French Revolution – Nathan Michalewicz

The Estates General: Called in Jan. 1789

Plans: Vast Institutional Reform
- Cahier des Doléances
- Decision would be binding

Problems:
- Politicized the whole country
- Last Estates General, 1614
- “What is the Third Estate?” (Jan. 1789)
  - by Abbé Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès

Plans:
- Cahier des Doléances: List of grievances from each estate
  - Requested that all communities draw a list of grievances the communities had (Louis asks). What they want to be changed.
- Decision would be binding: The Estates General would have the power to make decisions for the reform of the country.
Problems:
- Politicized the whole country: This told the whole country to think about their problems and how to fix them.
  - Suddenly everyone has the right to say what is on their mind (he doesn’t realize this)
- Last Estates General, 1614:
  - No institutional memory of how to run an Estates General.
  - Fear that the Nobility and the Clergy would team up against the Third Estate (everyone else)
- What is the Third Estate? by Abbé Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès:
  - Pamphlet that argued that the Third Estate was the true representative of the nation and should have more power in the Estates General.

The Estates General: Meets in May 1789 at Versailles

How to Vote
A Failed compromise by Louis XVI
3rd estate: the National Assembly (June 17, 1789)

How to Vote
- Last time each estate got 1 vote.
- Problem with representation.
  - 1 (clergy) = 136,000 people.
  - 2 (nobility) = 1-2% of population.
  - 3 (everyone else) = 98% of population.
- Also, most clergy came from noble families.
- Third estate has twice as many representatives as other two estates.
A Failed compromise by Louis XVI
- Vote by order/estate.
- Each estate gets 1 vote.
- Third estate gets 2 votes.
3rd estate: the National Assembly (June 17, 1789)
- Bad compromise.
- It politicized and angered the third estate.
- The third estate comes together and establishes itself as that National Assembly.
- It speaks for the nation.
- To not join is to not speak for the nation.
- Louis XVI drags his feet. He doesn’t know what to do.

The Tennis Court Oath (20 June 1789):

A Misunderstanding

The Tennis Court Oath: Constitutional Monarchy

Significance

A Misunderstanding:
- Accidentally locked out of hall.
The Tennis Court Oath: Constitutional Monarchy:
- Oath not to disband until they wrote a constitution for France.
- Says we are not going back.
Significance:
- This is the moment revolution begins.
- Complete overthrow of power.
- New definition of state/society:
  - No longer a society with distinct privileges.
  - Now common nation under monarch with theoretical equality between members.
  - This is the superpower of the western world at the moment.
  - They are absolutely overturning the apple cart.

New Conceptions of State and Society

The Nation
High Revolution vs Popular Revolution
High Tensions in Paris
Storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789

The Nation:
- The invention and implementation of the nation.
- No longer disconnected subjects. They are a nation under a king. but this will change.
- Leads to new understanding of liberty.
  - Liberty is universal, from individual groups to everyone.
High Rev. Vs Popular Rev.:
- Revolution will take place in two different ways.
  - High revolution: those making decisions and writing in news papers, etc.
  - Popular violence.
High Tensions in Paris:
- The National Assembly was under threat of the powers that be overthrowing the experiment.
- Mid-July, the people of Paris rose up.
Storming of the Bastille:
- The Bastille was a prison and armory.
- It was a symbol of the monarchy’s power.
- The people of Paris stormed it and took it over.
- This is the moment that the revolution becomes violent.
  - Army didn’t react.
  - Popular violence makes statement that the people of paris want the assembly to continue.
  - Government lost control over the military force.
- New military force created: National Guard.
  - Tried to hold on to power.
  - Forms a new internal military police force.
  - Marquis de LaFayette placed in charge.

New Conceptions of State and Society

Aug. 4, 1789: National Assembly eliminates social privileges

Declarations of Rights of Man and Citizen (1789)

Women’s March, October 1789

Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)

Members of the clergy taking the oath to the civil constitution.

Painting of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

Aug. 4, 1789: National Assembly eliminates social privileges:
- The National Assembly abolished the feudal system and the privileges of the nobility and clergy.
- This was a major step towards equality and the end of the old regime.
Women’s March (5 Oct. 1789):
- Began in marketplace of Paris.
- Angry over the price of bread.
- March to Versailles break in attack soldiers and Louis XVI and his family forced to return to Paris.
Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790):
- The National Assembly passed a law that required all clergy to swear an oath of loyalty to the state.
- This was a major change in the relationship between the church and the state.

Failed Consensus (1790-1791)

Noble Emigrés
Flight to Varennes (June 1791)
Constitutional Monarchy Declared: Legislative Assembly (Oct. 1791)
April 1792, War against Prussia and Austria

Noble Emigrés:
- Nobles who fled France and were plotting to overthrow the revolution.
- Begin negotiating with the Hapsburgs.
- HRE is the brother in law to the king.
Flight to Varennes (June 1791):
- Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee France.
- They were caught and returned to Paris.
- They claimed they were kidnapped.
Constitutional Monarchy Declared: Legislative Assembly (Oct. 1791):
- The National Assembly wrote a constitution that created a constitutional monarchy.
- The Legislative Assembly was the new governing body.
- Begins to push more and more for war.
- The solution to the problems will be military.
- Some think this will bring unity to the state.
- King and Queen go along with it.
  - Betting on France losing
  - If France loses, monarchs will end on top.

The Radical Revolution (1792-1794)

Universal Revolution & Military Setbacks
Bunswick Manefesto (July 1792)
The National Convention (Sept. 1792)
Universal Male suffrage

Universal Revolution
- Thought of the war as universal.
- Must be brought to everybody.
- Once French show up, the people will rise up and accept them.
Military setbacks:
- Fr. Doesn’t do well.
  - In part b/c the army was aristocratic and many of the officers fled country.
- Huge upheaval of ranks
  - If people are equal the army shouldn’t have superiors and inferiors, that isn’t equality.
  - Orders that don’t make sense don’t have
  - Companies voting not to go on attack, etc.
- Issues of supply
- Issues of training
The Brunswick Manifesto (July ’92)
- Says if Fr. Harms the monarchy they would destroy France and destroy the revolution
- Helps promote the notion of fighting for universal
Storming the Tuilleries (Aug. ’92)
- The royal palace is stormed by mob and King/Queen put under arrest.
- ’92 Fr. Declares republic to be born.
Proclamation of the Republic (22 sept 92)
- Created national convention
- Universal male suffrage.
- French open everything
- Radical step.

The Reign of Terror (1793-1794): Part I

Trial & Execution of Louis XVI (Jan. 1793)

Foreign Invasions

Civil War: The Vendée (1793-1794)

Issues about how to govern
- Civil wars erupt.
- Huge multi-faceted situation.
- Decide that a king is threat to Republic (king must dies)
- By one vote in favor, FR. Gov’t decides to execute Louis XVI on grounds of treason.
- He was a king, he was a traitor to republic.
- Some voted to exile him to America, but he is voted to be executed.
- Executed by guillotine in ornate fashion in Paris.
- Much faster than previous methods (progressive method).
- The national convention
- The crises of 1793
  - Foreign invasions
  - Civil wars
- Gov’t by terror.
- Gov’t being attacked outside and inside.
- Gov’t has right to defend itself and defend equality.
- Decides to put emergency executive powers into committee

The Reign of Terror (1793-1794): Part II

The Committee of Public Safety & Maximilien Robespierre
Military Reforms: Levée en masse & shock tactics
1794: Military Success
Revolutionary Changes:
- Republican Calendar (1793-1805)
- Cult of Reason & Cult of Supreme Being

Committee of Public Safety (Robespierre—1758-94)
- Given executive power
- 12 men
- Mouth piece is Robespierre (not a dictator)
- Had to be voted on by National assembly.
- Begins to use capitol punishment greatly and is voted on by national assembly by universal mass suffrage.
- Many harsh decrees
- Over course of year several thousands imprisoned
Military Reforms
- Brings in first round of national conscription
- Demands what
- Everything directed to survival of republic itself
- All potential directed
- Institutes new tactics:
- Didn’t have time to drill.
- Will reassert military discipline but will never be same a Prussian
- Separation between officers and others not as strict.
- Can’t do wonderful maneuvers and institutes ideas of shock tactics.
- Centered around many men on battlefield and just overwhelm the enemy.
  - Must accept high casualties.
- Institutes mobility
  - Breaks army into different corpes (can help each other or work alone)
- Introduces armies living off land again
  - Will forage.
  - No more supply depots.
- Levee en masse
  - Mass rising
  - Men of adult age is open to conscription.
  - Has civilian side to it
  - Takes the entire economy of country and directs it to war effort.

The End of the Terror

Robespierre to the Guillatine, July 1794

Begin drafting New constitution, July 1794

1794, Military successes.
Robespierre is executed by guillotine.