The French RevolutionThe French Revolution-Key Concepts--Key Concepts-

I. Revolutionary IdeasI. Revolutionary Ideas

A. LibertyA. Liberty The notion of individual The notion of individual

human rightshuman rights A new type of A new type of

government in which the government in which the people are sovereignpeople are sovereign

The importance of a The importance of a representative assemblyrepresentative assembly

The importance of a The importance of a written constitutionwritten constitution

The notion of self-The notion of self-determinationdetermination

Freedom to accumulate Freedom to accumulate propertyproperty

B. EqualityB. Equality

Equality of rights and civil libertiesEquality of rights and civil liberties Equality before the lawEquality before the law No special privileges for the richNo special privileges for the rich Equality of opportunityEquality of opportunity ““Careers Open to Talent”Careers Open to Talent”

II. Roots of LiberalismII. Roots of Liberalism

Enlightenment Enlightenment FoundationFoundation

Locke’s Notion of the Locke’s Notion of the Rights of EnglishmenRights of Englishmen

III. “A Dual Revolution”III. “A Dual Revolution”

The French Revolution was the inaugural The French Revolution was the inaugural European revolutionEuropean revolution

The French Revolution and the Industrial The French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution together transformed the western Revolution together transformed the western worldworld

This “Dual Revolution” changed everything This “Dual Revolution” changed everything politically, socially and economicallypolitically, socially and economically

IV. “The Atlantic Revolution”IV. “The Atlantic Revolution”

French Revolution was a part of a whole French Revolution was a part of a whole series of revolutions which took place series of revolutions which took place during the late 18during the late 18thth century century--Political agitation in England, Ireland, --Political agitation in England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the Germany, Hungary, Poland and the American coloniesAmerican colonies

One big movement of revolutionary One big movement of revolutionary agitationagitation

A. British North AmericaA. British North America

““All Men are Created All Men are Created Equal”Equal”

The significance of The significance of the American the American constitutionconstitution

The impact of the The impact of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

C. The French RevolutionC. The French Revolution

More fundamental and profound More fundamental and profound consequences than the American consequences than the American RevolutionRevolution

France = most powerful and populous France = most powerful and populous state in Europestate in Europe

Massive social revolutionMassive social revolution Worldwide impactWorldwide impact Becomes model for future revolutionsBecomes model for future revolutions

V. The Events of the V. The Events of the French RevolutionFrench Revolution

Watch for the different revolutions Watch for the different revolutions within the Revolution!within the Revolution!

A. OriginsA. Origins

Began as a revolt of Began as a revolt of the aristocracythe aristocracy

Attempt to capitalize Attempt to capitalize on the financial woes on the financial woes of the monarchyof the monarchy

Only solution = tax Only solution = tax reform and a direct reform and a direct tax on all propertytax on all property

Aristocracy refused Aristocracy refused and forces the issueand forces the issue

B. The Estates-GeneralB. The Estates-General

An old feudal assembly An old feudal assembly that had not met since that had not met since 16141614

Three Estates: Clergy, Three Estates: Clergy, Nobility, All OthersNobility, All Others

The significance of the The significance of the voting procedurevoting procedure

The miscalculation and The miscalculation and lack of social awareness lack of social awareness of the aristocracyof the aristocracy

C. The Third EstateC. The Third Estate

Who were they?Who were they? Third Estate was Third Estate was

dominated by the middle dominated by the middle classclass

Blending of aristocratic Blending of aristocratic and bourgeois classes by and bourgeois classes by 17891789

Middle class = Big Middle class = Big WinnersWinners

Revolutionary goals of Revolutionary goals of the middle classthe middle class

E. “Revolutionaries in the Streets”E. “Revolutionaries in the Streets”

Who were they?Who were they? ““Sans-culottes” Sans-culottes”

(without knee (without knee britches)britches)

Picked up the ideas Picked up the ideas and slogans of the and slogans of the Revolution from the Revolution from the more educated more educated leadership of lawyers leadership of lawyers and journalistsand journalists

What were the Motivations of these What were the Motivations of these Revolutionaries?Revolutionaries?

Poverty and HungerPoverty and Hunger Low wages and fear of Low wages and fear of

unemploymentunemployment Heightened expectations Heightened expectations

and the exposure to a and the exposure to a political perspectivepolitical perspective

-- “Cahiers”-- “Cahiers” Strong dislike for and Strong dislike for and

distrust of the wealthydistrust of the wealthy

F. A Case Study: Storming the F. A Case Study: Storming the BastilleBastille

Events of the night of July Events of the night of July 13, 178913, 1789

Reasons for the attack on Reasons for the attack on the Bastille the next the Bastille the next morningmorning

The stubbornness of the The stubbornness of the governor of the fortressgovernor of the fortress

Celebrations on the night Celebrations on the night of July 14of July 14thth

Sparks tremendous Sparks tremendous popular revolution all over popular revolution all over FranceFrance

G. “The Great Fear”G. “The Great Fear” Revolutionary agitation in Revolutionary agitation in

the countrysidethe countryside Rumors of Royalist troops Rumors of Royalist troops

becoming wandering becoming wandering vandalsvandals

Fear breeds fear and Fear breeds fear and peasants start marchingpeasants start marching

Within 3 weeks of July Within 3 weeks of July 14, the countryside of 14, the countryside of France had been France had been completely changedcompletely changed

Declaration of the Rights of Man—Declaration of the Rights of Man—August 27, 1789August 27, 1789

H. The Court Returns to ParisH. The Court Returns to Paris

Mounting unemployment Mounting unemployment and hunger in Paris in the and hunger in Paris in the fall of 1789fall of 1789

““October Days”October Days”

-- “The point is that we -- “The point is that we want bread!”want bread!”

The Royal Family returns The Royal Family returns to Paris on October 6, to Paris on October 6, 17891789

I. The Consolidation of the Liberal I. The Consolidation of the Liberal RevolutionRevolution

Events from October, 1789 through Events from October, 1789 through September, 1791September, 1791

Abolition of the French nobility as a legal Abolition of the French nobility as a legal orderorder

Constitutional Monarchy establishedConstitutional Monarchy established Economic centralizationEconomic centralization Nationalization of the ChurchNationalization of the Church

--Stage set for subsequent civil war--Stage set for subsequent civil war

J. Popular Political MobilizationJ. Popular Political Mobilization

Revolutionary TalkRevolutionary Talk

--More than 500 new --More than 500 new newspapersnewspapers

--Oath of Loyalty--Oath of Loyalty

-- “Liberte, Equalite, -- “Liberte, Equalite, Fraternite!”Fraternite!”

Revolutionary SymbolsRevolutionary Symbols Revolutionary ClubsRevolutionary Clubs

--The Jacobins--The Jacobins Revolutionary LeadersRevolutionary Leaders

K. Growing RadicalismK. Growing Radicalism

Reasons:Reasons:

--Snowball Effect--Snowball Effect

--Unsatisfied --Unsatisfied ExpectationsExpectations

--Outbreak of War--Outbreak of War Results:Results:

--Increasing Violence--Increasing Violence

--Change in Political --Change in Political LeadershipLeadership

L. Robespierre’s Reign of TerrorL. Robespierre’s Reign of Terror

The Committee of The Committee of Public SafetyPublic Safety

The Concept of “Total The Concept of “Total War”War”

Maximum price Maximum price ceilings on certain ceilings on certain goodsgoods

Nationalization of Nationalization of Small WorkshopsSmall Workshops

L. The Reign of Terror (cont)L. The Reign of Terror (cont)

Execution of 40,000 Execution of 40,000 “Enemies of the Nation”“Enemies of the Nation”

Stress on radical Stress on radical definition of equalitydefinition of equality

Wanted a legal maximum Wanted a legal maximum on personal wealthon personal wealth

Wanted a regulation of Wanted a regulation of commercial profitscommercial profits

End of Robespierre’s End of Robespierre’s dictatorship on July 28, dictatorship on July 28, 17941794

M. The Directory and Napoleon M. The Directory and Napoleon BonaparteBonaparte

The Directory (1794-The Directory (1794-1799)1799)

Napoleon’s Rise to PowerNapoleon’s Rise to Power