Unit 6
The French Revolution and Napoleon
Objectives:
1. To understand the causes of the French Revolution
2. To be able to trace the stages of the French Revolution
3 .To understand the rise of Napoleon and the changes that he brought to France and Europe
______Needs – Documents – revolution Art – Flight of the King – VHS on French Revolution- Executioner book- skit readings for Safety committee- topic of explain how to stop the revolution without war or blood
1789-1799 The French Revolution was the first effective and successful challenge of monarchies on the continent it gave rise to popular sovereignty and nationalism. Not only would it radically change France but also it would have a ripple change affect on all European Monarchies, as reforms would be put in place as a result of the French. For France it would be a break and a solution to the old ways and usher in a modern government and society a complete break from the past.
At the time of the Revolution France was ruled by an absolute monarchy (always attempted despotism) Louis XVI in his 20’s did not like ruling liked being rich-hunting-dancing-and taking apart watches and clocks married to Marie-Antoinette 1755-1793 an “Austrian Whore” as French nobility and commoner referred to her. She hated France and her Husband and had numerous affairs. Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II was her brother.
The Old Regime Crumbles and Long term causes of the revolution
Louis XVI would be forced to call The Estates General something that had not been called in over 150 years- a declining economy – coupled with economic privilege for the nobles and clergy (leaving the cost to the poor) –a literate population influenced by the writings of the Enlightenment – and social unrest forced the King to give into public opinion and demand. For the nobility the poor and rising bourgeoisie wee out of control and had to be appeased rather than punished for fear of violence.
The old nobility was enraged at he Nuevo-Rich from 1774-1789 the king to collect money sold titles of nobility and positions in the government to 2,500 families– all of which became exempt from taxes. By 1789 there were 50,000 tax-exempt offices. This caused a power shift in the ranks of the nobles it went from sword to robe.
Rising prices on all goods from 1770-1780 and a series of bad harvests 1775 1787 1788 dramatically affected the living conditions of the poor masses whose population was doubling with birth rates.
Landlords and nobles raised rent and took back the common lands for themselves leaving the poor with very little to farm and raise livestock.
Financial Crisis the Short term cause
For more than a century France had been in a financial draining state of war with Britain and Europe as well as funding the later half of the American Revolution which defaulted on its loan and became economically tied to the British. 75% of the monarchies budget went to funding the Army, Navy and the debt from 3 previous wars.
Taxes were not effectively collected – peasants by law could only be taxed so much and nobles and clergy and their lands were exempt from taxation.
Jacques-Necker 1732-1804 Swiss Protestant Banker and Financial minister to Louis XVI hated by Marie and Nobles. Was able to secure loans for the crown by his financial reports on the crown that showed more money was coming in than was being spent however in1781 this was not enough and banks and nations refused credit to the French Monarchy. Necker warned Louis XVI that he was living beyond the means of the crown Marie hated him for this. He told the crown that unless they did financial reforms and recommended taxing the nobles and clergy creditors would not be loaning any money to France. Necker was fired at Marie’s request.
Charles-Alexandre de Calonne 1734-1802 replaced Necker – he simple pleased Marie and spent more money and put he country deeper in debt as creditors pounded on the palace doors. The parliaments distrusted Calonne and believed he would soon ax the land. Calonne to avoid parliament convinced the king to call an Assembly of Notables handpicked individuals from the three estates who would push through land taxes on everyone – They did the opposite and did not support this concept as it would equalize and upset the social structure of France. April 8 1788 Nobles forced the king to fire Calonne and replace him with Etienne-Charles de Lomenie de Brienne the archbishop of Toulouse.
He tried to convince the parliaments that corruption and overspending by the crown was under control and that taxes need to be raised. The Parliaments of France would not listen. The assembly of Notables considered taxes if the Ling would agree to call the Estates General at regular times. (1614 was the last). Louis to control this needed to reduce noble privileges by their choice so as not to appear to be a despot and he needed to gain public trust. He did not want to give up power either real or perceived.
First Stage of Revolution
The noble revolt started the French Revolution – The Paris Parliament and the provincial parliaments protested the king’s new taxes – and demanded that the Estates General be called (last one 1614) This was not a revolt against the monarchy but rather a revolt against attempted despotic rule by the monarch – and his abuses of power. Brienne was forced to withdraw the taxes on new lands and the stamp tax but the income tax would remain. Paper money would now be used backed only by royal decree to pay the nations debts. The Duke of Orleans (Kings Cousin) challenged Louis XVI that this too was illegal – the King simply crossed the line into despotism by claiming his will is the law.
1788 Louis XVI arrested two of the most outspoken members of the Parliament of Paris and disbanded the parliaments again in their place he put provincial courts controlled by the crown. – The Assembly Clergy then protested this act followed by riots in Grenoble. On Aug 8th 1788 Louis was forced to call The Estates General and reappoint Necker.
This was the first act of the French Revolution begun by the nobles and it unified public opinion against the Crown.
Voting now became an issue The Estates General was mad up of members of the three estates – Clergy, Nobility –who were against any reforms and the peasants who wanted reforms – Would the assembly vote by Estates 1 vote per estate which would guarantee clergy and noble victory or would it be a vote of 1 vote per member which would give he peasants the victory. On Sept 25 the parliament of Paris voted it would be by Estate 3 votes total. This would unify and enrage the peasants and multiple writers began to write for the Third Estate, One group of “old Money” nobles The Group of Thirty (included the Marquis de Lafayette) supported better representation for the third estate.
Make up of the Estates General
2/3rds of the first estate (clergy) were parish priests who hated the privileges of the Bishops. ½ of the nobles to the second estate were liberal and open to change. 2/3rds of the third estates were lawyers. Dec. 1788 the king doubled the number of the third estate hoping to gain their support but held to the 1 vote per estate He also asked for a list of Grievances that would be discussed at the meetings. These were wide spread grievances from sheep breath to political reform.
January 1789 Father Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes (peasant priest) became a spokesman for the third estate when he posted three questions to the peasants – What is the third estate? Everything – What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing – What does it demand? To become something therein.
May 5th 1789 1,200 members met 600 were of the third estate. The king met with the 1st and 2nd estates all day then spoke at the 3rd – Sieyes then called the Third Estate its new title – The National Assembly. This new title now gave the third estate the self proclaimed sovereignty of the nation and authority over the crown.
June 20 1789 – the king orders the rooms in which the third estate meets to be “locked for repair” President Jean-Sylvain then had them meet in the Tennis Court – and had the third estate take the Tennis Court Oath - a promise not to disband until the monarch and France were brought under a Constitution. The King said this was invalid and not recognized by the Crown.
June 22 1789 Necker fired again – but public pressure by the nobles and clergy did not allow it and several nobles and clergy left the 1st and 2nd Estates and joined the peasants in the 3rd.
June 23 1789 Louis XVI announced reforms – The Estates General would be called on a regular basis – abolish the tax on land – abolish the labor tax – eliminate internal tariffs and allow The Estates General to vote by head count on all maters not of tradition. – It was too little to late for the now radical third estate.
June 27 1789 The king dissolved the 1st and 2nd estates and ordered all nobles and clergy into the 3rd estate and he renamed it The National Constituent Assembly
July 1789 – food shortage – resulted in the bulk of the population believing that the nobility and “hoarders” were causing it – and the Crown moved an Army around Versailles. On July 11 Louis XVI again fired Necker. This resulted in massive attacks in Paris against the custom gates at the entrance of the city and the seizure of a military hospital for weapons and on July 14 1789 thousands of “san Culottes” artisans, tradesmen and wage earners stormed the Bastille, more symbolic than strategic. Was a royal prison but by 1789 held only 9 people 200 attackers were killed and the captain of the guard head was cut off and paraded through the streets of Paris. Louis removed part of the Army as he was not sure who was loyal and was forced to recognize a new government of Paris led by Bailly. The city controlled a National Guard lead by Lafayette and the Tri Color Flag was flown in place of the royal imperial flag. Louis came to Paris in the Red White and Blue colors recognizing the flag of rebellion.
Peasant Revolt
July 19-Aug for The rumors of noble and hoarder conspiracy caused the masses throughout France to attack nobles and large farms believe food was being kept from them in order to stare out the revolution. Townspeople throughout France took to arms to protect their towns and to raid government food stores. Lawyers and merchants lead the riots and gained a power they had no recently enjoyed – leadership and a roll in politics of the time.
To end the violence and to keep control of the people and prevent the monarchy from trying to use force the National Assembly met on Aug 4th and dissolved the concept of feudalism and servitude by the peasants. In one night the Assembly striped the nobility of a century of lifestyle. Nobles could no longer force work – or punish the peasants on their land. They further opened all hunting grounds to all people of France, and guaranteed the right to freedom of religion. Nobles were not compensated and had to privileges left. This was the beginning of the End of the OLD REGIME. This destroyed absolutism in France and redifind the relationship between King and People.
THE NEW REGIME
Drawing from the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence, the assembly created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (a major human rights accomplishment) on Aug. 26th 1789 – all people were to be equal before the law. French people were now members of a nation not a social class and mobility was based on citizenship. This allowed the assembly to begin to create a new form of government –but it allowed the talented intellectual to stay in power. Wealth became power not blood lines or birth. This document also only called for the rights of Man not Women – thus indirectly spawning the women’s movement in France.
The Estates General became the National assembly but Louis XVI still held the power to approve the Assembly’s actions and proposals of law.
It also made the Catholic Church a national church thus making all of the Church property part of the government and forced the clergy to swear allegiance to the government and ended tithe payments to the church, and auctioned off church land for peasant use. The Constitution of the French Clergy denounced by the pope those priests who did not take the oath could not hold services or give sacraments.
Next was to create a Constitution.
The Baker, the Baker’s wife and the Bakers little boy – (Louis XVI Marie and Louis XVII- responsible to provide bread)
Marie Antoinette hated France and the people of Paris and thought her husband to be a weak monarch. Her comments and action brought a mob to Versailles Government reform that the King did not like – the writing of Jean Paul Marat and a bread shortage coupled with inflation caused 10,000 women to march on Versailles hoping to convince the king to change.
Oct 5th 1789 the King and Queen were forced to move to Paris and become prisoners of Paris. Paris was becoming radical and dangerous for the royalty.
The Constitution of 1791
Created a constitutional monarchy but power still lay in the hands of the privileged wealthy class as tax paying determined govt. position. This was attacked by Marat and Georges Jacques Danton
Under this National assembly religious freedom was granted to Jews and Protestants. Free trade was guaranteed by ending guilds and unions and it outlawed slavery in France but not its colonies, which would lead to Toussaint L ‘Overture’s revolt in Hispania. In Sept. 1792 The National Assembly was replaced by the National Convention, which abolished slavery in the colonies. This made Haiti a free black state.