1787-1799

FRENCH REVOLUTION

HISTORYDuring the eighteen century, France is the center of Autocratic

Monarchy. The French Monarchs engaged themselves in luxurious and extravagant life and affirm themselves as the “Representatives of God”.

KING LOUIS XIV:

The King Louis XIV is the exponent of this view. He enjoyed unlimited power and neglects the problems of people. Yet, he was a powerful monarch. His aspire of power is clearly revealed by his famous comment, “I am the State”.

After Louis XIV, King Louis XV holds the throne. . His defective Foreign Policy exacerbated the Economic Condition of France. Louis XV fought the Seven Years War against England which brought nothing for France. France became bankrupt due to over expenditure in wars and luxury.

KING LOUIS XV:

KING LOUIS XVI:

The King Louis XVI is successor of Louis XV. At his time, economic condition of France is very weak. He was a simple man but he was influenced by his avaricious queen.

MARIE ANTOINETTE

The wife of King XVI. Marie Antoinette was the daughter of Marie Theresa, the Austrian Empress. She always felt proud as she was the daughter of Austrian Empress. She always enjoyed luxurious and extravagant life. She sowed the seed of French Revolution.

THE SOCIAL CONDITION OF FRANCE:C

lerg

y

• Higher Clergy

• Lower Clergy

No

ble

s • Court Nobles

• Provincial Nobles

Co

mm

on

Peo

ple

s • Bourgeoisie• Sans-

culottes

THE BEGINNING OF REVOLT

CAUSES OF THE REVOLT:• French revolution has political, social and economic causes.

• Louis VI was an absolute monarch and he was unaware of the needs of his peoples.

• The major cause of the revolution was the disputes between the different types of social classes.

• The poor economic condition of the country is an important reason of the revolution.

• During the regime of Louis XVI, the royal treasury became empty as extravagant expenses of his queen Marie Antoinette.

• Due to partiality of King and queen the common people bears the heavy burden of taxes.

• France builds up enormous debt by participating in the war and american revolution.

• Finance Ministers advised the imposition of taxes.

• In 1783, Callone (a finance minister) adopted the policy of borrowing to meet the expenditures.

• But due to this policy, the national debt of France increased from 3 billions to 6 billions Franc only in three years.

• By 1789, the government was bankrupt.

Estates-General

First StateThe Nobility

They are exempted from tax.

Second StateThe Clergy

They are exempted from tax.

Third StateCommon People

They pay tax

EMERGING OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY:

• The finance minister Charles Alexander De Calonne suggested a tax solution that nobility and clergy should bear the tax burden heavily.

• The Third Estate is far more than the other two states.

• Feuds quickly broke out over this disparity and would prove to be irreconcilable.

• Realizing that its numbers gave it an automatic advantage, the Third Estate declared itself the sovereign National Assembly.

• Within days of the announcement, many members of the other two estates had switched allegiances over to this revolutionary new assembly.

GREAT FEAR (1789) :

• This is period of great panic and riot which occur asresult of Aristocratic Conspiracy (i.e. to throw outthe third state from Government).

• Meanwhile, the common people manifest theirauthority in a number of different ways.

• Shortly after the National Assembly formed, itsmembers took the Tennis Court Oath, demandingthat they would not withdraw until a newconstitution should be made.

• In the countryside, peasants and farmers revoltedagainst their feudal contracts by attacking themanors and estates of their landlords.

• The National Assembly was now call NationalConstituent Assembly.

AUGUST DECREE (1789):

The following were abolished:

• Tithes• Tax exemption• Financial Privileges• The Feudal System• Venality• Guild restrictions• Personal subjection to a lord• Corporate or provincial privileges• Seigneurial Courts

Extracts from “The declaration of the Rights of man & citizen”• Property, liberty, security, resistance to

oppression declared natural rights.• Freedom of speech, press nad religious

toleration• All citizens guaranteed equality before the

law• No arrest or imprisonment without the due

process• Sovereignty affirmed to reside in the people• Officer of the government subject to

remove if they abused powers conferred upon them.

RIFTS IN ASSEMBLY:

• Though the National Assembly did succeed in drafting a constitution, the relative peace of the moment was short-lived.

• A rift slowly grew between the radical and moderate assembly members, while the common labourers and workers began to feel overlooked.

• The moderate Girondins took a stance in favour of retaining the constitutional monarchy, while the radical Jacobins wanted complete democracy.

• Some neighbouring countries feared that France’s revolutionary spirit would spread beyond France. In response, they issued the Declaration of Pillnitz (1791), which insisted that the French return Louis XVI to the throne. French leaders interpreted the declaration as hostile, so the Girondin-led assembly declared war on Austria and Prussia.

1791

The Royal Family FleesUnrest in Paris in the spring of 1791 convinced the queen, Marie Antoinette, that the family must flee.

With the help of a loyal friend,

1790

Civil Constitution of the ClergyThe National Assembly passed the (CCC) to bring

the clergy under government control. Clergy elected by all citizens and salaries paid by the state.

1789

MARCH ON VERSAILLESWomen lead a march to Versailles

to demand bread.

TIME LINE

1792

France Goes to War Against Austria. The French government

declared war on Austria. As Prussia was allied with Austria, France found itself fighting a war against both

countries

Paris Mob Attacks the Tuileries. The mob

stormed the Tuileries where the royal family was being held. They demand a

new constitution and a convention to replace the Legislative Assembly and replaced by the National

Convention

The Republic of Virtue. Social and cultural

changes were implemented by the

Jacobins during the time they were in control in an attempt to erase all traces

of the Old Regime. They called their new society,

based on reason, the Republic of Virtue

1793

• The Execution of Louis XVI

• After six weeks of debate in the National Convention, with the Girondins wanting clemency for the king, whereas the Jacobins wanting to execute him. On 1793, the French government sent its former king to the guillotine.

1794

• The Execution of Robespierre

• Robespierre was arrested on July 27 and executed the next day. In month of Thermidor in the new French calendar, Robespierre was deserted by his supporters, accused of being a tyrant

IMPACTS OF FRENCH REVOLUTION:

• French Revolution brought fundamental political, social and economic changes in thehistory of France.

• Louis XVI was suspended and arrested for high treason and crimes against the state.

• The slogan of equality, liberty and fraternity became the watchwords of freedomloving people all over the world.

• The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.

• Napoleon attempted to please all members of society by creating a standard lawsystem.

• Feudalism abolished and the power of the clergy

curbed.

• Growth of nationalism.

• French revolution particularly gave rise to

totalitarianism.

RESOURCES:

The information presented in this presentation has been taken from the following links:

www.Britannica.com

www.sparknotes.com

www.europeanhistory.about.com

www.historydiscussions.net

www.history.com