France in the 18th Century

Absolutism (1648 - 1789)

Consolidation of absolute control over government by King Louis XIV and his descendants

-Nobility/other rivals replaced by those loyal to the king

French Revolution (1789 - 1815)

Absolute monarchy overthrown by popular protests

Absolutism

Power concentrated in the monarch, no rival authorities (parliament, political leaders)/counterviewing restrain (constitution, congress)

-It is not Despotism (tyrants) or Modern Totalitarianism (state can’t know everything)

Most Famous - King Louis XIV “I am the State”

Divine Right of Kings

King is appointed by God, “God’s Lieutenant on Earth”

-King is a father figure to his people; authority of king maps onto authority of the father in the family or the master in a workshop

-Part of the Great Chain of Being

King Louis XIV’s Life (1638 - 1715)

Becomes king at age 5

-Witnesses the Fronde (1648-53) - Noble revolt against tax collection/centralizaztion policies of the King’s Ministers

-Gains political power over nobles through social favors at court

-Creates professional bureaucracy and centralizes tax collection → reduces corruption

Economic Boom Following Louis XIV

Economic state planning leads to an economic boom

-Gains control over the noble parlement, suspends the Estates General

-Creates a huge standard army; monopoly of violence

-Nationalizes the church and suppresses protestants

King’s Magic Touch

Believed that the King can cure diseases by touching those who are sick, since it was believed the King was divine

-King Louis XIV relies on architecture (Palace of Versailles) to demonstrate his divinity/power

Fashion of Absolutism

King Louis has a ritual pattern of court life (Lever and Coucher → Louis rises/sets with the sun)

“Politesse” (being polite) and court etiquette

The New King - Louis XVI

Weaker and less successful, never meant to be the king (older brother had died)

Crisis of the Old Regime

1. Enlightenment

2. Bourgeoisie

3. Nobility

4. Peasants

5. Worker

6. Finances

Enlightenment

Enlightenment criticizes the Divine Right of Kings as irrational/supersitious

-John Locke/Jean Rousseau wrote that government is a contract between people and the ruler

-Government must protect the natural rights/liberties of people, otherwise the contract can be dissolved

-Forms the basis of Republican Governance

Bourgeoisie

New commercial wealth/economic dynamism create a new social class: Bourgeoisie (businessmen, professionals)

-Want more power in the government, want representation in an elected assembly

Nobility

Frustrated their power has been eclipsed by the Royal Court

-Want restoration of ancient/traditional rights (regional parlements, raise armies, collect tax, political power, enforce laws)

Peasants

Face heavy taxes/fees, resent the Corvee (labor tax) and Church Tithes

-Want to restore old rights to common land; restore an old order in which landlords respected/took care of peasants

Workers

Faced rising prices/stagnant incomes, resent the new wealth of the bourgeoisie, old wealth of nobility and inability of monarchy to address concerns

-Want to restore the “mythical golden age” when masters/workers were brothers (What Darnton talks about)

-Bread shortages/famine in 1788-9 turn them into a revolutionary force

Finance

French state is bankrupt due to inefficient/inflexible taxation system (nobles exempt from taxes)

-Expensive foreign wars (7 years war, American revolution)

-Wasteful/expensive court

King Louis calls an Estates General, but they rebel

National Assembly

Estate general rebels establish the Tennis Court Oath

-Write a constitution for France providing political rights for the people, constraining the rights of the Monarch, done by nobles/clergy/bourgeoisie who disliked the King

Storming of the Bastille

July 14, 1789

-Popular protests in Paris culminates in crowd rushing the guards at Bastille (symbol of Royal Tyranny)

-National guard flips sides, supporting protestors → King recognizes National Assembly

Great Fear

Summer 1789
-Peasants ransack nobles and kill them

Bread/Women’s March

October 17890

-Women march to Versailles demanding bread

-Also demands more responsible government: King agrees to return to Tuileries palace in Paris

Execution of King Louis XVI

Tries to flee and regroup with foreign/pro-royalists

-Captured and put on trial; Execution in January 1793

-Triggers a decade of civil and foreign war, political purges (Reign of Terror) and social unrest

Napoleon Bonaparte takes control in 1799

September Massacres

Workers/revolutionaries murder royalists, priests, and nuns over 4 days