Overview
This lecture traces the roots, events, and aftermath of the French Revolution, highlighting its impact on France and the broader European political landscape.
Causes of the French Revolution
- Long-standing financial strain on France due to frequent wars with Britain and aid to the American Revolution.
- Extravagant spending by King Louis XVI and prolonged economic hardship (poor harvests, rising bread prices).
- Unfair tax system favoring the nobility and clergy, burdening peasants and the middle class.
- Failed reforms to tax the rich sparked resistance from the upper classes.
The Estates-General and Rising Tensions
- The Estates-General, representing clergy, nobility, and the middle class, was called in 1789 for the first time since 1614.
- Middle class (Third Estate) demanded equal representation and an end to the noble veto.
- The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly and took the Tennis Court Oath, vowing not to disband until constitutional reform was achieved.
- Many clergy and some nobles joined the National Assembly; King Louis XVI reluctantly accepted the change.
Outbreak of Revolution and the Fall of the Bastille
- King’s dismissal of popular minister Jacques Necker and movement of troops into Paris raised fears of repression.
- On July 14, 1789, Parisians stormed the Bastille, triggering a nationwide revolt known as the Great Fear.
- Peasants attacked the elite, leading to noble emigration from France.
Reform and the Abolition of Feudalism
- The National Assembly abolished feudalism on August 4, 1789.
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen established principles of equality, free speech, and representative government.
Constitutional Struggles and the Republic
- France adopted a constitutional monarchy, but radicals pushed for a republic and the trial of King Louis XVI.
- In 1792, the Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria and Prussia to defend the revolution.
- The monarchy was abolished; the French Republic was declared in September 1792.
The Reign of Terror and Aftermath
- King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed for treason in 1793.
- The Reign of Terror saw thousands executed as enemies of the revolution.
- The Thermidorian Reaction replaced the National Convention with the Directory, a five-member executive.
- The Directory was unstable and eventually overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte, leading to his rule and new wars in Europe.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Estates-General — Assembly of France's three social orders: clergy, nobility, and middle class.
- Third Estate — The middle class and commoners in the Estates-General.
- National Assembly — Legislative body formed by the Third Estate for constitutional reform.
- Tennis Court Oath — Pledge by the National Assembly not to disband until a constitution was created.
- Bastille — Paris fortress/prison stormed on July 14, 1789, symbolizing the revolution.
- Great Fear — Period of peasant revolts and noble flight from France.
- Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen — Revolutionary document affirming equality and rights.
- Reign of Terror — Period of mass executions of "enemies" of the revolution.
- Directory — Five-member executive government post-Terror, prior to Napoleon's rise.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the sequence of key revolutionary events and their causes for the next class.
- Read the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.