History Unit 3 Aos1

1774: State of France and Louis:

• Louis XVI took the throne - 1774 -  grievances about inequity and privilege were growing

• France was already in debt - first challenge = the national debt and need for reform.

• 14 year time period - appoint 4 finance ministers in attempt to reform finance management 

OVERVIEW OF EVENTS OF 1788 How was a state of financial crisis created in 1778?

• Unequal and corrupt fiscal policies

• French involvement in wars including the War of Independence from 1778

• The failed Assembly of Notables

• Jacques Necker as Finance Minister - his actions and importance

#1 Turgot - Finance Minister (1774-1776):

• 1774 – Jacques Turgot becomes Controller-General of Finance (Finance Minister)

• Turgot interested in free trade principles, wanted to introduce enlightened reforms against the privileged groups. 

• First action as F.M = letter to Louis regarding debts discovered in the royal treasury. + proposals for reforming fiscal policy - cutting expenditure + fairer taxation

Turgots reforms and who he provoked:

Reforms largely unsuccessful:	Turgot had provoked:
Introduce tax reform Abolish the corvée (labour tax) Introduce free trade legislation Limit the spending of the royal household	Nobles + parlements (attempting to limit privilege) Fnanciers (proposing free-trade legislation) Rich bourgeoisie (attempting to abolish guilds) Privileged landowners (attempting abolish corvée)

The end of Turgot:

• Paris Parlement refuses to register his proposed legislation

• Marie Antoinette played a considerable role in Turgot’s downfall - disliked him, encouraged criticism from nobility.

Turgot dismissed by Louis in 1776 = no reforms implemented

Wars and Outcomes:

War:	Outcome:
War of Austrian Succession (1740-48) AND Seven Years’ War (1756-63)	France lost to Britain - lost land.
American War of Independence (1775-1783) (France involved from 1778)	Financed entirely through loans - 520 million livres. Spent over 1 billion livre on the war.

France takes out war loans to fund wars = debt! By 1786,  deficit compounded to over 112 million

livres ( ¼ of French income).

American War of Independence:

• Louis wanted to help British rebel against King George III

• France + Britain rivalry for power throughout 18th century

• Fighting for rep. + right to tax themselves - ideas of liberty

• War broke out in 1775 - In February 1778, representatives of France + America declared alliance - Treaty of Alliance (6th February 1778) 

• France enters the War of Independence (Treaty) sends troops, equipment, financial support + 8000 soldiers.

• French aid guaranteed by treaties crucial to American victory over British at Yorktown 1781.

War ends - 3rd September 1783 through The Treaty of Paris (Britain + US)

Ideas of the War of Independence:

• Ideas of personal liberty and freedom from despotism. 

• Establishment of a constitution - it was enshrined in law that: 

  • The people had ‘inalienable rights’

  • These rights should be written down in a bill of rights as part of a constitution

  • Government authority should be strictly limited through a separation of powers.

  • No taxation without representation

• Where a government failed to protect these rights, the people had the right to remove and replace it with a new government that would protect their safety and happiness

Why was France involved? in American War

• Long term rivalry with Britain

• Promote National unity and restore national pride (in defeating Britain)

• Trading opportunities with the American states

Consequences of Involvement: in American War

• Undermined the French monarchy - Americans wanted to overthrow king, unfair taxation

• ‘American spirit’ spread through France  - enlightenment ideals of equality, liberty against despotism, representation etc. 

• DEBT!!! Spent over 1 billion livres with 91% directly sourced from loans (520 million from loans sourced by Necker, the rest from previous loans) (directly led to the bankruptcy of 1788.)

Translation of the Declaration of Independence:

• In 1778, Rochefoucauld translated + published America’s 1776 D.of Independence.

• Widely sold and discussed in Paris. 

• A total of 8000 French soldiers +sailors served in American War - returned and became advocates of new and exciting society

• Saw ideas of american spirit unachievable under oppression of the Ancien Regime. 

#2 Necker - Finance Minister (October 1776- May 1781): 

• October 1776 Louis appoints Jacques Necker as finance ministe - successful Swiss banker.

Some success with reforms to France’s financial system:

• Reductions on royal spending

• Abolished some venal offices: 385 in taxation and finance + 506 in royal household. Saved 2.5 million livres a year

• Reduced the number of Farmers-General (corrupt tax collectors) - placed activities under state supervision

Government revenue rose from 25 -30 million livres during office

Necker tells a lie!

• To enter and support the war - Necker needs to take out loans - but no loans will be given in the unstable state of France's economy - therefore he lies to obtain them.

• February 1781 Necker published ‘Compte Rendu au Roi’ , first public account about the financial situation of the French state → Popular document , 20,000 copies sold in few weeks

• His reputation as a financial genius contributed to the mass acceptance this was the ‘truth’.

Compte Rendu au Roi (February 1781) PROBLEM:

• Compte Rendu did NOT include war costs and other significant expenses

• Made it appear that there was a surplus - 10 million livres - ordinary revenue was exceeding expenditure.

• Ensured that Necker was able to get more loans without raising taxes.

• Necker very popular with the Third Estate = know what nobility are doing.

• Between 1777 and 1781 Necker raised 520 million livres in loans with high interest rates. 

• First time finances public - holding king accountable for management of public money.

Reality of France’s financial situation: 70 million livres deficit.

Opinions on Necker: 1781

• From 3rd Estate and a foreigner = popular among commoners

• Louis and Antoinette did not approve of Necker publishing Compte Rendu

• General public, hailed him a clever economic manager

• Made many enemies in reform process - particularly venal office holders.  

• In May 1781 King Louis XVI dismissed Necker as finance minister - (also pressured to leave)

What was the impact of Necker’s actions? 1781

• Necker’s perceived ‘success’ made further reform difficult as some in France didn’t see why tax reform was needed when Necker was able to finance wars without raising taxes. 

• Parlements Magistrates (role of registering edicts), were suspicious when the next 2 finance ministers tried to implement tax reforms. 

• Suspicion + resistance from nobility created the political crisis - morphed into revolution.

#3 Charles de Calonne - Finance Minister (1783-1787):

• (Nov 1783 - April 1787) Charles de Calonne =finance minister

• Calonne tries to stimulate the economy with large spending projects – funded by more loans

• Paris Parlement becomes suspicious about these loans  

• 1785 the Paris Parlement was threatening to deny registration of further loan contracts

• People believed Calonne’s management of the finances to be poor: (Necker's lies- to enormous debt in 1787 (reality)).

Bankruptcy Situation by 1786: (4)

1. France is facing bankruptcy: Deficit of 112 million livres (¼  total income) - Interest on debt consuming 37.5% of revenue AND almost ½ income 1787 spent in advance.

2. Huge Debts from the American War of Independence

3. Perception of Monarchy (Marie Antoinette) damaged-Diamond Necklace Affair (1785-1786) 

4. Calonne cannot take out more loans - forced to try to implement fiscal (taxation) reform.

Calonne’s Plan: (what reforms he wants)

• 20^th August 1786 state is facing financial collapse Calonne introduces – ‘Plan for the Improvement of the Finances’

1. Replace the multiple income taxes with one uniform land tax on all landholders ( tax burden shifted more on wealthy, corvee replaced) 

2. Streamline taxation system- local assemblies rather than tax farmers collecting tax  (elected by landowners, prevent corruption of tax farmers)

3. Internal tax barriers and external tariffs abolished (stimulate trace within France)

*Estimated to increase income by 35 million livres

Calonne’s Plan’s Flaws:

• Calonne needed to borrow money until new revenue flowed in

• To borrow more money he needed to: 

  • Convince bankers that proposed reforms would pass into law by Paris Parlement

  • Gain support from the most powerful groups in France, hoping that they might positively influence the Paris Parlement.

*He convinces the king to convoke an Assembly of Notables - last  summoned by the king in 1626

Assembly of Notables - (22 Feb -25  May 1787):

*Notables: Bishops, magistrates, mayors, significant individuals (Lafayette ect.)

• (22 Feb -25  May 1787)

• A meeting held in Versailles - 144 ‘notable’ members of society - Although the Third Estate were largely unrepresented - fewer than 30 members. 

• Many proposals were approved - with some changes.

Approved and Disapproved - Assembly of Notables

Approved:	Disapproved:
Liked local assemblies  Agreed to changes to corvée Agreed elimination of internal customs charges.	Disapproved of ALL land owners paying tax. The 1st + 2nd said they had to consult with their own assemblies first Demanded to see the full accounts of France - (conflict with Louis) Said they could not approve any new taxation (3rd May 1787)  *This right, they argued, belonged to an Estates-General

Notables overall viewpoints (Calonne)

• In favour of tax reform but demanded to be fully informed about nations finances.

• Reject financial reform - not in the best interest of France - trying to protect fiscal interests.

• Started pushing against the King (for Estates General) = opportunity for them to gain power.

• Needing the Estate General meeting makes Kings authority feel weak

Calonne - Encourages public opinion:

• Calonne published the proposed reforms so the public could see them.

• Calonne therefore provided the public with permission to have opinions about France’s state affairs (begun with the Compte Rendu au Roi).

Begin of Aristocratic Revolt:

• The Notables were not afraid to challenge the authority of the King

• Assembly of Notables = a turning point in which an economic crisis has morphed into a political crisis (would morph into revolution).

• Louis’ power as an absolute monarch threatened - calling an Estates-General would be seen as giving in to the demands of the public

• Public discourse increases

Outcome of Aristocratic Revolt:

• King Louis XVI replaced Calonne with Brienne (April 1787) - Brienne then unable to gain the support of the Notables for fiscal reform

• In May 1787 the Assembly of Notables was dissolved

Overall - Louis' authority is declining as the Nobles start to question the king.  Notables see Calonne’s actions as ministerial despotism (the abuse of power by government ministers). 

 **All this has done is weaken the King's  position.

General: About the Parlements Powers:

• The Parlement of Paris was the sovereign court of appeal: 

• Role - to register royal edicts so that they became law, and scrutinize king's edicts to determine if they were consistent with France's existing laws.

• Magistrates of Parlement of Paris = members of 2nd Estate (born or paid to acquire office). 

• The Parlement of Paris, (jurisdiction covered 1/3 of the country) - Parlementaires had the right to point out any defects in the new legislation (remonstrating) + return it to the king for reconsideration. 

• They did not have the power to reject the king’s edicts—only to delay them.

• Publishing remonstrance = rally public opposition against legislation.

• Lit de Justice: The French king (as the supreme source of justice) could come to the court in person to force the registration of any legislation through, his presence cancelled the authority of the magistrates.

#4 Brienne’s Reforms: July 1787

• Despite objection from the AoN, reform needed to still be pushed because of bankruptcy.

• In a bid to avoid an Estates-General, Brienne presented new reforms (slight amendments to Calonne’s) to the Paris Parlement.

• 2^nd July Paris Parlement rejected the tax reforms and insisted that only an Estates-General had the right to pass tax reforms - Without the consent of the people, the parliament would not consent to registration of the edicts

• From rejection - Louis was seen as weak and unable to solve the financial problems of France

Parlements taking a stand:

• Parlements maintained that their role was ‘to maintain the citizens in the enjoyment of rights which the laws assure them’. - This claim placed the parlements as guardians of the rights of the people. Led the parlements to argue that they had right to scrutinise new taxes.

• Why go against Louis? - Calling AoN showed monarchy’s power was weak

• The Parliament of Paris wanted to gain further power in the monarchy's weakness.

• Demanding its right to register edicts be recognised as the power to veto tax legislation- as it did not have the consent of the nation.

Lit De Justice:

• 6^th August 1787 Louis held a lit de justice, using his absolute power to pass reform

• BUT the Paris Parlement declared that such an action was invalid - Louis fell ASLEEP during it

• 15^th August 1787 - Louis, frustrated, exiled the Paris Parlement to Troyes (town 150 km away)

• Paris Parlements keeps the public informed - the public will not be happy with their dismissal.

• Sparked popular uprising against the monarchy - lower courts protesting the king's actions, and demonstrations in streets and markets in support of the parlements.

EFFECT: The popularity of the monarchy declines.

Louis XVI’s actions September 15^th 1787: Compromise

• Magistrates and King’s ministers reach a compromise. 

  • The parlement would be recalled -Louis allows Paris Parlement magistrates to return.

  • Brienne’s tax plan would be modified - withdrawn land tax.

Compromise - Parlemets and Louis

Compromise:

• Parlements register loans of 420 million livres in the period 1788–1792 to pay off short-term debts due.

• To impose financial cutbacks on the military, the bureaucracy and the royal household.

• If parlement would register his loans, he would call an Estates-General by 1792. 

19^th November 1787 - The Royal Session:

• Lamoignon, antagonised magistrates stressing absolute authority of the King.

• Louis ordered that all loans be immediately registered.

• Parlements need to sign reforms off incrementally, but Louis demands otherwise.

• Duc d’Orleans rose to say that the King’s actions were not legal! 

• To which Louis replied, “It is legal because I will it.”

• 20th November 1787 Parlement again REFUSE to register the loans - dissatisfaction with Louis, and exercise power.

20^th November 1787 - Royal Session aftermath - people being arrested, Louis looks like a Tyrannicle leader.

• Paris Parlement refused to register the loan

• The Duc d’Orleans and two other leading magistrates were exiled (lettres de cachet)

• Provincial parlements supported the Paris Parlement - refused to register any loans and condemned the lettres de cachet as illegal.

• Split between king + Parlement of Paris widened. 

• Rumoured that the king’s ministers intended to get rid of the parlement altogether.

Effect: Royal session aftermath - Parlement went on the offensive:

• Condemned the forcible registration of the loans in November 1787

• Forbid tax collectors to apply the new taxes

• May 3^rd 1788 - Parlement issued a declaration of what it regarded as the ‘fundamental laws of the realm’ including:

1. Right of Nation freely to grant taxes through regular meetings of the Estates-General

2. The right of the Parlements to register new laws 

3. The freedom of all Frenchmen from arbitrary arrest

The Stand off - Events and Dates: Parlemet and Louis

• May 4^th  1788: Some magistrates issued a declaration that directly challenged the king’s authority - An order was made for their arrest: Duval d’Epremesnil + Goislard de Montsabert 

• May 5th – 6th 1788: Magistrates took refuge in the Paris Parlement, royal soldiers surrounded the building - After an 11 hour stand-off before  two magistrates gave themselves up.

Second Lit de Justice - Versailles (May 8^th  1788):

• Brienne presents more reforms:  Including one to replace all Parlements with a temporary Plenary Court, which would register royal decrees - designed to oppress growing opposition.

• May 9^th 1788 Parlement of Paris and the provincial parlements were suspended.

**Eroded into chaos that the public knows about!

Day of Tiles (10^th June 1788)! 

• Commoners first become involved - magistrates hailed as defenders of people's rights, protests demanding their recall. Provincial parlements refused to be dismissed - 5 parlements, magistrates exiled through lettres de cachet.

• Magistrates in this provincial parlement had defied Louis’ order to disband

• 10th June - soldiers come to banish magistrates from the Parlement of Grenoble.

• Citizens of ​​Grenoble, supporting their parlement, threw down roof tiles on troops who had come to arrest magistrates. Soldiers were told not to fire into crowds.

• One soldier shot and killed 2 people - and the governor’s house was looted. 

Significance of Day of Tiles: (3)

1. Royal power was breaking down - cannot control public response - direct violence towards representatives of king.

2. Encouragements of riots could backfire on the elite

3. Initiative for further political action in other areas - Riots in Paris, Rennes, Pau and Dijon

**Also fuelled by high food prices following crop failure

Consequences of Day of Tiles:

• Clergy paid a measly don gratuit signifying intense dissatisfaction to King

• NO LONGER JUST SECOND ESTATE - BUT NOW THIRD - ENTRY POINT INTO REVOLUTION.

• Louis looks illegitimate at this point - couldn't get financial reform through.

• 5 July 1788, Brienne announced that Louis would welcome submissions on the composition of an Estates-General. 

• The ‘aristocratic revolution’ had succeeded.

Announcement of Estates General:

• 8 August 1788: France is bankrupt, Louis forced to call an Estates-General (1 May 1789). Effort to restore public confidence in the government  - people have more power

• Brienne resigned on 24 August, suggesting that Necker be recalled -  only man who could restore confidence of the people

Financial Desperation leading up to Estated gernal:

• Only 400,000 livres left in the treasury - Simon Schama - enough money for the government to function for one afternoon’.

• 16 August, the government suspended all payments to the bureaucracy + army and called for foreign countries to repay money they had borrowed from France. 

• 1788, total Income of the Government was 421.6 million livre - but their total expenditure was 633 million livre.

General: Structure of France at the time:

(harvests, popuation)

• France = rural society, medieval farming practices.

• Harvests were mostly required to feed the peasants, pay tithe, and the little leftovers they had were put into reserve or sold at markets.

• French population rose: 24.5 million in 1750s to 28 million by the 1780s - traditional farming methods could not keep up with increased demand

• Bad weather, animal disease, poor harvests led to scarcity of food = rise in food prices. 

A Plague of Natural Disasters: 1780s

• 1780s: series of bad harvests → WORST ONE IN 1788!

• March-May 1788 mass flooding

• 13 July 1788 terrible hailstorm destroys crops – particularly wheat crops around Paris

• 1788-89 bitter winter - particularly long - 86 days in Paris below freezing compared to the normal 45. The lowest temperature reached was -21°C.

Harvest Crisis - Effect on Peoples:

• Bread prices soar! (supply and demand)

  • Feb 1787 bread = 15 sous, ½ average wages for week

  • Feb 1789 bread DOUBLE its price

  • Winter 1788-9 up to 88% of the average labourer’s pay was spent on bread 

• Urban industrial economy enters depression:

  • Industrial activity dropped by 50%

  • Paris, Lyon, Nimes affected badly

  • Lyon = 30 000 silk workers unemployed

**People are hungry and now unemployed = angry, occurs at the same time as the estates general.

Harvest Crisis - Bread Riots:

• Bread riots began August 1788 - harvest had failed.

• Total of 300 bread riots.

• April–July 1789, in prep. for Estates Gen. + writing cahiers de doléances,  riots turned increasingly political.

• Natural disasters turned into an economic and political crisis for the ancien régime.

General: Estates-General Overview:

• Last called in 1614

• Each Estate had a roughly equal number of deputies.

• Each Estate casts one vote (vote by Estate)

• First + Second Estates always outvote the Third Estate 

• The King calls for the election of deputies and writing of cahiers de doleances 

August 1788 Overview (already wirtten):

• France is bankrupt

• August 8 Louis announced calling of Estates-General.

• August 16 Payments to bureaucracy + army suspended, calls for repayment of foreign debts

• August 24 Brienne resigns- requests Necker takes over

Estates General: The Third Estate Demands Change:

• The Third Estate demands greater representation: 

1. Demanded for more representation in Estates General: 

• Demanded to double the third - from 300 deputies to 600 deputies (due to large proportion of population they would be representing - 98%)

2. Demands voting by head, not by Estate:

• Votes counted individually by each delegate.

Assembly of Notables 2 and Louis’ indecision; (estates general)

• Second Assembly of Notables (6 Nov. -12 Dec. 1788) summoned: discuss form of Estates-General

• Some Nobles wanted to reject the 1614 system of E.G.

• Many Notables feared of loosing privilege.

• Double the 1/3 - 33 Notables voted yes, 111 against

• Vote by head - openly opposed by 50, 0 voted yes

The 2^nd Assembly of Notables was dissolved by Necker on 12^th December 1788

Voting Decisions - Estates-General: 

• 27 December 1788, Louis decided he would grant double representation to Third Estate

• Did not make any decision about voting by head

• The 1st + 2nd Estates wanted their privileges preserved - 3rd Estate, wanted change to system of government.

• Paris Parlement stated - E.G. should be constituted as it was in 1614!

The Society of Thirty:

• Members of the nobility - played an active role in supporting revolution. 

• 1789 - informal club called ‘Society of Thirty’.

• Goal = design new constitution, based on enlightenment.

• 1788 - 1789, group met weekly at the house of Duport to debate nature of rep. To E.G. 

• Majority of members believed the Third Estate should have double rep.

• Started with thirty members - grew to about 60 (only 5 =commoners)

The Pamphlet War:

• May 1788, Louis relaxed the censorship laws, so that people could inform themselves about tax reform.

• 5 July 1788, Louis invited educated people to send opinions on summoning of E.G to the Keeper of the Seals. 

• Explosion of activity → People wanted to enlighten the whole nation

• May 1788 - April 1789, over 4000 pamphlets published - most in favour of the 3rd Estate.

• December 1789, newspapers in Paris grown to 250.

• Powerful Pamphlet =  Abbé Sieyès’s “What Is the Third Estate?”-  20,000-word pamphlet - attack on the social + political order of France.

Abbé Sieyès – What is the Third Estate? (Jan 1789):

• Member of the 1st Estate (priest), supportive of 3rd Estate 

• Wrote an influential pamphlet: What Is the Third Estate? (Jan 1789)

• Stated 3rd Estate WAS the nation + challenged old order and system of privilege.  

• Statements were a genuine call to revolution - called on deputies of 3rd Estate to take their rightful place as representatives of the people of France.

Cahiers de Doléances: (6)

• May 1789 Books of Grievances - Lists of local concerns from local meetings of the Estates. Guide delegates when advising King in Versailles.

What did the Three Estates Agree upon:

• An elected assembly - limit the King’s power

• The right to vote on taxes +pass laws

• A constitution -BUT King as the head of executive gov.

• King to disclosed state debt + hand control of tax revenue + expenditure to E.G. or N.A

• Laws of the nation made uniform and humane

• Justice should be freely available to all.

*All want shift on political power, attack on absolute authority

General Concerns of Three Estates: Cahiers De Doleances

• Administrative reform: consensus the current system was inefficient

• Legal and judicial reforms: desire for a fair and efficient system, abolition of lettres de cachet.

• Fiscal reform: Many insisted taxes voted by the whole nation - renegotiated and renewed at the end of term.

Cahiers De Doleances: First Estate - Clergy:

• Reflected the interests of the parish clergy. Called for: 

  • An end to bishops holding more than one a district 

  • Non-nobles to be able to become bishops

• Prepared to give up the financial privileges of the Church

• NOT prepared to give up the dominant position of the Church – Catholicism should remain the established religion and retain control of education

• Parish priests - wanted tithe money to go to the community, have some voice.

• Bishop and high clergy -  very different to those of priests

Cahiers De Doleances: Second Estate (total 282 cahiers):

• Out of 282 - 90 cahiers reflected liberal ideas

• In general showcased a desire for change:

  • Prepared to admit that high office should be determined by merit rather than birth

  • Attacked the government for its despotism, injustice and inefficiency.

• Want to limit authority of the monarch

• Did not want to get rid of seigneurial rights - peasants paying the lord

Cahiers De Doleances: Third Estate - stating fundamental political grievances, then identifying very local problems:

• Due to the process of creating 3rd Estate cahiers, demands of illiterate peasants filtered out. Bourgeois dominated process (edited, left some out, redacted.)

• Cahiers of the Third Estate reflected the wishes of peasants who wanted financial equality, regulation of the grain trade an, end to tithe and seigneurial rights .

• 33% of peasants demanded abolition of seigneurial rights without compensation

• 45% criticised the seigneurial system  as a whole

• 42% wanted reform or abolition of various taxes.

Outcome of Cahiers De Doleances:

*Cahiers raised expectations of reform = contributed to development of revolutionary situation.

*Peasants stop paying taxes - aired their grievances, want to wait for outcome of Estates General

*Each estate has increased expectation - expectation so high Estates General cannot live up to it

• Raised expectations for change and reform.

Rural Revolt - March/April 1789 Key Facts:

• By April 1789 tensions in Paris had reached a peak!

• 4-pound loaf of bread (cost 9 sous in August 1788), had risen to 14-15 sous by February 1789 

• NOTE: it was rare for an unskilled worker to earn more than 20 sous a day

• Unrest in rural areas = same time as cahiers de doléances + deputies being elected.

Rural Revolt: Discontent rising in the towns and cities: *Hunt for grain

• March + April 1789 discontent (from prolonged cold weather, rising unemployment + bread prices)

• Resulted in riots - Disturbances across country where people were suspected of hoarding grain = Market-day riots, ransacking of manors, barns etc.

• Violence - Manosque, arsenal workers not paid for 2 months, started rioting and stoned their bishop upon suspicion of hoarding grain

• Disorder driven by hunger - local councils attempted to reduce grain price, refusal to pay tithes and feudal dues

THE RÉVEILLON RIOTS, 27–28 APRIL 1789:

• 23 April 1789, wallpaper manufacturer, Réveillon, said bread prices should decrease _{^{‘to levels that wage-earners on 15 sous a day could afford’ ,}} Another manufacturer, Henriot, said similar.

• *The crowd misheard him, believing that he thought wages should decrease! Fear, hostility.

• 27^th April 1789: angry crowd marched through Paris w. mock gallows → Réveillon’s mansion = prevented by local militia - Attacked Henriot’s house-destroying possessions.

• 28^th April, several thousands crowd stormed Réveillon’s house + factory - destroyed 2 hours.

Gardes Françaises tried to restore order:killed 25, 25 wounded.

Rural Revolt/Riots: Rumors Escalating Tension:

• Rumours exaggerated number killed Reveillon Riots- 300.

• Rumours spread of a plot by the nobles, clerics (even the monarchy) to hoard grain. 

• Believed if Louis couldn’t get money needed from E.G. = dismiss deputies + sell the grain, relieve financial problems.

Deputies of Estates General:

• April 1789, elected deputies began arriving at Versailles. Selected by different means:

  • First Estate - direct and indirect voting

  • Second Estate - direct vote, male nobles over 25 voting for reps.

  • Third Estate - indirectly, all males 25+ vote for electors, met to elect deputies.

• 4–5 million men were eligible to participate in elections.

• Appox ½ 3rd Estate deputies lawyers, noblemen + priests.

• 3rd Estate Less than 20/600 deputies from lower orders.

Treatment of Each Estate: Estated General

• Social distinctions between Estates strictly observed.

2 May - Louis received the deputies, one estate at a time:

• Clergy deputies - private audience, behind closed doors (in Hall of Mirrors).

• Nobility deputies - audience in the Hall of Mirrors, doors left partly open.

• Third Estate deputies waited for 3+ hours for audience with the king - taken to a lesser salon.

—

• 4 May - deputy procession to Church of St Louis - mass.

• 3rd Estate - costumes made from plain black cloth.

• 2nd Estate - satin suits + gold or silver waistcoats.

• 1st Estate - parish priests = plain clerical coats, bishops = scarlet and purple ceremonial clothing.

LOUIS FAILS TO OFFER REFORM (5 MAY): Estates General Intro

• 5^th May - opening ceremony - Hôtel des Menus Plaisirs

• Louis = welcome speech - Expressed hope that deputies would work with him for welfare of France.

• Necker spoke for THREE HOURS - about nation’s finances.

  • Informed crowd: deficit was 54 million livres, could be covered by increased taxation. 

  • Bored the whole audience - the King FELL ASLEEP (lack of leadership)

• No firm plans/policies emerging for debate, no answer of how voting system would work.

Estates General: Verification of Credentials (6 May):

• 6^th May: deputies = separate chambers, verify credentials 

• Nobility +clergy began the process, Third Estate refused.

• Demanded every deputy present credentials to full body of deputies.

**If verification was done by estate then voting would be.

• 3rd Estate refused to verify credentials until their demands were met by the other 2 Estates.

  • Nobles: Lafayette motion - 3 estates to verify mandates together = defeated, 141 votes to 47.

  • Clergy: 133 deputies voted for separate representation, 114 voted against

Third Estate in Stalemate - Estates general:

• Third Estate = stalemate for 3 weeks.

• Elected Bailly to president of the Third Estate deputies - overseen elections of 407, respected.

• 7^th May: the nobility voted to proceed with separate verification; the clergy followed.

• End of May: 3rd Estate sent delegation to 1st Estate, asking for liberal deputies to join them (1st Estate divided). 

• The majority of the First Estate was reluctant to join the Commons - delay continued.

Division within the First Estate at the Estates General:

• Wealthiest bishops earned 50 000 livres per year

• Village priest earned 700 livres per year

• 2/3 of the 330 clerical deputies elected were parish priests

The Third Estate Gains Momentum: Estates General

• June 4^th 1789 - Necker suggested estate verify credentials of own members but that other estates should be able to challenge the results.

• Sieyès proposed that the privileged estates join with the Third or forfeit their right as reps, of the nation.

• June 10th 1789 - Third Estate deputies sent a delegation to 1st Estate - parish priests were eager to join (majority of clergy weren't) - delay

• The nobles were not keen to unite the three estates, scared of losing tstatus.

The National Assembly:

• Louis son, Louis-Joseph died. Funeral 600 000 livres.

• 12th June 1789: Commons began the process of verification BUT were not verified on the basis of order, rather as representative of the nation.

• 13^th June: Three clergymen join the Commons.

• 14^th June: More clergymen followed.

• 17^th June: Commons declared to be the National Assembly of France - assume control of their own affairs and decide taxation.

THE EFFECTS OF LOUIS XVI’S INDECISION: E.G

• The declaration of 17 June = result of Louis indecision.

• Not made any ruling in December 1788 about voting at E.G. - turning the issue into dispute.

• 7-year-old dauphin dying of tuberculosis - Died on 4 June, after 2 years of illness. 

  • Critical period of public responsibility BUT King + Queen suffering from grief.

• If the king had agreed to voting by head, the Commons would have had a meaningful political voice .

• Louis inaction led Commons to challenge king’s authority.

National Assembly locked out:

• 19^th June: 1st Estate votes to join the National Assembly.

• 20^th June: new National Assembly is locked out of Salle de Menus Plaisirs - discussion delayed, signs announcing Royal Session would be held on 23 June.

• Locked out of their meeting room - Commons suspected Louis was about to take action against them.

• Deputies moved to nearby indoor royal tennis court.

**Tennis Court Oath.

Swearing the Tennis Court Oath (20th June 1789): 

• Deputies moved to nearby indoor tennis court (big room).

• Mounier called on deputies to swear an oath between them never to separate until France had a constitution. First formal act of disobedience against the monarchy!

• Each deputy took oath individually in front of Bailly - The 600 deputies swore the oath.

The Royal Session (23 June 1789): After Tennis Cout Oath

• Royal Session, recommended by Necker: hoped that the king would ignore the events of the 10-17^th June.

• Louis disregards advice of Necker  - influenced by Marie Antoinette + brothers.

• 23^rd June: At Sèance royale, Louis announced the decisions made on 17 June by Third Estate members (decision to form N.A.) were null and void + all decisions made by them were illegal and unconstitutional. 

• Announced that estates should meet separately unless he permitted them to meet together.

Louis Announcements at Royal Session (After Tennis Court)

• He then announced that:

  • The question of equal taxation would be considered

  • New taxes only be levied with consent of Estates-G

  • Feudal dues, manorial dues, church tithes left intact BUT privileged tax status could surrendered voluntarily

  • Provincial assemblies = extended to whole kingdom

  • Abolish press censorship

  • Abolish lettres de cachet - for arbitrary arrest

**Promises some things but its too late - estates do not want to be separate, enthusiasm for change

National Assembly Reject Royal Authority:

• Louis ordered the deputies to disperse + meet next day in separate orders

• National Assembly deputies + clerics remained seated.

• Ordered to go - Mirabeau said “we will go "only if we are driven out by bayonets”

• Supported by Bailly + Sieyés. Stated: “The assembled nation cannot be given orders”

• N.A deputies took vote: 493 stay, 34 obey king.

• Rejected royal authority, confirmed Tennis Court Oath.

• King was told of the deputies’ resistance - ‘Well, then, damn it! Let them stay!’

National Assembly Gains Support:

• 24^th June: soldiers sent to block National Assembly from meeting room BUT join them, “We too, are citizens”

• 25^th June: 47 liberal nobles - led by the king’s cousin, the Duc d’Orléans, joined the N. A. 

• 27^th June: Louis surrendered to demands of the N. A. ordered vote by head (Done because forewarned of 30,000 mob marching on Versailles)

• Nobles,+ rest of clergy, joined the National Assembly.

Action By Louis: Increasing Arms (on N.A)

• Royal authority failed, ministers advised king to quell reform movement = Necker + use armed force:

  • 26 June: 6 regiments were ordered to Versailles (to control mob if needed)

  • 1 July: 10 regiments were moved from the provinces to the outskirts of Paris - 20,000 troops now in Paris, anxiety of people heightened.

• 10th July: Louis refused to withdraw the troops

Neckers Dismissal:

• 11 July: Necker dismissed without notice  (Letter of dismissal - 3o’clock, left as 5 o'clock)

• Had worked hard to limit the effect of the bread crisis, imposing price controls etc.

• Louis blamed the failure of Royal S. on Necker, Antoinette = scheming to dismiss him.

• Many people felt that Necker’s dismissal was the king’s way of declaring war.

Reaction in Paris to Neckers Dismissal - Building the Mob: (On July 12^th)

• 12 July, the news that Necker had been sacked reached the N.A. and Palais Royal.

• In Paris: Crowds of people spill onto streets, looting and chanting and gathering ‘weapons’

• Groups marched through the streets armed with pitchforks, swords, any weapon they could find/steal. 

• A crowd of several thousand gathered at the Palais-Royal to hear speakers condemning the king’s action and calling for action of their own.

• Camille Desmoulins urged those assembled to take up arms against the treachery of the king.

First Attacks of the Mob:

• 12 July, the monastery of St Lazare (prison, grain and arms store) was looted. 

• Crowds released the prisoners, stole the grain and flour, then looted the building.

• Rumours spread through the city that the king’s troops were slaughtering Parisians.

• Stocks of grains found at the abbey - confirmed suspicions that the nobility grain hoarding

•  Mob attacked the royal customs houses.

• Morning of the 14^th July: Mobs gather weapons from the Invalides military hospital - 30,000 people.

General: Bastille Overview:

• Located in Central Paris - a visible symbol of royal authority, the Ancien regime. 

• Housed those prisoners confined from lettres de cachet - represented royal absolutism.

• 14 July 1789, the Bastille held only seven prisoners:

  • There was only 1 political prisoner.

  • To the Mob = source of weapons + gunpowder for muskets looted from Hôtel des Invalides

Storming of the Bastille:

• 14^th July: 8000 armed Parisians marched on the Bastille

•  Armed with 2 cannons - delegation demanded governor Marquis de Launay, hand over the arms + ammunition 

• Luanay refuses - Crowd outside the Bastille believe the delegation has been detained

• Crowd lowers drawbridge - 40 mob crushed - rush in

• Luanay orders soldiers to open fire -  98 civilians killed + 78 wounded, 6 soldiers killed.

• Gardes Françaices join in the battle - side with the crowd

• 5 cannon + a few-hundred armed civilians, the crowd is positioned to fire on the main gate.

Bastille Surrendered:

• Launay threatened to blow up the Bastille rather than surrender - persuaded to surrender.

• White handkerchief raised from tower = surrender

• Luanay taken prisoner; murdered on the way to Hôtel de Ville - Severed head mounted on a pike + carried in through the streets.

• The mayor of Paris - Jacques de Flesselles - also killed by the crowd + head stuck on pike

Significance of Storming the Bastille:

• People of Paris considered they had protected the National Assembly from being destroyed by king.

• Understood they had power if they acted as one.

• Demolition of a symbol of tyranny

• First time the crowd took agency (control) in the French Revolution

Reactions: to Storming the Bastille:

• Night of Bastille storming, Louis woken from his sleep - Rochefoucauld, told him about the events. ‘It is a revolt’, - ‘No, Sire, it is a revolution’.

• Believed God appointed rule = couldn't be challenged 

• 15 July, Louis visited the N.A - Announced:

  • Necker would be recalled

  • Remaining royal troops would be withdrawn.

  • Denied any plans against the deputies of Assembly.

Lead up to the Great Fear:

• Due to the writing of the cahiers de doleances, many peasants still refused to pay taxes.

• Peasant unrest heightened = bad harvests, threats of starvation + feudal dues.

• March + April 1789, peasants began to revolt against privileges of nobility. 

• Countryside people became possessed - believed nobility plotting to destroy revolution.

• Rumour: Nobility hiring ‘brigands’ (robbers) to kill anyone who supported revolution. 

• Actual: Nobles fleeing to neighbouring countries (Rumor: return with foreign troops).

• Towns + villages, people began to form into groups and to arm themselves.

• When none of this occurred, armed peasants struck out at their local nobility

The Great Fear was partly caused by: (New people, unfamiliar, threat)

• Belief nobility were plotting to destroy revolution.

• Fear that peasants would be punished for their actions

• Rapidly increasing number of beggars

• Arrival in country areas of soldiers redeployed from the capital.

The Great Fear - Peasant Rebellion:

• Period of violent uprising against Ancien Regime by peasants in the countryside across France

• Villages formed popular militias and attacked the households of local nobles (Chateaux, manor houses of wealthy), sometimes killed the lords + burning housing.

• Goal: Destroy documents listing feudal dues they owed. Destroy records = avoid payments

• Forced seigneurs to release Manorial Rolls-charter outlining peasants obligations to seigneur.

• Symbols of exploitation no longer tolerated. Few fatalities as a result of the Great Fear (Angry at system, not master)

Targets of Peasant Violence: Great Fear

• Struggling peasants = resented noble privileges. 

• Feudal dues, mandatory taxation (corvee) + manorial rights kept peasants impoverished. 

• Banned animals, Dovecots, wine presses + ovens destroyed (once symbols of exploitation)

  • Serious punishment to do this in time period - indicator of desperation + deep anger

Significance of the Great Fear was that it:

• Armed the people of the countryside

• Pressured the nobility to reform.

• Peasantry prepared to mobilise

• Destroyed many aspects of the feudal system

• Conveyed to the National Assembly the length of peasant unrest

The Night of Patriotic Delirium:

• 4^th August 1789 –News about the Great Fear, N. A. met to discuss how to re-establish order.

• Night of Patriotic Delirium - delegates came together, fearful, believed way to stop riots, restore order = dismantle feudal system and give up privileged status.

• Laws passed out of fear of the greater populus, and the momentum of the revolution (hearing violence towards nobles, mob influence and power)

• This is the last of the feudal system and Ancien Regime remaining.

Night of Patriotic Delerium: How they went about it:

• Delegates want to appear better than each other - gets out of hand, as they try to one up each other with their declarations (somewhat like an action)

• Surrendered privileges including: abolition of the feudal regime, hunting rights, tithes etc.

• The changes to France were exciting for many.

Night of Patriotic Delirium: TYPES Privileges forfeited - August Decrees:

• Voluntary surrendering of privileges - eg: hunting rights

• Promotion of equal responsibility for taxation

• Abolishment of venal offices (the way to buy into the nobility) 

• The abolition of feudal dues - Seigneurialism

• Unfair Church funding system replaced, Church privileges removed

• Tithes and property taxes removed 

*Barriers separating estates now destroyed, now have the common man, 3 estates system dismantled.