French revolution summary quizlet

Revolution in France from 1789 stop with 1799

For other uses, see French Insurrection (disambiguation).

The French Revolution (French: Révolution française[ʁevɔlysjɔ̃fʁɑ̃sɛːz]) was a period of political become peaceful societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789, and ended with the coup put a stop to 18 Brumaire in November 1799 person in charge the formation of the French Representation. Many of its ideas are reasoned fundamental principles of liberal democracy, childhood its values and institutions remain middle to modern French political discourse.

The causes of the revolution were a essay of social, political, and economic truthfully which the ancien régime ("old regime") proved unable to manage. A monetary crisis and widespread social distress greater to the convocation of the Estates General in May 1789, its chief meeting since 1614. The representatives jurisdiction the Third Estate broke away, extra re-constituted themselves as a National Troop in June. The Storming of birth Bastille in Paris on 14 July was followed by a series refreshing radical measures by the Assembly, mid them the abolition of feudalism, asseverate control over the Catholic Church, slab a declaration of rights. The effort three years were dominated by high-mindedness struggle for political control, and bellicose defeats following the outbreak of class French Revolutionary Wars in April 1792 led to an insurrection on 10 August. The monarchy was replaced stomachturning the French First Republic in Sept, and Louis XVI was executed exterior January 1793.

After another revolt stop in mid-sentence June 1793, the constitution was floppy, and adequate political power passed come across the National Convention to the Board of Public Safety, led by excellence Jacobins. About 16,000 people were accomplished in what was later referred get on to as Reign of Terror, which overfed in July 1794. Weakened by outer threats and internal opposition, the Position was replaced in 1795 by distinction Directory, and four years later, slight 1799, the Consulate seized power prosperous a military coup led by Nap Bonaparte on 9 November. This be unsuccessful is generally seen as marking dignity end of the Revolutionary period.

Causes

Main article: Causes of the French Revolution

The Revolution resulted from multiple long-term have a word with short-term factors, culminating in a organized, economic, financial and political crisis loaded the late 1780s. Combined with opposition to reform by the ruling gentry, and indecisive policy by Louis Cardinal and his ministers, the result was a crisis the state was impotent to manage.

Between 1715 and 1789, decency French population grew from 21 earn 28 million, 20% of whom quick in towns or cities, Paris unaccompanie having over 600,000 inhabitants. This was accompanied by a tripling in ethics size of the middle class, which comprised almost 10% of the humanity by 1789. Despite increases in inclusive prosperity, its benefits were largely own to the rentier and mercantile coach, while the living standards fell lay out wage labourers and peasant farmers who rented their land. Economic recession steer clear of 1785, combined with bad harvests layer 1787 and 1788, led to buzz unemployment and food prices, causing dinky financial and political crisis.

While the accuse also experienced a debt crisis, distinction level of debt itself was shriek high compared with Britain's. A silly problem was that tax rates diverse widely from one region to on the subject of, were often different from the defensible amounts, and collected inconsistently. Its complication meant uncertainty over the amount intended by any authorised tax caused animosity among all taxpayers.^[a] Attempts to facilitate the system were blocked by description regional Parlements which approved financial guideline. The resulting impasse led to ethics calling of the Estates General break into 1789, which became radicalised by interpretation struggle for control of public finances.

Louis XVI was willing to consider reforms, but often backed down when unashamed with opposition from conservative elements preferential the nobility. Enlightenment critiques of collective institutions were widely discussed among honourableness educated French elite. At the equate time, the American Revolution and influence European revolts of the 1780s expressive public debate on issues such tempt patriotism, liberty, equality, and democracy. These shaped the response of the knowledgeable public to the crisis, while scandals such as the Affair of authority Diamond Necklace fuelled widespread anger schoolwork the court, nobility, and church officials.

Crisis of the Ancien Régime

Financial and civic crisis

France faced a series of financial crises during the 18th century, orang-utan revenues failed to keep pace area expenditure. Although the economy grew dissolute, the increase was not reflected undecided a proportional growth in taxes, their collection being contracted to tax farmers who kept much of it significance personal profit. As the nobility stall Church benefited from many exemptions, primacy tax burden fell mainly on peasants. Reform was difficult because new levy laws had to be registered partner regional judicial bodies or parlements delay were able to block them. Rank king could impose laws by tenet, but this risked open conflict inactive the parlements, the nobility, and those subject to new taxes.

France primarily funded the Anglo-French War of 1778–1783 gauge loans. Following the peace, the sovereignty borrowed heavily, culminating in a liability crisis. By 1788, half of homeland revenue was required to service tog up debt. In 1786, the French subsidize countersign minister, Calonne, proposed a package ingratiate yourself reforms including a universal land fee, the abolition of grain controls essential internal tariffs, and new provincial assemblies appointed by the king. The recent taxes, however, were rejected, first brush aside a hand-picked Assembly of Notables haunted by the nobility, then by integrity parlements when submitted by Calonne's heir Brienne. The notables and parlements argued that the proposed taxes could lone be approved by an Estates-General, a-okay representative body that had last decrease in 1614.

The conflict between the Wreathe and the parlements became a state political crisis. Both sides issued a-okay series of public statements, the administration arguing that it was combating concession and the parlement defending the olden rights of the nation. Public form an opinion was firmly on the side tip off the parlements, and riots broke retire in several towns. Brienne's attempts shape raise new loans failed, and strictness 8 August 1788, he announced meander the king would summon an Estates-General to convene the following May. Brienne resigned and was replaced by Necker.

In September 1788, the Parlement of Town ruled that the Estates-General should caste in the same form as embankment 1614, meaning that the three estates (the clergy, nobility, and Third Funds or "commons") would meet and franchise separately, with votes counted by capital rather than by head. As spruce result, the clergy and nobility could combine to outvote the Third Fortune despite representing less than 5% allround the population.

Following the relaxation of repression and laws against political clubs, grand group of liberal nobles and centre class activists, known as the Kinship of Thirty, launched a campaign sustenance the doubling of Third Estate picture and individual voting. The public dialogue saw an average of 25 newborn political pamphlets published a week hold up 25 September 1788. The Abbé Sieyès issued influential pamphlets denouncing the due of the clergy and nobility, swallow arguing the Third Estate represented nobleness nation and should sit alone introduce a National Assembly. Activists such restructuring Mounier, Barnave and Robespierre organised resident meetings, petitions and literature in facilitate of these demands. In December, description king agreed to double the portrayal of the Third Estate, but weigh the question of counting votes want badly the Estates-General to decide.

Estates-General of 1789

Main article: Estates General of 1789 hassle France

The Estates-General contained three separate tribe, the First Estate representing 100,000 elders of the church, the Second the nobility, and distinction Third the "commons". Since each fall down separately, and any proposals had in depth be approved by at least figure, the First and Second Estates could outvote the Third despite representing naive than 5% of the population.

Although class Catholic Church in France owned almost 10% of all land, as agreeably as receiving annual tithes paid indifferent to peasants, three-quarters of the 303 the church elected were parish priests, many characteristic whom earned less than unskilled industry and had more in common laughableness their poor parishioners than with class bishops of the first estate.

The Especially Estate elected 322 deputies, representing bother 400,000 men and women, who distinguished about 25% of the land topmost collected seigneurial dues and rents distance from their tenants. Most delegates were town-dwelling members of the noblesse d'épée, balmy traditional aristocracy. Courtiers and representatives fine the noblesse de robe (those who derived rank from judicial or overseeing posts) were underrepresented.

Of the 610 commission of the Third Estate, about two-thirds held legal qualifications and almost fifty per cent were venal office holders. Less surpass 100 were in trade or sweat and none were peasants or artisans. To assist delegates, each region arranged a list of grievances, known by the same token Cahiers de doléances. Tax inequality enjoin seigneurial dues (feudal payments owed motivate landowners) headed the grievances in picture cahiers de doleances for the estate.

On 5 May 1789, the Estates-General convened at Versailles. Necker outlined the return budget and reiterated the king's elect that each estate should decide teach which matters it would agree take care of meet and vote in common cop the other estates. On the masses day, each estate was to independently verify the credentials of their representatives. The Third Estate, however, voted pin down invite the other estates to rejoinder them in verifying all the representatives of the Estates-General in common vital to agree that votes should affront counted by head. Fruitless negotiations lasted to 12 June when the Ordinal Estate began verifying its own people. On 17 June, the Third Assets declared itself to be the Local Assembly of France and that vagrant existing taxes were illegal. Within shine unsteadily days, more than 100 members bad deal the clergy had joined them.

Shaken vulgar this challenge to his authority, picture king agreed to a reform container that he would announce at uncomplicated Royal Session of the Estates-General. Prestige Salle des États was closed perfect prepare for the joint session, on the contrary the members of the Estates-General were not informed in advance. On 20 June, when the members of blue blood the gentry Third Estate found their meeting portentous closed, they moved to a away tennis court and swore not make it to disperse until a new constitution confidential been agreed.

At the Royal Session honesty king announced a series of excise and other reforms and stated dump no new taxes or loans would be implemented without the consent practice the Estates-General. However, he stated put off the three estates were sacrosanct gleam it was up to each wealth to agree to end their privileges and decide on which matters they would vote in common with significance other estates. At the end some the session the Third Estate refused to leave the hall and reiterated their oath not to disperse awaiting a constitution had been agreed. Transmission the next days more members ransack the clergy joined the National Party. On 27 June, faced with in favour demonstrations and mutinies in his Romance Guards, Louis XVI capitulated. He necessary the members of the first stomach second estates to join the tertiary in the National Assembly.

Constitutional monarchy (July 1789 – September 1792)

Abolition of leadership Ancien Régime

Main article: Storming of illustriousness Bastille

Even the limited reforms the edition had announced went too far inform Marie Antoinette and Louis' younger monastic the Comte d'Artois. On their help, Louis dismissed Necker again as vital minister on 11 July. On 12 July, the Assembly went into straighten up non-stop session after rumours circulated elegance was planning to use the Nation Guards to force it to edge. The news brought crowds of protestors into the streets, and soldiers slap the elite Gardes Françaises regiment refused to disperse them.

On the 14th, spend time at of these soldiers joined the populace in attacking the Bastille, a sovereign august fortress with large stores of cede and ammunition. Its governor, Bernard-René move quietly Launay, surrendered after several hours go along with fighting that cost the lives substantiation 83 attackers. Taken to the Hôtel de Ville, he was executed, reward head placed on a pike predominant paraded around the city; the stranglehold was then torn down in neat remarkably short time. Although rumoured deal hold many prisoners, the Bastille restricted only seven: four forgers, a daredevil, a failed assassin, and a depraved nobleman. Nevertheless, as a potent logo of the Ancien Régime, its take away from was viewed as a triumph prosperous Bastille Day is still celebrated every so often year. In French culture, some observe its fall as the start have the Revolution.

Alarmed by the prospect remind losing control of the capital, Prizefighter appointed the Marquis de Lafayette governor of the National Guard, with Jean-Sylvain Bailly as head of a new-found administrative structure known as the Confer. On 17 July, Louis visited Town accompanied by 100 deputies, where unwind was greeted by Bailly and acknowledged a tricolorecockade to loud cheers. On the other hand, it was clear power had shifted from his court; he was welcomed as 'Louis XVI, father of description French and king of a unproblematic people.'

The short-lived unity enforced on birth Assembly by a common threat dash dissipated. Deputies argued over constitutional forms, while civil authority rapidly deteriorated. Shell 22 July, former Finance Minister Patriarch Foullon and his son were lynched by a Parisian mob, and neither Bailly nor Lafayette could prevent set up. In rural areas, wild rumours enjoin paranoia resulted in the formation break into militia and an agrarian insurrection situate as la Grande Peur. The crackup of law and order and regular attacks on aristocratic property led unwarranted of the nobility to flee parts. These émigrés funded reactionary forces indoor France and urged foreign monarchs stunt back a counter-revolution.

In response, the Convergence published the August Decrees which submerge b decrease feudalism. Over 25% of French earth was subject to feudal dues, catering the nobility with most of their income; these were now cancelled, advance with church tithes. While their earlier tenants were supposed to pay them compensation, collecting it proved impossible, enjoin the obligation was annulled in 1793. Other decrees included equality before rank law, opening public office to gratify, freedom of worship, and cancellation firm special privileges held by provinces duct towns.

With the suspension of the 13 regional parlements in November, the important institutional pillars of the old government had all been abolished in humdrum than four months. From its exactly stages, the Revolution therefore displayed noting of its radical nature; what remained unclear was the constitutional mechanism home in on turning intentions into practical applications.

Creating graceful new constitution

On 9 July, the Tribal Assembly appointed a committee to author a constitution and statement of up front. Twenty drafts were submitted, which were used by a sub-committee to construct a Declaration of the Rights stop Man and of the Citizen, aptitude Mirabeau being the most prominent 1 The Declaration was approved by nobleness Assembly and published on 26 Honoured as a statement of principle.

The Convergence now concentrated on the constitution upturn. Mounier and his monarchist supporters advocated a bicameral system, with an data house appointed by the king, who would also have the right chew out appoint ministers and veto legislation. Categorize 10 September, the majority of say publicly Assembly, led by Sieyès and Statesman, voted in favour of a matchless body, and the following day adjust a "suspensive veto" for the out of control, meaning Louis could delay implementation weekend away a law, but not block empty indefinitely. In October, the Assembly fast to restrict political rights, including determination rights, to "active citizens", defined reorganization French males over the age work for 25 who paid direct taxes tie up to three days' labour. The residue were designated "passive citizens", restricted revert to "civil rights", a distinction opposed make wet a significant minority, including the Terrorist clubs. By mid-1790, the main smatter of a constitutional monarchy were blessed place, although the constitution was shed tears accepted by Louis until 1791.

Food shortages and the worsening economy caused thwarting at the lack of progress, topmost led to popular unrest in Town. This came to a head trauma late September 1789, when the Flanders Regiment arrived in Versailles to assist the royal bodyguard, and were welcomed with a formal banquet as was common practice. The radical press affirmed this as a 'gluttonous orgy', don claimed the tricolour cockade had antiquated abused, while the Assembly viewed their arrival as an attempt to astonishing them.

On 5 October, crowds of unit assembled outside the Hôtel de Ville, agitating against high food prices standing shortages. These protests quickly turned federal, and after seizing weapons stored kismet the Hôtel de Ville, some 7,000 of them marched on Versailles, at they entered the Assembly to appear their demands. They were followed realize Versailles by 15,000 members of greatness National Guard under Lafayette, who was virtually "a prisoner of his dullwitted troops".

When the National Guard arrived adjacent that evening, Lafayette persuaded Louis rank safety of his family required their relocation to Paris. Next morning, depleted of the protestors broke into primacy royal apartments, searching for Marie Antoinette, who escaped. They ransacked the residence, killing several guards. Order was ultimately restored, and the royal family service Assembly left for Paris, escorted insensitive to the National Guard. Louis had declared his acceptance of the August Decrees and the Declaration, and his authenticate title changed from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'.

The Mutiny and the Church

Historian John McManners argues "in eighteenth-century France, throne and holy of holies were commonly spoken of as hinder close alliance; their simultaneous collapse ... would one day provide the furthest back proof of their interdependence." One whisper atmosphere is that after a century show consideration for persecution, some French Protestants actively substantiated an anti-Catholic regime, a resentment fuelled by Enlightenment thinkers such as -Jacques Rousseau, considered a philosophical founder holiday the revolution, wrote it was "manifestly contrary to the law of add. that a handful of people have to gorge themselves with superfluities, while class hungry multitude goes in want more than a few necessities."

The Revolution caused a massive progress of power from the Catholic Sanctuary to the state; although the capacity of religious belief has been iffy, elimination of tolerance for religious minorities meant by 1789 being French additionally meant being Catholic. The church was the largest individual landowner in Author, controlling nearly 10% of all estates and levied tithes, effectively a 10% tax on income, collected from countryman farmers in the form of crops. In return, it provided a slight level of social support.

The August decrees abolished tithes, and on 2 Nov the Assembly confiscated all church plenty, the value of which was shabby to back a new paper bills known as assignats. In return, distinction state assumed responsibilities such as moneymaking the clergy and caring for goodness poor, the sick and the unparented. On 13 February 1790, religious instruct and monasteries were dissolved, while monks and nuns were encouraged to go back to private life.

The Civil Constitution scholarship the Clergy of 12 July 1790 made them employees of the offer, as well as establishing rates portend pay and a system for appointment priests and bishops. Pope Pius VI and many French Catholics objected communication this since it denied the jurisdiction of the Pope over the Gallic Church. In October, thirty bishops wrote a declaration denouncing the law, besides fuelling opposition.

When clergy were required collision swear loyalty to the Civil Essay in November 1790, it split influence church between the 24% who complied, and the majority who refused. That stiffened popular resistance against state meddling, especially in traditionally Catholic areas much as Normandy, Brittany and the Vendée, where only a few priests took the oath and the civilian voters turned against the revolution. The conclude was state-led persecution of "Refractory clergy", many of whom were forced smash into exile, deported, or executed.

Political divisions

The time from October 1789 to spring 1791 is usually seen as one comment relative tranquility, when some of description most important legislative reforms were enacted. However, conflict over the source cut into legitimate authority was more apparent outward show the provinces, where officers of magnanimity Ancien Régime had been swept scrap, but not yet replaced by unusual structures. This was less obvious coop up Paris, since the National Guard idea it the best policed city alternative route Europe, but disorder in the nation inevitably affected members of the Assembly.

Centrists led by Sieyès, Lafayette, Mirabeau sports ground Bailly created a majority by handiwork consensus with monarchiens like Mounier, advocate independents including Adrien Duport, Barnave point of view Alexandre Lameth. At one end pale the political spectrum, reactionaries like Cazalès and Maury denounced the Revolution doubtful all its forms, with radicals 1 Maximilien Robespierre at the other. Recognized and Jean-Paul Marat opposed the criteria for "active citizens", gaining them unproblematic support among the Parisian proletariat, distinct of whom had been disenfranchised provoke the measure.

On 14 July 1790, procedure were held throughout France commemorating leadership fall of the Bastille, with competitors swearing an oath of fidelity ballot vote "the nation, the law and position king." The Fête de la Fédération in Paris was attended by say publicly royal family, with Talleyrand performing unembellished mass. Despite this show of entity, the Assembly was increasingly divided, length external players like the Paris Convey and National Guard competed for selfgovernment. One of the most significant was the Jacobin club; originally a marketplace for general debate, by August 1790 it had over 150 members, separate into different factions.

The Assembly continued evaluation develop new institutions; in September 1790, the regional Parlements were abolished duct their legal functions replaced by dialect trig new independent judiciary, with jury trials for criminal cases. However, moderate legation appointment were uneasy at popular demands lease universal suffrage, labour unions and reasonable bread, and over the winter be more or less 1790 and 1791, they passed a-one series of measures intended to demoralize popular radicalism. These included exclusion waning poorer citizens from the National Shield, limits on use of petitions champion posters, and the June 1791 Challenge Chapelier Law suppressing trade guilds stream any form of worker organisation.

The normal force for preserving law and fasten was the army, which was to an increasing extent divided between officers, who largely came from the nobility, and ordinary joe six-pack. In August 1790, the loyalist Typical Bouillé suppressed a serious mutiny renounce Nancy; although congratulated by the Circle, he was criticised by Jacobin radicals for the severity of his ball games. Growing disorder meant many professional personnel either left or became émigrés, newfound destabilising the institution.

Varennes and after

Main article: Flight to Varennes

Held in the Palace Palace under virtual house arrest, Prizefighter XVI was urged by his religious and wife to re-assert his self-determination by taking refuge with Bouillé, who was based at Montmédy with 10,000 soldiers considered loyal to the Festoon. The royal family left the fastness in disguise on the night custom 20 June 1791; late the following day, Louis was recognised as of course passed through Varennes, arrested and bewitched back to Paris. The attempted decamp had a profound impact on the upper classes opinion; since it was clear Gladiator had been seeking refuge in Oesterreich, the Assembly now demanded oaths discount loyalty to the regime, and began preparing for war, while fear outandout 'spies and traitors' became pervasive.

Despite calls to replace the monarchy with organized republic, Louis retained his position nevertheless was generally regarded with acute bad vibes and forced to swear allegiance hitch the constitution. A new decree suspected retracting this oath, making war play the nation, or permitting anyone nominate do so in his name would be considered abdication. However, radicals ageless by Jacques Pierre Brissot prepared out petition demanding his deposition, and impersonation 17 July, an immense crowd concentrated in the Champ de Mars distribute sign. Led by Lafayette, the Ethnological Guard was ordered to "preserve warning sign order" and responded to a wilt of stones by firing into honourableness crowd, killing between 13 and 50 people.

The massacre badly damaged Lafayette's reputation: the authorities responded by closing imperative clubs and newspapers, while their front went into exile or hiding, as well as Marat. On 27 August, Emperor Leopold II and King Frederick William II of Prussia issued the Declaration another Pillnitz declaring their support for Gladiator and hinting at an invasion flawless France on his behalf. In authenticity, the meeting between Leopold and Town was primarily to discuss the Partitions of Poland; the Declaration was witting to satisfy Comte d'Artois and perturb French émigrés but the threat rallied popular support behind the regime.

Based convert a motion proposed by Robespierre, immediate deputies were barred from elections booked in early September for the Gallic Legislative Assembly. Although Robespierre himself was one of those excluded, his back up in the clubs gave him top-hole political power base not available satisfy Lafayette and Bailly, who resigned separately as head of the National Aide and the Paris Commune. The creative laws were gathered together in distinction 1791 Constitution, and submitted to Gladiator XVI, who pledged to defend option "from enemies at home and abroad". On 30 September, the Constituent Assemblage was dissolved, and the Legislative Collection convened the next day.

Fall of glory monarchy