French Society During the Late 18th Century
Economic causes of the Revolt
(i) help extended to American War of Independence
(ii) luxurious life of the kings and Nobles
(iii) 2 Billion Livres debt on French Treasury
Louis XVI thought of introducing new taxes to come out of this debt
Social Causes
During Old regime, French society was divided into three estates
Ist Estate - Clergy
II Estate - King & Nobility
III Estate - Peasants and rest of the society
I & II Estate were only 10% of the French society, didn't paid any taxes, enjoyed privilege by Birth
III Estate had to pay all taxes
Taxes
Church used to extract - Tithe
State - Direct Tax - Taille
Indirect Tax - on Salt, Tobacco etc.
Feudal dues
Struggle to survive
(i) Rise in population led to rise in demand
(ii) Production declined
(iii) Less wages
(iv) Subsistence crisis occurred when drought or hail reduced the harvest
A Growing Middle class envisages and End to Privileges
Revolts against increasing Taxes and Food scarcity was left to those groups of third Estate who had become prosperous and had access to education
Middle class asked for an end to privileges by Birth, social positions should be decided according to merit
John Locke - ‘Two Treatises of Government’ - opposed the Doctrine of Divine and absolute right of the Monarch
Jean Jacques Rousseau - ‘The Social Contract’
Montesquieu - ‘The Spirit of the Laws’- proposed division of power into Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
The Outbreak of the Revolution
Meeting of the Estates General
5/May/1789, to pass the proposal of new taxes, last time was held in 1614
I Estate - 300 Representatives - One vote
II Estate - 300 Representatives - One vote
III Estate - 600 Representatives - One vote
Peasants, Artisans and Women were denied entry
III Estate demanded voting now be conducted by the Assembly as a whole, where each member have one vote.
Their demand was rejected by Louis XVI, representatives of the III Estate walked out
Tennis Court Oath
On 20 June, representatives of III Estate gathered on the Tennis Court of Versailles and took oath not to disperse till they had drafted a Constitution for France that would limit the powers of the the Monarch. They were led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes (‘What is the Third Estate’).
In Rural side, shortage of food forced angry women to storm into the shops. Rumor spread of the attack by hired bands of brigands. To save themselves and their crops, peasants attacked Chateaux. On 14 July the crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille.
Louis XVI accorded recognition to the National Assembly.
4 August 1789, National Assembly passed a decree abolishing feudal system of obligations and Taxes. Tithe were abolished and property of the Church confiscated. Government got 2 Billion Livres.
France becomes a Constitutional Monarchy
Constitution drafted in 1791
Power separated in - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
Power to make law - National Assembly
Active Citizen - Man above 25 years of Age, who paid Taxes equal to atleast 3 days of a Labourer’s wage
Passive Citizens - Rest of the people
Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen - Right to Life, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Opinion, Equality before law - were declared as Natural Rights
France abolishes Monarchy & becomes a Republic
Louis XVI entered into a secret negotiations with the King of Prussia. National Assembly in April 1792 voted to declare war against Prussia and Austria. Common people joined the Army and marched towards towards Paris. They sang the Patriotic song - Marseillaise, composed by Roget de L’Isle. It later became the National Anthem of France.
Formation of Jacobin Club
Got the name from the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris
Members belonged to less prosperous sections of the society
Leader - Maximilian Robespierre
They wore long striped trousers (in addition to Red caps) as was worn by Dock workers. Came to be known as Sans - culottes -’those without knee breeches’.
They attacked on the Palace of Tuileries on August 10, 1792. Held the King hostage and later sent to imprison. Elections were held. Voting age was reduced to 21, regardless of wealth.
September 1792, Convention abolished monarchy and declared France as Republic.
21 September 1792, Louis XVI was executed publicly.
The Reign of Terror
Time period of 1793-94, when Maximilian Robespierre ruled. Followed policy of severe control and punishment. Those who didn't agreed with Robespierre were tried, if found guilty were guillotined.
Reforms introduced - Maximum ceiling on wages and prices, meat and bread were rationed, concept of equality bread, concept of Citoyen and Citoyenne introduced. Church closed, buildings were converted into barracks or offices.
Robespierre was convicted by a Court in July 1794, arrested and Guillotined.
A Directory Rules France
A new constitution was introduced, non-propertied sections of society were not allowed to vote. Two elected Legislative Councils. Directory was appointed, an executive made of 5 members. Directors often clashed with the Legislative councils, which created the way for the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Did Women have a Revolution ?
Women were active participants in the events
Women of the third Estate had to work for a living, did not have access to education or job training, marriages were decided by families, working women had also to care for their families, wages were lower than those of man.
Women started their own political clubs and newspapers, women’s clubs came up (The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women), demanded same political Rights as Men - Right to Vote, to be elected to the Assembly, and to hold political offices
Revolutionary government created schools for girls, schooling was made compulsory, could not be married against their will, Divorce could be applied by both women and men, women were trained for jobs, can become artists or run small businesses
During the Reign of Terror, women rights were withdrawn
In 1946, women in France won the Right to Vote
The Abolition of Slavery
The demand of labours in the plantation of Caribbean colonies was met by a triangular slave trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Slaves were brought from Africa and sold to plantation owners of the Caribbean. Port cities like Bordeaux and Nantes owed their economic prosperity to the flourishing slave trade.
National Assembly through a Convention in 1794 legislated to free all slaves. Ten years later Napoleon reintroduced slavery.
Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848
The Revolution and Everyday Life
Saw many changes in the lives of Men, Women and Children
Censorship was abolished, Declarations of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be a natural right.
Freedom of the press also meant that opposing views of events could be expressed
Plays, Songs and festive processions promoted the ideas of Liberty or Justice
Conclusion -
1804, Napoleon became Emperor of France, tried to conquer complete Europe, where he was seen as liberator, but very soon turned into a invader. Was defeated at Waterloo in 1815. His revolutionary ideas had an impact on people of Europe long after Napoleon had left.
Economic causes of the Revolt
(i) help extended to American War of Independence
(ii) luxurious life of the kings and Nobles
(iii) 2 Billion Livres debt on French Treasury
Louis XVI thought of introducing new taxes to come out of this debt
Social Causes
During Old regime, French society was divided into three estates
Ist Estate - Clergy
II Estate - King & Nobility
III Estate - Peasants and rest of the society
I & II Estate were only 10% of the French society, didn't paid any taxes, enjoyed privilege by Birth
III Estate had to pay all taxes
Taxes
Church used to extract - Tithe
State - Direct Tax - Taille
Indirect Tax - on Salt, Tobacco etc.
Feudal dues
Struggle to survive
(i) Rise in population led to rise in demand
(ii) Production declined
(iii) Less wages
(iv) Subsistence crisis occurred when drought or hail reduced the harvest
A Growing Middle class envisages and End to Privileges
Revolts against increasing Taxes and Food scarcity was left to those groups of third Estate who had become prosperous and had access to education
Middle class asked for an end to privileges by Birth, social positions should be decided according to merit
John Locke - ‘Two Treatises of Government’ - opposed the Doctrine of Divine and absolute right of the Monarch
Jean Jacques Rousseau - ‘The Social Contract’
Montesquieu - ‘The Spirit of the Laws’- proposed division of power into Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
The Outbreak of the Revolution
Meeting of the Estates General
5/May/1789, to pass the proposal of new taxes, last time was held in 1614
I Estate - 300 Representatives - One vote
II Estate - 300 Representatives - One vote
III Estate - 600 Representatives - One vote
Peasants, Artisans and Women were denied entry
III Estate demanded voting now be conducted by the Assembly as a whole, where each member have one vote.
Their demand was rejected by Louis XVI, representatives of the III Estate walked out
Tennis Court Oath
On 20 June, representatives of III Estate gathered on the Tennis Court of Versailles and took oath not to disperse till they had drafted a Constitution for France that would limit the powers of the the Monarch. They were led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes (‘What is the Third Estate’).
In Rural side, shortage of food forced angry women to storm into the shops. Rumor spread of the attack by hired bands of brigands. To save themselves and their crops, peasants attacked Chateaux. On 14 July the crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille.
Louis XVI accorded recognition to the National Assembly.
4 August 1789, National Assembly passed a decree abolishing feudal system of obligations and Taxes. Tithe were abolished and property of the Church confiscated. Government got 2 Billion Livres.
France becomes a Constitutional Monarchy
Constitution drafted in 1791
Power separated in - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary
Power to make law - National Assembly
Active Citizen - Man above 25 years of Age, who paid Taxes equal to atleast 3 days of a Labourer’s wage
Passive Citizens - Rest of the people
Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen - Right to Life, Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Opinion, Equality before law - were declared as Natural Rights
France abolishes Monarchy & becomes a Republic
Louis XVI entered into a secret negotiations with the King of Prussia. National Assembly in April 1792 voted to declare war against Prussia and Austria. Common people joined the Army and marched towards towards Paris. They sang the Patriotic song - Marseillaise, composed by Roget de L’Isle. It later became the National Anthem of France.
Formation of Jacobin Club
Got the name from the former convent of St. Jacob in Paris
Members belonged to less prosperous sections of the society
Leader - Maximilian Robespierre
They wore long striped trousers (in addition to Red caps) as was worn by Dock workers. Came to be known as Sans - culottes -’those without knee breeches’.
They attacked on the Palace of Tuileries on August 10, 1792. Held the King hostage and later sent to imprison. Elections were held. Voting age was reduced to 21, regardless of wealth.
September 1792, Convention abolished monarchy and declared France as Republic.
21 September 1792, Louis XVI was executed publicly.
The Reign of Terror
Time period of 1793-94, when Maximilian Robespierre ruled. Followed policy of severe control and punishment. Those who didn't agreed with Robespierre were tried, if found guilty were guillotined.
Reforms introduced - Maximum ceiling on wages and prices, meat and bread were rationed, concept of equality bread, concept of Citoyen and Citoyenne introduced. Church closed, buildings were converted into barracks or offices.
Robespierre was convicted by a Court in July 1794, arrested and Guillotined.
A Directory Rules France
A new constitution was introduced, non-propertied sections of society were not allowed to vote. Two elected Legislative Councils. Directory was appointed, an executive made of 5 members. Directors often clashed with the Legislative councils, which created the way for the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Did Women have a Revolution ?
Women were active participants in the events
Women of the third Estate had to work for a living, did not have access to education or job training, marriages were decided by families, working women had also to care for their families, wages were lower than those of man.
Women started their own political clubs and newspapers, women’s clubs came up (The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women), demanded same political Rights as Men - Right to Vote, to be elected to the Assembly, and to hold political offices
Revolutionary government created schools for girls, schooling was made compulsory, could not be married against their will, Divorce could be applied by both women and men, women were trained for jobs, can become artists or run small businesses
During the Reign of Terror, women rights were withdrawn
In 1946, women in France won the Right to Vote
The Abolition of Slavery
The demand of labours in the plantation of Caribbean colonies was met by a triangular slave trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Slaves were brought from Africa and sold to plantation owners of the Caribbean. Port cities like Bordeaux and Nantes owed their economic prosperity to the flourishing slave trade.
National Assembly through a Convention in 1794 legislated to free all slaves. Ten years later Napoleon reintroduced slavery.
Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848
The Revolution and Everyday Life
Saw many changes in the lives of Men, Women and Children
Censorship was abolished, Declarations of the Rights of Man and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be a natural right.
Freedom of the press also meant that opposing views of events could be expressed
Plays, Songs and festive processions promoted the ideas of Liberty or Justice
Conclusion -
1804, Napoleon became Emperor of France, tried to conquer complete Europe, where he was seen as liberator, but very soon turned into a invader. Was defeated at Waterloo in 1815. His revolutionary ideas had an impact on people of Europe long after Napoleon had left.
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