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

Revolutionary IdeasRevolutionary Ideas-Ideological Foundation for -Ideological Foundation for

Political Liberalism-Political Liberalism-

LibertyLiberty

1.1. The notion of individual The notion of individual human rightshuman rights

2.2. A new type of A new type of government in which the government in which the people are sovereignpeople are sovereign

3.3. The importance of a The importance of a representative assemblyrepresentative assembly

4.4. The importance of a The importance of a written constitutionwritten constitution

5.5. The notion of self-The notion of self-determinationdetermination

6.6. Freedom to accumulate Freedom to accumulate propertyproperty

EqualityEquality

1.1. Equality of rights and civil libertiesEquality of rights and civil liberties

2.2. Equality before the lawEquality before the law

3.3. No special privileges for the richNo special privileges for the rich

4.4. Equality of opportunityEquality of opportunity

5.5. ““Careers Open to TalentCareers Open to Talent””

6.6. Inherent tension between liberty and Inherent tension between liberty and equalityequality

Roots of LiberalismRoots of Liberalism

Judeo-Christian and Judeo-Christian and Greek rootsGreek roots

Enlightenment Enlightenment FoundationFoundation

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

British North AmericaBritish North America

““All Men are Created All Men are Created EqualEqual””

The significance of The significance of the American the American constitutionconstitution

The influence of the The influence of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

The impact of the The impact of the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

The French RevolutionThe French Revolution

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

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

3.3. Massive social revolutionMassive social revolution

4.4. Worldwide impactWorldwide impact

5.5. Becomes model for future revolutionsBecomes model for future revolutions

How Should We Look at How Should We Look at the French Revolution?the French Revolution?

““Series of revolutions which became Series of revolutions which became more radical as leadership cascaded more radical as leadership cascaded

down through French society.down through French society.””

The Events of the French The Events of the French RevolutionRevolution

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

Pre-1789: Pre-1789: Causes of the French Causes of the French

RevolutionRevolution1.1. King Louis XVIKing Louis XVI (an absolute monarch) was (an absolute monarch) was

spending LOTS of money.spending LOTS of money.2.2. France had costly debts from the American France had costly debts from the American

Revolution, Marie Antoinette, and the Revolution, Marie Antoinette, and the military.military.

3.3. The American Revolution inspired the Third The American Revolution inspired the Third Estate to begin fighting against the King.Estate to begin fighting against the King.

4.4. King & Aristocracy need more money, so King & Aristocracy need more money, so need to levy an new tax- only Estates-need to levy an new tax- only Estates-General can do thisGeneral can do this

The Estates-GeneralThe Estates-General

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

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

3.3. The significance of the The significance of the voting procedurevoting procedure

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

The Third EstateThe Third Estate

1.1. Who were they?Who were they?

2.2. Third Estate was Third Estate was dominated by the middle dominated by the middle classclass

3.3. Blending of aristocratic Blending of aristocratic and bourgeois classes and bourgeois classes by 1789by 1789

4.4. Middle class = Big Middle class = Big WinnersWinners

5.5. Revolutionary goals of Revolutionary goals of the middle classthe middle class

An Agenda of Classical LiberalismAn Agenda of Classical Liberalism

1.1. Representative Representative government did not government did not mean democracy or mean democracy or ““mob rulemob rule””

2.2. Estates-General Estates-General became the National became the National Assembly in June of Assembly in June of 1789 with the power 1789 with the power to frame a to frame a constitutionconstitution

3.3. Tennis Court OathTennis Court Oath

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

1.1. Poverty and HungerPoverty and Hunger

2.2. Low wages and fear of Low wages and fear of unemploymentunemployment

3.3. Heightened expectations Heightened expectations and the exposure to a and the exposure to a political perspectivepolitical perspective

4.4. Strong dislike for and Strong dislike for and distrust of the wealthydistrust of the wealthy

5.5. The role of conspiracyThe role of conspiracy

A Case Study: Storming the A Case Study: Storming the BastilleBastille

1.1. Events of the night of Events of the night of July 13, 1789July 13, 1789

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

3.3. The stubbornness of the The stubbornness of the governor of the fortressgovernor of the fortress

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

5.5. Sparks tremendous Sparks tremendous popular revolution all popular revolution all over Franceover France

““The Great FearThe Great Fear””

1.1. Independent Independent revolutionary agitation in revolutionary agitation in the countrysidethe countryside

2.2. Rumors of Royalist Rumors of Royalist troops becoming troops becoming wandering vandalswandering vandals

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

4.4. 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

5.5. Abolition of the NobilityAbolition of the Nobility

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

A Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights in one.

The Court Returns to ParisThe Court Returns to Paris

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

2.2. ““October DaysOctober Days””

3.3. Women nearly killed the Women nearly killed the QueenQueen

4.4. The Royal Family The Royal Family returns to Paris on returns to Paris on October 6, 1789October 6, 1789

France Becomes a France Becomes a Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy

September 1791September 17911.1.National Assembly wrote a new National Assembly wrote a new constitutionconstitution, , creating a constitutional monarchy in France.creating a constitutional monarchy in France.2.2.France ruled as a constitutional monarchy France ruled as a constitutional monarchy for almost a year, with King Louis XVI as the for almost a year, with King Louis XVI as the limited monarch, and several clubs part of the limited monarch, and several clubs part of the National Assembly. National Assembly. August 1792August 17921.1.Radicals stormed the Tuileries and took the Radicals stormed the Tuileries and took the King into custody.King into custody.2.2.End of the Sane Revolution End of the Sane Revolution

STOP DAY 1STOP DAY 1

France Becomes a France Becomes a RepublicRepublic

September 1792September 1792 -- the -- the ““September September MassacresMassacres””

1.1.The National Assembly began The National Assembly began executing nobles without a trial.executing nobles without a trial.

2.2.The National Assembly was changed The National Assembly was changed to the to the National ConventionNational Convention..

A. The government changed to a A. The government changed to a ““republicrepublic”” -- a representative democracy.-- a representative democracy.

B. King Louis XVI was no longer needed for B. King Louis XVI was no longer needed for the government.the government.

January 1793January 17931.1. King Louis XVI was put on trial and King Louis XVI was put on trial and

executed by the executed by the guillotine guillotine for treason.for treason.

2.2. Peasants broke out in rebellion Peasants broke out in rebellion against the nobles.against the nobles.

3.3. HOWEVER: Some peasants and HOWEVER: Some peasants and nobility were still loyal to the King.nobility were still loyal to the King.--> Those loyal to the monarchy were --> Those loyal to the monarchy were termed termed ““counterrevolutionariescounterrevolutionaries”” and they and they became the adversaries of the radicals in became the adversaries of the radicals in charge of the new Republiccharge of the new Republic

Popular Political MobilizationPopular Political Mobilization

1.1. Revolutionary TalkRevolutionary Talk

a. More than 500 new a. More than 500 new newspapersnewspapers

b. --Oath of Loyaltyb. --Oath of Loyalty

c. c. ““Liberte, Equalite, Liberte, Equalite, Fraternite!Fraternite!””

2. Revolutionary Symbols2. Revolutionary Symbols

3. Revolutionary Clubs3. Revolutionary Clubs

a. --The Jacobinsa. --The Jacobins

4. Revolutionary Leaders4. Revolutionary Leaders

K. Growing RadicalismK. Growing Radicalism

1.1. Reasons:Reasons:

--Snowball Effect--Snowball Effect

--Unsatisfied --Unsatisfied ExpectationsExpectations

--Outbreak of War--Outbreak of War

2.2. Results:Results:

-Increasing Violence- -Increasing Violence- Use of the Guillotine Use of the Guillotine

--Change in Political --Change in Political LeadershipLeadership

L. RobespierreL. Robespierre’’s Reign of Terrors Reign of Terror

1.1. The Committee of Public The Committee of Public SafetySafety

2.2. The Concept of The Concept of ““Total Total WarWar””

3.3. Maximum price ceilings Maximum price ceilings on certain goodson certain goods

4.4. Dominated by Jacobins- Dominated by Jacobins- Hunt for Enemies of the Hunt for Enemies of the RevolutionRevolution

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

1.1. Execution of 40,000 Execution of 40,000 ““Enemies of the NationEnemies of the Nation””

2.2. Stress on radical Stress on radical definition of equalitydefinition of equality

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

4.4. Wanted a regulation of Wanted a regulation of commercial profitscommercial profits

5.5. End of RobespierreEnd of Robespierre’’s s dictatorship on July 28, dictatorship on July 28, 17941794

France Becomes a Republic France Becomes a Republic (again)(again)

1795-17991795-1799: : The DirectoryThe Directory is is establishedestablished

1.1. Five officers as the executiveFive officers as the executive

2.2. Two legislative bodiesTwo legislative bodies

3.3. Military is used to maintain control of Military is used to maintain control of countrycountry

4.4. ENTER ENTER NAPOLEON BONAPARTENAPOLEON BONAPARTE

5.5. The French people loved The French people loved Napoleon and the Directory was unable Napoleon and the Directory was unable to maintain order without him . . . to maintain order without him . . .

Directory OverthrownDirectory Overthrown

1.1. Napoleon used the Napoleon used the power and influence power and influence of the military to win of the military to win the support of the the support of the people.people.

2.2. The Directory was The Directory was overthrown by overthrown by Napoleon in Napoleon in 17991799..

3.3. Napoleon organized Napoleon organized a new government.a new government.

France Becomes an France Becomes an Absolute MonarchyAbsolute Monarchy

ByBy 1801 1801, Napoleon had gained , Napoleon had gained absolute power and crowned himself absolute power and crowned himself ““Emperor of the FrenchEmperor of the French..””

NapoleonNapoleon’’s Policies s Policies (that made him popular)(that made him popular)

1.1. Helped the economy by setting Helped the economy by setting prices, supporting new industry, and prices, supporting new industry, and building roads and bridgesbuilding roads and bridges

2.2. Created a government-controlled Created a government-controlled school systemschool system

3.3. Established the Established the Napoleonic CodeNapoleonic Code (a (a set of laws) that supported equality set of laws) that supported equality and religious tolerationand religious toleration

NapoleonNapoleon’’s Empires Empire

1.1. From 1789-From 1789-1812, 1812, Napoleon took Napoleon took over many over many countries with countries with military force.military force.

2.2. Napoleon build Napoleon build up an empire up an empire for France, for France, peaking in peaking in 1812. 1812.

NapoleonNapoleon’’s Falls Fall

Why did his empire begin to crumble?Why did his empire begin to crumble?

1.1. People in the conquered states People in the conquered states revolted revolted against French rule.against French rule.

2.2. Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812. Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812. Russia used the Russia used the ““scorched earth policscorched earth policyy ”” so the French had no supplies --> so the French had no supplies --> Most of the army was lost during the Most of the army was lost during the Russian winter.Russian winter.

3.3. An 1813 alliance of Russia, Great An 1813 alliance of Russia, Great Britain, Austria, and Prussia defeated Britain, Austria, and Prussia defeated Napoleon.Napoleon.

Effects of the French Effects of the French RevolutionRevolution

1.1. Democratic ideals of Democratic ideals of ““Liberty, Equality, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternityand Fraternity”” were spread were spread throughout Europe.throughout Europe.

2.2. People wanted a change in People wanted a change in government from absolute government from absolute monarchies, and were inspired by the monarchies, and were inspired by the changes in France.changes in France.

3.3. Nationalism, or strong feelings of Nationalism, or strong feelings of pride in onepride in one’’s country, were built up s country, were built up by Napoleonby Napoleon’’s conquests.s conquests.