Global 2: French Revolution

Old Regime

• An outdated feudal Middle Ages social and political system that unequally divided the population of France into three separate classes or estates

• It legally enforced social inequality, concentration of wealth, and total tax burdens on commoners, creating deep political anger that triggered the revolution

Estates

• People in France were split and divided into three different social classes during the Old Regime.

• A person’s estate determined their legal rights, tax obligations, and political representation in government

Bourgeoisie

• Educated, professional, and skilled-workers in the 3rd estate which includes lawyers, doctors, and merchants

• Despite acquiring wealth and education, they were excluded from political power and social privilege, leading them to embrace Enlightenment ideas and champion revolutionary reforms

1st Estate

• Privileged

• Made up of clergy

• Enjoyed many privileges and were wealthy

• Did not have to pay any taxes

• Provided basic social services but condemned Enlightenment ideas for undermining the religious and social order

2nd Estate

• Privileged

• Made up of nobility

• Enjoyed many of the same privileges as the 1st estate

• Hated absolutism, wanted their old feudal powers back

3rd Estate: Who comprises the 3rd Estate?

• Privileged

• The 3rd estate made up most of France’s population

• Had to pay 100% of government taxation while the 1st & 2nd estate didn’t

• Resented the other estates and questioned the inequalities of the Old Regime

• Called for the other 2 estates to start paying their share of the taxes

• had no voice in government, had limited rights, and faced harsher punishments for crimes

• Fought and died in costly wars while bearing the financial burden of the nation

Who comprises the 3rd Estate?

• bourgeoisie, peasants, city-workers

Deficit Spending

• The government spends more money than it takes in

• Prolonged deficit spending drove France into extreme national debt and eventual bankruptcy

During the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV, what was a lot of France’s money spent on?

• Heavy war debt from the Seven Years War and the American Revolution

• Lavish goods and luxuries, including building the Palace of Versailles

• This emptied the treasury which then caused taxes to increase while the 1st and 2nd estate still didn’t pay

Poor harvests and harsh winters caused food prices to skyrocket. Discuss the effect it had on the poor people of France.

• Due to poor harvests and harsh winters, this would mean that there was less food (specifically bread as it is the main staple of food for the French) and prices for food skyrocketed and were very expensive.

• People were hungry and starving, which caused riots and revolts.

Why was Louis XVI not fit to deal with the financial problems of France?

He was weak and indecisive

 Why does Louis XVI have to call in the Estates General after 175 years of inactivity?

• France was on the verge of bankruptcy. The nobles forced him into calling the Estates General. They hoped that they could bring back their old feudal rights through this. 

• When Louis XVI hired Jacques Necker as his finance minister, he recommended taxing the 1st and 2nd estate which was rejected by the privileged and he was dismissed. 

Explain how each estate voted in the Estates General. 

• Traditionally, each estate would meet and vote with each estate getting one vote.

• The 1st & 2nd estate would vote together and voted the 3rd estate 2:1 since the 1st & 2nd estate shared similar goals and ideas.

How did the 3^rd Estate want to change this?

• The 3rd estate wanted to vote by head so each member of the estate would meet and vote individually. Since there were more people in the 3rd estate than the 1st & 2nd estate combined

What was the Tennis Court Oath? Who made this oath? What did they promise to do?

• Promised to never separate and meet under any circumstances until the had established a sound and just constitution

• Delegates of the 3rd estate wanted more social and political reforms than the king was willing to give

• They formed the National Assembly and were going to meet at a court but then they found their room locked and guarded, so they moved to a nearby tennis court where many spectators watched as they said their famous vow.

 What was the Bastille? The destruction of the Bastille symbolized what?

• The Bastille was a prison that would house many political prisoners. It symbolized oppression and tyranny for the people. When they stormed the Bastille, it marked the end of oppression and tyranny of the Old Regime.

The Political Spectrum

• Radicals: Wanted extreme revolutionary change by replacing and overthrowing the monarchy and existing system.

• Liberals: Wanted reform in the existing system

• Moderates: Wanted balanced political changes

• Conservatives: Wanted to maintain status quo, keep the system exactly the way it is

• Reactionaries: Wanted to go back to the old system and restore absolute monarchy and traditional feudal rule

What was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen?

• Adopted by the National Assembly, contained many Enlightenment ideas

• Statement of principles that the new French constitution would be based on

• Ended 1st & 2nd estate privileges

What were some of the Enlightenment principles The Declaration of Man and Citizen incorporated?

• Natural rights (life, liberty, property)

• All men are born free and equal under the law

• Freedom of religion and speech

 Why was so much anger/resentment directed at Marie Antoinette?

• Marie Antoinette is not from France and is from Austria, people didn’t trust her

• She was viewed as extravagant and careless while people were starving

• Rumors spread about her

What was the state of the church at this time?

• The Catholic Church was against the revolution so the National Assembly put the church on state control. 

What were some of the principles highlighted in the Constitution of 1791?

• Established a constitutional monarchy and ended the absolute monarchy where the king has to obey the law

• The king accepted it as he had no choice, he is trapped or “checkmated” in a situation where he can’t escape from (no pun intended)

• Lawmakers would be elected by tax-paying male citizens

• This new form of government reflected Enlightenment ideas and ended Church influence and ensured equality before the law

How did the other powerful European nations respond to what was happening in France? What did they do?

•  European monarchs were terrified and did not like what was happening in France. They described the revolution and the ideas coming out of it as the “French plague.” They did not want these ideas to enter their country and spark revolutions so they were strict on border control. Rulers of Prussia and Austria threatened to intervene if France did not go back to a democracy, while this might’ve been a bluff, people took this seriously and were preparing for war. France declared war on Prussia, Spain, Austria, and Britain.

What was the significance of Louis XVI’s attempt to escape France?

• He was seen as a traitor to the revolution and a coward. He tried to abandon his people during a war. 

Who were the Jacobins? Who was Maximilien Robespierre?

• Maximillien Robespierre was the leader of the Jacobins and also led the Committee of Public Safety

• The Jacobins were a radical political group that controlled the National convention and wanted to abolish any traces of the old regime. They took land and abolished titles from the clergy and nobility.

How was death by guillotine considered representative of Enlightenment ideals?

• Designed to be a painless and humane method of execution by Dr. Guillotine

• It ended the privileges for the 1st and 2nd estate, this is a method of death that is used for everyone

• Instead of the rich getting to have access to this type of execution, it is used for everyone, which promotes the idea of equality

Describe the Reign of Terror. The Committee of Public Safety needs to be in your response.

•  The Reign of Terror was a period of time where terror and fear were used to govern the people. There were speedy trials and executions from morning to afternoon. Anyone who would be suspected or accused of being a traitor to the revolution would be tried and killed. About 300,000 people were arrested and about 40,000 were killed due to this. The Committee of Public Safety had dictatorial rule and Maximilien Robespierre was the leader of this time.

How did the Reign of Terror end? What was the Directory?

• When Robespierre arrested and executed his own allies, members of the Convention betrayed him and arrested and executed Robespierre and some of his other allies as well. They were afraid and feared of being next. This brought a new era of the Directory which was a 5-man executive council and a two house legislature established under the Constitution of 1795. Leaders that were corrupt had their focus on money and “stuffing their pockets.” They were also weak, indecisive, and incompetent as they failed to address several problems like when there was a food shortage, instead of trying to help it they suppressed the matter. 

 In what way did Nationalism play a role during the French Revolution at home and eventually abroad?

• The revolution and the wars against Britain, Prussia, and Austria gave the French a sense of national pride and identity.

• Inspired revolutions in Latin America, Italy, Germany, and other countries as well.