The French Revolution Flashcards
how long did The French Revolution last?
Lasted 25 years - between 2789 and 1814
what were the 3 main reasons for the outbreak of revolution in France?
Constitutional Crisis
financial crisis
Role of the Bourgeoises
reasons for outbreak: constitutional crisis
The french constitution, which was in an absolutist style of monarchy - faced many challenges
-failures in governance
-ministerial instability
-military defeats
all contributed to the idea that the system was no longer effective
new enlightenment ideas further eroded the authority of despotic monarchs
ideas of ‘nation’, ‘public opinion’ and ‘citizen’ gained more popularity
Absolutism
a political system in which a single monarchy holds complete power over country
The estates general
a Three chambered assembly of the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners - summoned by King Louis XVI to deal with crisis
The National assembly
The Third estate of the estates general split from the Royal Authority and formed national assembly
Reason for outbreak: financial crisis
several wars that France was involved with (7 years war and american war of independence) created and added to financial distress (debt) on French crown
a rapidly growing population outpaced food production leading to famine and widespread starvation in rural areas
rising prices in Paris triggered bread riots, highlighting the economic distress of citizens
financial crisis triggered political crisis
reason for outbreak: role of the Bourgeoisie
the Bourgeoisie - a rising social order with new found wealth and influence, played a critical role.
Highly critical of the current regime and sought for change
their exact impact is debated, however their desire for a voice in administration and their dissatisfaction with the existing system contributed to the revolutionary climate
The beginning of the Revolution
June 1789: 3rd estate walks out and declared as ‘representing the people’ and demand a constitution
July 1789: storming of the Bastile
August 1789: abolition of Absolutism
National Assembly also issues the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Storming of the Bastille
Revolutionary insurgents attempted to storm and seize control of the Bastille
significant as the Bastille represented royal authority in heart of Paris. Symbolised the monarchy’s abuse of power
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
a fundamental document that granted rights to some commoners.
included:
-sovereignty of the Nation
-equality of citizens
-rule of law - end of arbitrary measures
-protection of private property
the declaration influenced the idea of individual freedoms and universal equality. it inspired the French Revolution
Radicalization and the terror: background
The national Assembly aimed to establish a constitutional monarchy
1791: King Louis XVI attempts to flee paris
It was discovered that the Royal family had correspondence with foreign monarchs to restore control over France which fueled radicalization
Radicalization
- new French constitution passed in october 1791
-france became a constitutional monarchy
-the new constitution has abolished the monarchy and made France into a republic with universal manhood suffrage
-a war was declared on Austria by the national assembly due to fear of foreign invasion
january 1793: louis XVI was executed as a traitor to the republic
the reign of Terror
in response to building military pressures the government created a dictatorial emergency committee called: The committee for public safety led by Maximillen Robespierre
Maximillien Robespierre
the radical jacobin leader of the Committee of Public safety
called ‘incorruptible’ for his single minded focus on seeing the revolution succeed
the reign of terror: the role of the committee of public safety
they attempted to reorganize and ‘rationalise’ french society as a whole
-in wielding dictatorial power, repression, trials and persecution became normal
they also:
-creation of of new calendar#
-‘de-christianisation’ of the nation
- suspected traitors of the revolution were arrested, interrogated and confronted with possibility of imprisonment or execution
-estimates vary, however somewhere between 35,000 and 55,000 accused enemies were executed or died in prison during the terror
Pro-Jacobin interpretation of the Terror
Blood shed was regrettable but necessary to defend revolution from anti-revolutionary forces, war and economic crisis
necessary to make a clean break with the past and carry the revolution to its fullest outcome
The Directory Stage
After the downfall of Robsepierre in 1794, the directory or Directorate was government of france between 1795 and 1799
challenges facing the directory
-financial chaos and looming bankruptcy
-political challenges from left and right
-continuation of war with Austria, Prussia and Britain
challenges facing the directory: Financial chaos and looming bankruptcy
- rampant inflation
-the collapse of the paper currency, March 1796
challenges facing the directory: political challenges from left and right
-fear of the jacobins: conspiracies and rumors
- anti-revolutionary activities of exiles
- peasant revolts in the west
challenges facing the directory: continuation of war with Austria, Prussia and Britain
-from defensive to offensive war
-rise of artillery general Buonaparte
-napoleons coup of 18 Brumaire
Napoloens coup d’etat (18 Brumaire)
-deployed troops around Paris
-convinced members of directorate to resign
-appointed new compliant commission to draft new constitution
-napoleon emerged as first Consul of France, setting stage for his eventual dictatorship as emperor
Napoleon’s Rule
He centralised the government, instituted reform in areas such as banking and education, supported science and the arts and sought to improve relations between his regime and the pope
Did Napoleon complete or kill the Revolution?
- re-establishment of the catholic church as main religion in 1802
- reintroduction of slavery in 1802 - reversing the abolition of 1794
- reversing womans right with civil code of 1804
- abolition of any meaningful parliamentarism or political participation
- ending republicanism and reintroducing dynastic rule
- napoleon’s brothers and brothers in law as kings across Europe
Visions for the future: Jacobins
-breaking with monarchy, introducing republicanism
-strengthening the state and centralisation of power to ensure ‘equality’, consistency and rationality for all citizens across regional differences
-ruling in the name of abstract notion of ‘the people’ or the ‘the nation’
-breaking with Catholicism and Christianity, introducing the ‘cult of the supreme being’
the long term consequences of the French Revolution: Social revolution
- destruction of old nobility –> but new napoloenic nobility
rise of bourgeois (notables) –> wealthy and educated upper middle class as dominant group
gradual marginalisation of the upper catholic clergy and old nobility
the long term consequences of the French Revolution: a cultural revolution
a new vocab for a new political culture
secularation as a revolutionary goal
a new culture of ‘rationality’: metric system, new calendar
Long term impacts of French Revolution: Towards democracy: inclusion and exclusion
- napoleon introducing universal malehood suffrage
over time universal malehood suffrage was restricted again to those with wealth but it was reintroduced in the 3rd republic.
votes for women was introduced in 1944
Long term impacts of French Revolution: long term impact on religion
de-Christianity: secularisation and seperation of church ans state
freedom of religion and citizenship rights for Jews and Protestants
The catholic Church as one of the main casualties of the French Revolution
abolition of religious order
requirement of clergy to swear an oath of allegiance to constitution
expropriation of land and valuables to the catholic church
why did the French Revolution resonate with people all over Europe: sympathetic assessments
shared intellectual references to enlightenment philosophy
universalism: Europeans flocked to Paris to become part of the Revolution
many early supporters became critics when the Revolution radicalised in 1792
what inspiration did European observers take from the French Revolution
abolition of absolutism: some form of power - shared with a constitutional king or queen
rule by the people –> constitutionalism –> parliamentarism –> democracy
legitimacy based on nation instead of god
criticism of the social order based on states
