THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

• CRISIS OF THE FRENCH MONARCHY Louis XV 1715-1774 & Louis XVI (1774-1792) DEBT

• TAXES Peasants shoulder tax burden but have the least money

• ARISTOCRACY & CLERGY Aristocracy wants more influence & clergy protect entitlements

• ENLIGHTENMENT liberty & equality of opportunity radical & revolutionary idea. Liberalism: primary role of gov’t to protect & promote rights of individual. Ideals of E. can be realized but not supported by the masses!

THE ESTATES GENERAL

• Duke of Orleans regent for LXV: parlements restored & absolutism challenged

• New tax increases attempted but failed under Louis XV

• Louis XV bad reputation hurt monarchy

• Louis XVI rule leads France towards financial crisis & political upheaval

• Louis XVI must call Estates General 1788: 1st time since 1614

ESTATES GENERAL BECOMES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY JUNE 20, 1789

• ORGANIZATION & VOTING 2 MAJOR ISSUES

• 3RD DEMANDS THEY ALL SIT TOGETHER

• OLD REGIME CEASED TO CORRESPOND W/ SOCIAL REALITY OF 1780’S

• TENNIS COURT OATH – role of 3rd estates middle class

• CONSTITUTIONAL MON-ARCHY: LIBERTY GUARAN-TEED BY LAW

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• LIMITED MONARCHY – 1ST STAGE OF THE REVOLUTION

• DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN

• NATIONALIZED CHURCH PROPERTY

• ESTABLISHED METRIC SYSTEM

• CONFLICT WITH CATHOLIC CHURCH 1ST FAILURE

• ABOLISHED FRENCH NOBILITY AS A LEGAL ORDER

• SOME RELIGIOUS FREEDOM TO JEWS & PROTESTANTS

REVOLT OF THE POOR & OPPRESSED

• ECONOMIC DEPRESSION & AGRICULTURAL FAILURE

• SOARING PRICES OF BREAD

• STORM BASTILLE 7/14/89

• GREAT FEAR; 8/4/79 ARIST- OCRACY RENOUNCES PRIV-ILEGES

• ROLE OF WOMEN

• 10/5/89 WOMEN MARCH

• THREATEN QUEEN & ROYAL FAMILY FORCED TO LIVE IN PARIS

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF FRANCE1791-1799

• REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE E. BURKE 1790• DEFENSE OF CONSERVATISM – REVOLUTION A MISTAKE

• A VINDICATION OF THE RIGHTS OF MAN ’92 M. WOLLSTONECRAFT• REVOLUTION ONLY WHEN RIGHTS ARE EXTENDED TO ALL PEOPLE

• REVOLUTION WELCOMED BY EUROPEAN MONARCHS INITIALLY BUT BEGIN TO FEAR POWER OF REVOLUTION & EUROPE PREPARES FOR WAR WITH FRANCE

POLITICAL REORGANIZATION

• JACOBINS DOMINATE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 1791

• MORE RADICAL REVOLUTION-ARIES THAN PREVIOUS REPS.

• DECLARE WAR ON PRUSSIA APRIL 1792 – if they’re going to declare war on us let’s beat them to the punch.

• WAR BETWEEN FRANCE & EUROPE – GOES BADLY BUT PARIS IS SAVED

• RUMORS & RHETORIC

• CALLS FOR NEW NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

• MONARCHY DYING

THE SECOND REVOLUTION 1792-1793

• RAPID RADICALIZATION OF REVOLUTION

• FRANCE BECOMES A REPUBLIC 9/1792

• DEATH OF LOUIS XVI 7/93

• CONTINUATION OF WAR

• COMMITTEE OF PUBLIC SAFETY

• ROBESPIERRE • REIGN OF TERROR