The French Revolution

-Key Concepts-

I. Revolutionary Ideas
-Ideological Foundation for Political Liberalism-

A. Liberty
The notion of individual

human rights A new type of government in which the people are sovereign The importance of a representative assembly The importance of a written constitution The notion of selfdetermination Freedom to accumulate property

B. Equality
Equality of rights and civil liberties Equality before the law No special privileges for the rich Equality of opportunity Careers Open to Talent Inherent tension between liberty and
equality

II. Roots of Liberalism

Judeo-Christian and
Greek roots Enlightenment Foundation Lockes Notion of the Rights of Englishmen

III. A Dual Revolution

The French Revolution was the inaugural

European revolution The French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution together transformed the western world This Dual Revolution changed everything politically, socially and economically Triumph of European states and economies globally The Modern Era was inaugurated by the Dual Revolution

IV. The Atlantic Revolution

French Revolution was a part of a whole
series of revolutions which took place during the late 18th century --Political agitation in England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the American colonies One big movement of revolutionary agitation

A. British North America

All Men are Created
Equal The significance of the American constitution The influence of the American Revolution The impact of the American Revolution

B. Central and South America

Independence from
Spanish rule Simon Bolivar, the father of Latin American independence Continued dominance of the white minority The abolition of the slave trade is set in motion --United States abolished this trade in 1808

C. The French Revolution

More fundamental and profound
consequences than the American Revolution France = most powerful and populous state in Europe Massive social revolution Worldwide impact Becomes model for future revolutions

How Should We Look at the French Revolution?

Series of revolutions which became more radical as leadership cascaded down through French society.

V. The Events of the French Revolution

Watch for the different revolutions within the Revolution!

A. Origins
Began as a revolt of
the aristocracy Attempt to capitalize on the financial woes of the monarchy Only solution = tax reform and a direct tax on all property Aristocracy refused and forces the issue

B. The Estates-General
An old feudal assembly
that had not met since 1614 Three Estates: Clergy, Nobility, All Others The significance of the voting procedure The miscalculation and lack of social awareness of the aristocracy

C. The Third Estate

Who were they? Third Estate was
dominated by the middle class Blending of aristocratic and bourgeois classes by 1789 Middle class = Big Winners Revolutionary goals of the middle class

D. An Agenda of Classical Liberalism

Representative
government did not mean democracy or mob rule Estates-General became the National Assembly in June of 1789 with the power to frame a constitution --Tennis Court Oath

E. Revolutionaries in the Streets

Who were they? Sans-culottes
(without knee britches) Picked up the ideas and slogans of the Revolution from the more educated leadership of lawyers and journalists

What were the Motivations of these Revolutionaries?

Poverty and Hunger Low wages and fear of
unemployment Heightened expectations and the exposure to a political perspective -- Cahiers Strong dislike for and distrust of the wealthy The role of conspiracy

F. A Case Study: Storming the Bastille

Events of the night of July

13, 1789 Reasons for the attack on the Bastille the next morning The stubbornness of the governor of the fortress Celebrations on the night of July 14th Sparks tremendous popular revolution all over France

G. The Great Fear

Independent
revolutionary agitation in the countryside Rumors of Royalist troops becoming wandering vandals Fear breeds fear and peasants start marching Within 3 weeks of July 14, the countryside of France had been completely changed Abolition of the Nobility

Declaration of the Rights of Man August 27, 1789

H. The Court Returns to Paris

Mounting unemployment
and hunger in Paris in the fall of 1789 October Days -- The point is that we want bread! Women nearly killed the Queen The Royal Family returns to Paris on October 6, 1789

I. The Consolidation of the Liberal Revolution

Events from October, 1789 through
September, 1791 Abolition of the French nobility as a legal order Constitutional Monarchy established Economic centralization Nationalization of the Church --Stage set for subsequent civil war

J. Popular Political Mobilization

Revolutionary Talk
--More than 500 new newspapers --Oath of Loyalty -- Liberte, Equalite, Fraternite! Revolutionary Symbols Revolutionary Clubs --The Jacobins Revolutionary Leaders

K. Growing Radicalism
Reasons:
--Snowball Effect --Unsatisfied Expectations --Outbreak of War Results: --Increasing Violence --Change in Political Leadership

L. Robespierres Reign of Terror

The Committee of
Public Safety The Concept of Total War Maximum price ceilings on certain goods Nationalization of Small Workshops

L. The Reign of Terror (cont)

Execution of 40,000

Enemies of the Nation Stress on radical definition of equality Wanted a legal maximum on personal wealth Wanted a regulation of commercial profits End of Robespierres dictatorship on July 28, 1794

M. The Directory and Napoleon Bonaparte

The Directory (1794-

1799) Napoleons Rise to Power The Napoleonic Code Establishment of the Bank of France Reconciliation with the Catholic Church --Concordat of 1801 Heavy Censorship Napoleons Art of War

VI. Legacies of the French Revolution

A revolutionary model A Mass political
consciousness Varying interpretations of the Revolution --Conservative View: Edmund Burke --Liberal View: Thomas Jefferson Conflict within the Liberal Tradition Libertarianism vs. Egalitarianism