of people not only in France but in whole Europe.  Montesquieu (1694-1778) He was more of a political philosopher then a Deist. He was deeply influenced by the English culture and political institutions. His book "The Spirit of the Laws" proposed the division/separation of political power into three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This concept of separating powers served as a model for the French Constitution of 1791, which established a constitutional monarchy  Denis Diderot: (1713-1784) Denis Diderot, as the editor of the "Encyclopedia," played a vital role in disseminating knowledge and promoting Enlightenment ideals.  The Encyclopedia was a comprehensive compilation of knowledge, including articles on science, arts, philosophy, and social issues. It provided a platform for intellectuals to exchange ideas and contributed to the spread of revolutionary thought. Centralized Government The administration had been highly centralized in the 17th century and continued to be so in the 18th. Everything in the state was decides by the council at Versailles (Residence palace of Kings)which hardly any time to devote to the affairs of the state. Too much centralization had deprived local officials of all initiative and unnecessary delay was caused by references to the central government even over trivial matters. Influence of American Revolution (1776) The revolt of the American colonies against Great Britain had a tremendous impact on the minds of the Frenchman. France had joined the colonies against England in the war of American Independence and the French soldiers had fought in America and defeated the English.  The success of revolt of the colonies and their Declaration of the Independence and a subsequent adoption of a new constitution based on the principles of equality and liberty and on the principles of the separation of powers as voiced by Montesquieu deeply influenced the French soldiers returning home after the war and the French people through them.  Course of the French Revolution The States-General (5th May 1789) The king decided to summon this medieval institution which had not been met since 1614. The State-General (Likely Parliament) was an assembly of the three Estates, the nobles, the clergy and the masses. It was suspended for 175 years. The Louis XVI want to increase the tax for encountering the financial crisis. Meeting of State-General  As always the clergy and nobles voted together for the tax increase against the masses. Members of the third estate demanded that voting should be conducted by the assembly as a whole… where each member would have one vote unlike on the earlier pattern where each estate had one vote. However, the king rejected this proposal.  But the Third Estate opposed it and walk out from there to Tennis court and they took the oath for the making of new constitution for the France. Third Estate, led by Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyès, was adamant and on 10 June 1789 it proclaimed itself a “National Assembly” and invited the other two Estates to join it. Oath of Tennis court, painted by J. Louis David  The King was opposed this move and shut the doors of hall where the meeting of the Third Estate to be held. But the information has been spread into far remote area of France. A lot of people come to the supported them There were lot of mob called as “Paris Mob” gathered the they saved them. Spread of rumors and fears  Revolution Song: La Marseillaise La Marseillaise, the French national anthem, was written by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle on April 24, 1792, during the French Revolution. The song began as a battle song and hymn to freedom, and was originally called ‘Chant de guerre pour l'armée du Rhin’ ("Marching Song of the Rhine Army").  It was first played at a patriotic banquet in Marseilles, and then copies were given to revolutionary forces marching on Paris. In 1795, the French National Convention adopted it as the national anthem of the French First Republic.  While the National Assembly was busy at Versailles drafting a constitution, the rest of France boiled with turmoil. At the same time, the king ordered troops to move into Paris. Rumors spread that he would soon order the army to open fire upon the citizens. Some 7,000 men and women gathered in front of the town hall and decided to form a peoples’ militia. They broke into a number of government buildings in search of arms. Women's March on Versailles  Finally, a group of several hundred people marched towards the eastern part of the city and stormed the fortress-prison, the Bastille, where they hoped to find hoarded ammunition. In the armed fight that followed, the commander of the Bastille was killed and the prisoners released. The Paris mob was infuriated and on the 14th July 1789 stormed the “Bastille”, the symbol of “Bourbon Despotism”(autocratic power of the king). Storming of the Bastille  The fortress was demolished and its stone fragments were sold in the markets to all those who wished to keep a souvenir of its destruction. This was hailed as the end of Absolutism and marked the beginning of the great French Revolution.