The French Struggle to Achieve Self Government

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The French Struggle to Achieve Self Government

• 1790-1815

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France Before the Revolution

• French society based on inequality
• France divided into three estates, or classes
• First Estate Clergy
• Own 10 of the land, but paid no taxes
• Second Estate Nobility
• Own 30 of the land, but paid no taxes
• Hold the influential positions in French society
• Third Estate Commoners
• Pay 100 of the taxes
• Vast differences in occupation, education, and
  wealth
• 98 of the population, own 65 of the land
• A financial crisis will lead to the French
  Revolution
• 1787 1788 Poor harvests lead to food shortages
  and unemployment
• Many French peasants lay starving in the streets
• Nobles still spend
• Marie Antoinette

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The Estates General

• French version of Parliament
• Each estate has one vote
• How is this unfair to the third estate?
• Supported by Louis XVI
• Third Estate wants a constitutional government
  where majority rules
• Begins to draft Constitution
• Return 3 days later to find themselves locked
  out. What do they do?
• The Tennis Court Oath

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What was the Tennis Court Oath?
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The French Revolution BeginsLiberty, Equality,
Fraternity!

• Louis XVI prepares to use force against the 3rd
  Estate, but something happens
• July 14, 1789 A mob of Parisians storm the
  Bastille. Why?
• Symbol of royal power and oppression
• Many political dissenters sent here

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Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

• Equal rights for all Men
• Freedoms of Speech and Press
• Access to Public Office based on talent
• End Tax Exemptions
• What about Women ?
• Olympe de Gouges

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1790

• National Assembly sets up limited monarchy
• King- But he and his family are virtually
  prisoners in Paris
• Legislative Assembly to make laws

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1791

• Discontent with new govt.
• Catholic priests, nobles, lower classes who
  suffered economically, radicals who wanted more
  drastic solutions
• King tries to flee considered disloyal

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1792

• Many European monarchies are uneasy because of
  the Revolution
• France declares war on Austria
• Does not fare well
• Look for a scapegoat
• The Paris Commune emerges
• Sans-culottes
• Takes King Louis captive and force the formation
  of the National Assembly

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1793

• Natl convention splits into factions over fate
  of king
• Girondins Fear radicalism and want king alive
• Mountain Represent radicals and want king dead
• Paris radicals convince convention to condemn
  king to death by guillotine
• Kings execution outraged European monarchs

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1793, contd.

• European coalition set to invade
• France reacts by giving more power to the
  Committee of Public Safety
• Dominated by Maximilien Robespierre
• Thus, the Reign of Terror
• begins

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The Reign of Terror

• The End of Terror
• Eventhough threats to France had been dealt with,
  Robespierre continues to massacre
• National Convention condemns him to death by
  guillotine on July 28, 1794
• Moderates take control
• Establish the Directory to rule France

• 1793-1794
• Acts to defend France against foreign and
  domestic threats
• Suspend all democracy
• Dechristianize to assert reason
• Revolutionary courts set up to prosecute enemies
• 40,000 die
• 16,000 die at the guillotine
• This includes Queen Marie Antoinette and Olympe
  de Gouge

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1795-1799

• New constitution establishes bicameral
  legislature five directors act as executive
  committeeThe Directory
• Era of corruption graft
• Only military keeps Directory in power
• Coup detat led by Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power

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1799-1815

• Napoleon rules France
• Product of Revolution commoner who rose rapidly
  in ranks of military
• Absolute power though France is a Republic
• Crowns himself Emperor

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Were ideals of Revolution maintained by Napoleon?

• Made peace with Catholic Church
• Napoleonic Code codification of law
• Equality before the law
• Freedom of religion, opportunity, end to serfdom
• Protection of property rights

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Were ideals of Revolution maintained by Napoleon?

• Developed efficient bureaucracy based on merit
• Insisted on govt. censorship
• Shut down many newspapers
• Mail opened by police

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Conquest of an Empire

• Master of Europe 1807-1812
• Spread principles of French Revolution
• Tried to destroy old European order

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Why Napoleons Empire Collapsed

• Survival of Great Britain
• Force of nationalism
• The unique cultural identity of a people based on
  common language, religion, and natl symbols