French Revolution Lecture Notes

Key Questions Addressed

• What rights do people have, and where do they come from?
• Who gets to make decisions for others and on what authority?
• How can we organize society to meet people's needs?

Historical Context

• Late 18th Century: Period of Enlightenment in Europe.
  • Shift towards reason and human freedom over tradition and religion.
  • Rise of the middle class and increased political awareness through printed materials.
  • Influence of the American Revolution on French independence.

France's Political Structure

• Ancien Régime: Three rigid social classes, or Estates.
  • First Estate: Catholic clergy.
  • Second Estate: Nobles.
  • Third Estate: Middle class merchants, craftsmen, and peasants (over 20 million).
• Taxation: Only the Third Estate paid taxes, often leaving peasants with almost nothing while the upper classes lived lavishly.

Financial Crisis

• France faced severe debt due to support of the American Revolution and wars with England.
• King Louis XVI appointed Jacques Necker as finance minister, who proposed tax reforms.
• Necker's proposals met strong opposition from the upper classes.

Estates-General and National Assembly

• King Louis called the Estates-General for the first time in 175 years due to the financial crisis.
• Voting structure favored the upper classes despite the Third Estate representing 98% of the population.
• The Third Estate broke away, forming the National Assembly to draft a new constitution.

Storming of the Bastille

• King Louis attempted to dismiss Necker, prompting outrage.
• Bastille Storming: Parisians and soldiers stormed the Bastille prison, marking the beginning of the Revolution.

Declaration of Rights

• National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen:
  • Proclaimed individual rights and freedoms as fundamental.
  • Government exists to protect these rights.

Monarchy's Downfall

• Nobles fled France, seeking foreign intervention.
• King Louis XVI attempted to flee but was caught, leading to a loss of faith in his leadership.
• He was charged with treason and executed, marking the end of monarchy.
• Queen Marie Antoinette executed shortly after.

Radical Changes and Reign of Terror

• Revolutionaries sought to transform French society entirely.
• Jacobins led by Maximilien Robespierre initiated the Reign of Terror, executing over 20,000 dissenters.

Rise of Napoleon

• Amidst the chaos, Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power, later becoming Emperor while claiming to uphold democratic values.

Outcomes and Legacy

• The Revolution experienced three constitutions and five governments within a decade.
• Alternating periods of monarchy and revolt continued until the establishment of a new Republic in 1871.
• The French Revolution's ideals remain relevant, with ongoing struggles regarding rights and societal organization.