Ch. 6 The French Revolution Unit 3. The age of revolutions

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1 Ch. 6 The French Revolution Unit 3. The age of revolutions
S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

2 Society under the Ancien Régime
Three estates Nobility The only ones who could access top offices in the state, the army or the Church Clergy Thanks to Gallicanism, it enjoys substantial autonomy Third estate Ordinary inhabitants of towns and countryside (e.g. lawyers, traders, craftsmen) S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

3 Grave economic problems
French support to rebels in the US independence war Profound financial troubles for the state Attempts are made to impose taxes on aristocrats and clergy Noble-driven parliaments reject new taxes The third estate continues to bear all the taxes S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

4 The cahiers de doléances
Louis XVI summons the Estates-General in May 1789; in the run-up cahiers de doléances are prepared: The nobility criticizes the king's fiscal policy The clergy does not express a clear line, high and low ranks are divided The third estate calls for fair career opportunities, access to high military ranks and equal political rights S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

5 The Tennis Court Oath As demanded by the third estate, each member – and not each estate – is given one vote in the Estates-General June 20, 1789: the third estate wants to turn the Estates-General into a national assembly with constituent powers. They swear not to leave the jeu de paume court until the king puts forward a constitution S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

6 The storming of the Bastille
The king wants to resist the third estate's demands and intends to restore his absolute power by force July 14, 1789: in order to prevent a military crackdown the Parisian people rebel and assault the Bastille fortress S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

7 The “Great Fear” The cost of living (e.g. price of bread) rises steeply, unrest spreads to the countryside Peasants assault and storm noblemen's castles (“Great Fear”) S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

8 The end of Ancien Régime
Sovereignty is transferred to the people (e.g. lynching of Foulon de Doué) Aristocrats' privileges are abolished Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 26, 1789) A new political class emerges The political class enters into a new relationship with the public opinion; newspapers grow in reach and number S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

9 The Declaration of the Rights
“Article I - Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions can be founded only on the common good. Article II - The goal of any political association is the conservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, safety and resistance against oppression. Article III - The principle of any sovereignty resides essentially in the Nation. No body, no individual can exert authority which does not emanate expressly from it.” Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 9

10 The people's clubs People's clubs or societies are formed, they give voice to different political orientations Jacobins Initially formed of Bretons, the group grows in number at the Constituent Assembly (Robespierre) Feuillants Born out of a split from the Jacobins, the group supports a constitutional monarchy (Barnave) Cordeliers Politically radical group, oriented in favour of a republic (Danton) S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

11 The Constituent Assembly
Executive power (king) 1791 Constitution Legislative power (assembly) Electorate includes only those who pay a minimum of taxes S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

12 Anticlericalism Revolutionaries are more and more hostile to religion and the clergy The properties of the Church are confiscated The clergy must pledge allegiance to the Constitution, their wage now comes from the state Revolutionary propaganda makes fun of the Church S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

13 War and the end of monarchy
Incited by the Girondins, in 1792 Louis XVI wages war against Prussia and Austria, which have been organizing against the French revolution In fact Louis XVI bets on France's defeat, which would bring the revolution to an end. The French army is repeatedly defeated indeed, high officials do not take part in the campaign On August 10, 1792, the king is arrested by the sans-culottes. The most radical revolutionaries want him to be sentenced to death S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

14 The National Convention
After the fall of the monarchy, the people shall elect a new constituent assembly, the National Convention All male citizens are entitled to vote Elections are characterized by violence and intimidation, the most radical fringes benefit from it (“September massacres”). S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

15 The king is executed On September 22, 1792 the Convention abolishes the monarchy and declares the republic Deputees disagree on the treatment of the former king: Montagnards call for capital punishment, Girondins favour a delay in the decision On January 21, 1793 the former king and his family are guillotined S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

16 The republican values Public assistance
The state helps citizens in need; confiscated goods contribute to fund trasfers to them A secular state Civil marriage and divorce are introduced Slavery is abolished The free inhabitants of colonies become French citizens; the Convention abolishes slavery in the colonies in 1794 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

17 The Committee of public safety
The Committee of public safety is established (12 deputies, rotating over time) Price controls are imposed to counter inflation Mass conscription is introduced A revolutionary court Is established to oppose “counter-revolutionary” activities S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

18 Terror In 1793-94 the Committee of public safety
centralizes executive and legislative power A state of fear is deliberately promoted (“Terror”), likely opposers are violently repressed Plotters, deserters Resistant priests and their supporters Girondins and other moderates The Law of Suspects of September 1793 makes it possible to prosecute not only the opposers of the revolution, but also those who do not openly support it S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

19 Uprisings Some uprisings occur when Girondins are outlawed (“federalist revolts”) The Vendée region rebels in March 1793, supported by the resistant clergy and Britain. The rural rebellion is repressed in the following winter S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

20 The Thermidorian reaction
A coup d'état by the Montagnards brings Terror to an end in July 1794 Robespierre and Saint-Just are arrested the revolutionary court is abolished freedom of expression is restored S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016

21 Constitution of the year III
In 1795 the Convention approves the new Constitution Five-man directory (executive power) Bicameral legislature (legislative power) Universal suffrage is abolished, there is a difference between active and passive electorate Council of Five Hundred (proposes laws) Council of Ancients (approves laws) S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016 S. Luzzatto, Dalle storie alla Storia © Zanichelli editore 2016