A-Level History: Causes of the French Revolution

structure of the Ancien Regime

- Resentment towards the Church for wealth, 0.5% pop and owning 10% land, as meant to lead simpler lives but seen as corrupt for 'don gratuit' which was seen as blackmail and practices such as pluralism

- Resentment towards the 2nd estate, 150k individuals and owned 30% of land, for collecting feudal dues and tax exemption

- 3rd estate forced to pay taxes e.g. the taille , strikes being illegal meant that wage increases didn't keep up with inflation (20% vs 60%)

structure of the Ancien Regime JUDGEMENT

the structure of the ancien regime was important because it exacerbated the effects of economic problems such as the poor harvest had on the 3rd estate - as the 3rd estate, the bourgeoisie, led the revolution this is a very important contributing cause

qualities of Louis XVI as King of France

- indecisive nature - shown by his 3 major decisions before the revolution: the recall of Parlement in 1774 took 6 months, entry to USA civil war took 2 years on and off, and the convocation of the Assembly of Notables took 5 months (where time was of the essence)

- weak - suggested by his marriage with M.Antoinette as she had alleged affairs (Queens were not allowed these) whilst Louis did not, took 7 years to produce an heir, unable to rein in 'Madame Deficit's extravagant spending habits

ideas of Enlightenment

- Enlightenment thinkers: Voltaire advocated secularism - famous 'crush the infamous' speech, Rousseau and the 'Social Contract'

- Spread through the salons, cafes and newspapers - number of newspapers grew from 3 to 80 from 1700 - 85

ideas of Enlightenment weaknesses

- Many works e.g. Candide banned and hence not easily accessible especially as peasants were illiterate

- Many enlightenment thinkers were not anti-monarchy e.g. Voltaire who not even against absolutism

- Majority of the public was Catholic + Louis was religiously devout

- Ideas sought to enhance existing order rather than changing it e.g. Montesqueiu believed in greater power for the nobles to rule ALONGSIDE the King

- Similar issues and enlightenment were spreading through Europe and hadn't led to revolution

American Revolution and the War of Independence

- Marie + Louis supported USA war - shows belief in enlightenment to the public

- French men fought in USA civil war - showing strong belief, Lafayette fought in this and wanted to echo this in France

social discontents

- Sharecropping - landowners tried to take over common land after 1760 taxes

- Bad harvests 1788-89 led to riots in Turgot to end controlled prices and peasants refused to pay tax in Franche-Comté

- 80,000 unemployed - survived on begging and prostitution

- Many rooms housed between 6 to 10 people

- Bad harvests 1788-89 - the price of a 4-pound loaf of bread in Paris increased from 9 to 14.5 sous - almost a full day's pay for unskilled labourers

- Crowds ransacked food warehouses in Marseilles

How successfully did Turgot solve his financial problems?

+ abolition of the corvee in 1776 and deregulated grain trade to stimulate agricultural productivity and reduce food prices

+ cut lavish spending by the monarchy - saving several million livres annually

- faced intense opposition from the nobility, esp. the single land tax - tax for all landowners - but never implemented due to resistance

- riots due to trying to remove price controls

- only in office for 20 months - Louis gave into opposition

How successfully did Necker solve his financial problems?

- By borrowing money he thought it would increase the confidence of lenders so they wouldn't have to pay as much of these loans (500+ million livres) - exacerbate debt

- Publicised the royal accounts (for 1st time) 'Compte Rendu of 1781' to inform the public about the truth of royal finances despite misleading 'creative accounting' involved. Backlash from royal court - led to resignation in 1781. Attempt was to make the financial situation appeal more appealing for foreign investment

- Recalled in 1788 where he advocated summoning the Estates General as very popular

- his dismissal July 11th (just before storming of the bastille) caused public outrage

How successfully did Calonne solve his financial problems? (1783 onwards) - closest to French Revolution

- reform package of 5 major points e.g. universal land value tax was rejected by the Parlement of Paris in 1788 because much more conservative in nature as nobles (although the public saw them as representing them)

- Initially popular by increasing public spending to buy the country out of debt - worsened debt situation

- major political failures: brought together the Assembly of Notables but they refused to endorse them - so catalyst for the political crisis

economic problems from 1787 - food shortages

Bad harvests 1788-89 due to severe winters and droughts led to food prices increasing 4-pound loaf of bread in Paris increased from 9 to 14.5 sous - almost a full day's pay for unskilled labourers

Led to social discontent e.g. riots in Turgot and crowds ransacked food warehouses in Marseilles - Louis appeared incapable in solving problems

economic problems from 1787 - financial crisis

- Although royal income grew from 475m to 503m livres expenditure grew from 587m to 629m livres between 1786-1788 ( 318m being from debt interest!!)

- Corruption and wastages within the tax collection systems as the collectors could pocket any excess money beyond agreement so the Crown didn't have an adequate income

- Controller Generals were unable to solve the financial crisis by themselves due to the nobles and the Crown not supporting them e.g. Marie Antoinette causing Turgot's downfall

1788 - Crown declares bankruptcy

political crisis (assembly of notables onwards to May 1789)

The Assembly of Notables was called in 1787 where Louis expected a 'no' and then could state that they are privileged and would pass it anyway but they said yes in return for representation e.g. increasing power of local government as they were enlightened. It showcased his weak personality. It shows he wants to have consent. He didn't go through the parlements because the nobles wouldn't want to have a full land tax and Louis had poor relations with them. They couldn't agree leading to a stalemate and were forced to go through Parlements.

Goes to Parlement of Paris November 1787 - they refuse to pass reforms and Louis tries to force reforms through - via exile (against tradition)

This causes lots of resistance e.g. ' Day of Tiles' due to the mistaken idea of being the voice of the people

estates-general success

- drawing up the cahiers de doleances (months leading up to the meeting of the estates general) was first time peasants could express complaints e.g. 35% wanted to abolish feudal dues, pleased peasants - Louis called a 'beloved monarch'

- public pleased about the potential for 3rd estate to have more of a voice as they doubled the number of votes for the 3rd estate (December 1788)

estates-general failure

- voting by estate meant that the 1st and 2nd estate meant that they could overpower the 3rd estate

- meeting separately as estates meant ineffective communication

What was the Tennis Court Oath and what was its significance

June 20th 1789

- after the failures of the estates-general who had convened May 5th, the 3rd estate generals declared themselves the National Assembly June 17th

- 576 of 577 members took this oath vowing not to disband until a new constitution was made

- significant as 1st time 3rd estate openly challenged authority of the King, solidified National Assembly and a step towards constitutionalism

What were the consequences of the Tennis Court Oath

- the King declaring all decisions of the National Assembly void in a seance royale on June 23rd showcased unwillingness to change

- June 24, 1789: 151 members of the clergy joined the Third Estate, recognizing the authority of the National Assembly.

June 25, 1789: 47 nobles, including the Duc d'Orleans, a prominent opponent of the king, joined the Third Estate, further legitimizing the National Assembly. (directly after the seance royale)

What was the Storming of the Bastille and what was its significance?

july 14th 1789

- the Bastille was stormed - resulting in the release of a handful of prisoners and the seizure of weapons and gunpowder (link to the great fear), De launey was killed by the mob

- first journee - showcasing the power of the mob

What were the consequences of the Storming of the Bastille?

- King surrendered to pressure when he found out the troops were unloyal by entering the Assembly to say he would recall the troops and reinstate Necker

- 17th July he recognised the new Paris City Council and the National Guard

Placed new revolutionary colours in a cockade

- The threat of violence showcased the power of the mob leading to aristocrats fleeing and the formation of the National Guard (to protect property) - led to more journeys

- National Guard was formed to protect the revolution, Lafayette was the leader of this

What and when was the Great Fear?

July 17th to August 3rd 1789

- Rumours that nobles had employed mercenaries and brigands to kill reformers and ruin crop to enforce discipline - supporters of the counter-revolution had actually fled by 20th July before the panic began

- Attacks lasted till 6th August - grain stores raided, records of taxes and dues destroyed, armed peasantry roamed the countryside

What was the significance of the Great Fear?

- destruction of feudal dues in the countryside shows that the revolution also had deep popular support in real areas not just in Paris and helped caused a definitive end to the feudal system as the N.Assembly soon after passed the August Decrees

What was the August Decrees? (when was it?)

August 3rd 1789

The patriot party were progressive reformers derived mainly from the nobility and the bourgeoisie who wanted real political change

It was done to quieten down rumours about noble and foreign plots and the great fear

They abolished feudalism entirely and got rid of the 3 estates by removing privileges where all taxed equally

Citizens eligible of all offices - ecclesiastical, civil or military

However, peasants had to compensate their landlords for the loss of their feudal dues causing many presents to actively turn against the revolution such as in Brittany

What was the significance of the August Decrees?

- Permanently removed the ancien regime

- Secured the support of the peasants for the Revolution

- Did not bring about sudden change

What and when was the declaration of the rights of man and citizen

26th August 1789

Contained principles to base the new constitution on

All men born free and equal

Power rests with the people (social contract)

Freedom to own property

Taxation in proportion to incomes

What was the significance of the declaration of the rights of man and citizen?

- it inspired liberals throughout Europe - imperative in spreading the revolution

- indirectly influence subsequent legal reforms from the establishment of equality before the law and the codification of civil rights in the Napoleonic Code

What was the nationalisation of Church land (significance)

2nd November 1789

Church owned 10% of land - value of 2000m livres (important as 500m borrowing by Necker)

Bonds called assignats were issued and sold which were accepted as currency to settle debts and purchase goods

They were able to buy people into the revolution - cultivating loyalty - 47% of land in Nord was bought by peasants

Useful as people thought that the Church had too much economic and political influence

What were the October Days

2nd Journee

Demonstrates the power of direct mob action

Louis reinforced his guard at Versailles by summoning loyal Flanders regiment

Many thought he should not be under the influence of the corrupt royal court by putting him at the centre of the revolution

October 1st there were anti-revolutionary demonstrations including the trampling of tricolour cockades of revolution

Food shortages + ongoing economic issues sparked widespread anger

October 5th stormed the new HQ of the Paris Commune demanding bread

6000 women marched to Versaille later followed by 20,000 NG under Lafayette

The Assembly agreed to provide Paris with grain

Louis finally acknowledged the August Decrees and the Declaration of the Rights of Man

They threatened to kill Marie Antoinette - anger towards monarchy but not Louis

The mob escorted the royal family to Paris, Tuileries Palace and NA to Paris