The French Revolution PDF

## The French Revolution ### Causes - **Economic Crisis:** - Bad harvests. - Wars, such as American Independence (high spending). - Expensive royal courts. - **Discontent of the Bourgeoisie:** - No political representation despite their growing economic power. - **Influence of Enli...

## The French Revolution ### Causes - **Economic Crisis:** - Bad harvests. - Wars, such as American Independence (high spending). - Expensive royal courts. - **Discontent of the Bourgeoisie:** - No political representation despite their growing economic power. - **Influence of Enlightenment Ideas:** - Ideas of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty influenced the French people. - **Resistance from the Privileged Classes:** - Nobility and clergy resisted paying taxes. ### Phases of the Revolution 1. **Rebellion of the Privileged Classes:** - The King wanted the privileged classes (nobility and clergy) to pay taxes. - They refused. 2. **The Estates-General:** - A meeting of representatives from the three estates (nobility, clergy, and commoners). - Voting was done per estate (1 vote for nobility, 1 for clergy, and 1 for the commoners). - The commoners, who made up the majority of the population, were outvoted. 3. **The National and Constituent Assemblies:** - The people rebelled and created the National Assembly. - The National Assembly: - Abolished the privileges of the nobility and clergy. - Issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. - Separated Church and State. - Established a new Constitution in 1791 that established: - Separation of Powers: - Executive (King). - Legislative (Parliament). - Judicial (Judges and Courts). - National Sovereignty. - Censitary Suffrage (right to vote based on property ownership). 4. **The Legislative Assembly:** - King Louis XVI fled to Austria seeking support to regain absolute power. - He was caught and charged with treason. - Austria declared war on France. - Two main groups emerged from the liberals: - **Girondins:** Moderates, favoring the King and censitary suffrage. - **Jacobins:** Radicals, opposed to the King and advocating for universal suffrage. 5. **The Convention:** - **Girondin Convention (1792-1793):** - King Louis XVI was executed. - European countries declared war on France. - **Jacobin Convention (1793-1794):** - The revolution intensified. - The government was led by Maximilien Robespierre. - Many people were arrested and executed by the Committee of Public Safety. ## The Enlightenment - **Key Ideas:** - Reason (ability to explain through experimentation). - Liberty (freedom of movement). - Equality (equality before the law). - Progress (economic and social progress). - Tolerance. - Fraternity (feeling of belonging and unity). - Constitutional Government (government subject to laws). - Separation of Church and State (reducing the power of the Church). ## Political Doctrines - **Despotism Enlightened:** "Everything for the people, but without the people." This is an absolute monarchy that uses enlightenment ideas for economic progress, but not for political freedom. - **Liberalism:** - **Core Principles:** - **Division of Powers:** Legislative, executive, and judicial. - **National Sovereignty:** Power lies in the nation, not the monarch. - **Social Contract:** A pact between rulers and the ruled. - **Economic Principles:** - **Physiocracy:** Wealth comes from agriculture. - **Economic Liberalism:** Rejection of government control of the economy and promotion of free trade and private property. ## The American Revolution ### Causes - **High Taxes:** Great Britain imposed heavy taxes on the American colonies. - **No Representation:** Colonists lacked political representation in the British Parliament. - **The Boston Tea Party:** A protest against a new tax on tea led to further unrest. ### Consequences - **Independence:** The United States declared independence and was recognized by European powers. - **Constitution:** A federal republic was established with a separation of powers and protection of individual liberties. - **Declaration of Rights:** The Declaration of Independence established the principles of liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. ## The Old Regime (Pre-Revolution France) ### Political System - **Absolute Monarchy:** The king held all power. - **Divine Right:** The king's power was believed to be granted by God. - **Concentration of Power:** The king controlled all three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial). ### Economic System - **Agricultural Base:** The economy was based on farming and livestock. - **Traditional Agriculture:** Backward farming methods were used. - **Artisan Industry:** Small-scale crafts were produced by guilds. - **Limited Trade:** Commerce was limited and largely controlled by the bourgeoisie in cities. - **Land Ownership:** The wealthy owned most of the land, while the majority of the population were landless peasants. ### Social System - **Estates System:** Society was divided into three orders: - **First Estate:** Clergy - **Second Estate:** Nobility - **Third Estate:** Everyone else (bourgeoisie, peasants, urban workers). - **Privileges:** The First and Second Estates had significant privileges: they did not pay taxes, held high government posts, and enjoyed special social status. - **Lack of Social Mobility:** Movement between estates was virtually impossible. - **Class Division:** - **Upper Class:** Nobility and high clergy. - **Middle Class:** Bourgeoisie, low nobility, low clergy, some wealthier peasants. - **Lower Class:** Peasants (most with little or no land), laborers, and the urban poor. ## The Enlightenment - **Intellectual Movement:** The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that emphasized reason, science, and human progress. - **Key Ideas:** - **Individual Liberty:** The right to freedom and self-determination. - **Government by Consent:** Rule by the people through representation. - **Separation of Powers:** Dividing government power to prevent tyranny. - **Impact on Revolution:** The Enlightenment influenced those who sought to change the oppressive system of the Old Regime. ## Summary The French Revolution was a complex and far-reaching event that had a profound impact on the world. It was caused by a combination of economic, social, and political factors. The revolution was a struggle for equality, liberty, and the end of absolutism. While the revolution was initially successful, its aftermath was marked by violence and instability. The ideas of the revolution, however, continue to inspire movements for democracy and individual rights around the globe.