Lecture Notes: The French Revolution and Its Impact

Key Questions Raised

• What rights do people have?
• Where do these rights come from?
• Who has the authority to make decisions for others?
• How can society be organized to meet people's needs?

Historical Context

• Enlightenment Influence:
  • Profound intellectual and cultural shift in Europe.
  • Promotion of reason and human freedom over tradition and religion.
• American Revolution:
  • Inspired political awareness and change in governance.

France's Social Structure Pre-Revolution

• Ancient Regime:
  • Divided into three rigid social classes (Estates).
  • First Estate: Catholic clergy.
  • Second Estate: Nobles.
  • Third Estate: 98% of the population, including middle-class merchants, craftsmen, and peasants.
• Taxation:
  • Only the Third Estate paid taxes, leading to severe hardships, especially for peasants.
• Economic Strain:
  • France in debt due to the American Revolution and ongoing wars.
  • King Louis XVI appointed finance minister Jacques Necker to push for tax reforms.

The Estates-General and the National Assembly

• Estates-General:
  • Convened for the first time in 175 years due to financial crisis.
  • Third Estate's vote equal to the other Estates despite representing 98% of the population.
• Formation of National Assembly:
  • The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly in response to lack of representation.
  • Pledged to draft a new constitution.

Key Events of the Revolution

• Storming of the Bastille:
  • Outraged citizens stormed the Bastille prison, marking the start of the Revolution.
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen:
  • Proclaimed that individual rights and freedoms are fundamental and that government exists to protect them.
• King Louis XVI's Downfall:
  • Attempted escape led to loss of faith; he was arrested and executed for treason in 1793.
• Establishment of the French Republic:
  • Proclaimed on September 21, 1792, with the motto "liberté, égalité, fraternité."

Continued Turmoil

• Execution of Marie Antoinette:
  • Executed as a symbol of the old regime's downfall.
• Radical Transformation Attempts:
  • Some revolutionaries aimed to completely transform society, including religion and daily life.
• Reign of Terror:
  • Led by Jacobins and Maximilien Robespierre, resulted in over 20,000 executions.
• Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte:
  • Seized control amid chaos, became Emperor while claiming to uphold revolutionary values.

Legacy of the Revolution

• Political Instability:
  • France experienced three constitutions and five governments in a decade.
• Continuing Struggles:
  • The questions raised during the Revolution remain relevant today, highlighting ongoing issues of rights, governance, and societal organization.