1789
The French Revolution
Causes of the Revolution
Financial crisis gripped France.
Inept leadership of Louis XVI.
Inequity in French economic, political and
social system (taxation of third estate).
Growing size and power of the
bourgeoisie.
Influence of Enlightenment ideas.
Bad weather (little ice age) and resulting
crop shortages and famine.
The Estates General
Called by Louis XVI to meet (at the urging
of Necker) in July 1788.
Elections gave 300 seats each to First and
Second Estates, 600 to Third Estate.
Bad harvest brought greater criticism.
Aristocracy demands to constitutional
monarchy, bourgeoisie wanted to end
mercantilism and noble privileges ,
peasants want end to manorialism.
May 5, 1789 they meet and vote by order.
The National Assembly
June 17, 1789 – Third Estate declares
itself the National Assembly and invited
other estates to join.
June 20th, Third Estate locked out; they
meet on handball court and declare the
Tennis Court Oath.
Louis XVI opposes, but relents and asks
other two estates to meet with Assembly.
Assembly controlled by middle class and
liberal nobility.
Storming of the Bastille
Rumors spread that the King
is organizing troops.
On July 11th, he dismissed
Necker (later rehired).
July 14th, mob storms the
Bastille, symbol of despotic
Bourbon rule.
Necker is restored to power
and the Marquis de Lafayette
becomes commander of the
National Guard.
The Great Fear
Nobility begin to flee France in great
numbers in the summer of 1789.
Revolutionary fervor spreads among the
peasants.
Famine and riots spread across the
countryside.
On August 4, National Assembly ended
manorialism and privileges of the nobility.
Declaration of the Rights of Man
August 27th 1789 – Assembly
approved Declaration of the
Rights of Man and Citizen
– Provided freedom of speech
and press.
– Freedom of assembly and
petition.
– Freedom of religion.
– Freedom from arbitrary arrest.
– Embraced the doctrine of
popular sovereignty.
The Women's March to Versailles
Autumn of 1789, rumors
persisted of a plan by
the king to use military
force.
On the night of Oct. 5-6,
mob of mostly women
marched to Versailles to
protest the lack of bread.
Royal family moved to
Tuileries Palace in Paris
Political Clubs
Jacobins
– Moderate faction that became more radical;
supporting the end of the monarchy and
establishment of a republic. Maximilien
Robespierre was the most famous member
Cordeliers
– Radical faction (support end of monarchy).
Leading figures included Georges-Jacques
Danton and Jean-Paul Marat
Feuillants
– More conservative, supported constitutional
monarchy.
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Nov. 1789 – to deal with financial crisis,
Assembly confiscated all Church lands.
Assembly then issued paper money
(assignats) using land as security, but it
quickly lost value.
Assembly passed Civil Constitution of
the Clergy on July 12, 1790.
– Bishops and priests were elected by people.
– Needed to swear allegiance to Assembly.
– Over half refused to do so, became
opponents of the revolution.
The Constitution of 1791
Necker loses favor with the Assembly and
resigns in Dec. 1790.
On June 20, 1791 Royal family attempts to
flee that country, but is caught at Varennes
and retuned to the capital.
On Sept. 14, 1791 the king accepted the
constitution creating a constitutional
monarchy.
Legislative Assembly was created as the
legislative branch.
Reforms of the National Assembly
Abolished the titles of nobility and the
parlements which they dominated.
Created elected courts and juries.
Ended torture.
Reorganized local government into the 83
Departments.
Followed laissez-faire economic policies
by abolishing guilds and mercantilism.
Created fairer tax system.