591976
SUMMARY
OF EVENTS
- FEUDALISM & UNFAIR TAXATION
- No one factor was directly responsible for the French
Revolution. Years of feudal oppression and fiscal
mismanagement contributed to a French society that was
ripe for revolt. Noting a downward economic spiral in the
late 1700s, King Louis XVI brought in a number of financial
advisors to review the weakened French treasury. Each
advisor reached the same conclusion—that France needed
a radical change in the way it taxed the public—and each
advisor was, in turn, kicked out.
- Finally, the king realized that this taxation problem
really did need to be addressed, so he appointed a
new controller general of finance, Charles de
Calonne, in 1783. Calonne suggested that, among
other things, France begin taxing the previously
exempt nobility. The nobility refused, even after
Calonne pleaded with them during the Assembly of
Notables in 1787. Financial ruin thus seemed
imminent.
- Finally, the king realized that this taxation problem
really did need to be addressed, so he appointed a
new controller general of finance, Charles de
Calonne, in 1783. Calonne suggested that, among
other things, France begin taxing the previously
exempt nobility. The nobility refused, even after
Calonne pleaded with them during the Assembly of
Notables in 1787. Financial ruin thus seemed
imminent.
- No one factor was directly responsible for the French
Revolution. Years of feudal oppression and fiscal
mismanagement contributed to a French society that was
ripe for revolt. Noting a downward economic spiral in the
late 1700s, King Louis XVI brought in a number of financial
advisors to review the weakened French treasury. Each
advisor reached the same conclusion—that France needed
a radical change in the way it taxed the public—and each
advisor was, in turn, kicked out.
- THE ESTATES-GENERAL
- In a final act of desperation, Louis XVI decided in
1789 to convene the Estates-General, an ancient
assembly consisting of three different estates that
each represented a portion of the French population. If
the Estates-General could agree on a tax solution, it
would be implemented. However, since two of the
three estates—the clergy and the nobility—were
tax-exempt, the attainment of any such solution was
unlikely.
- Moreover, the outdated rules of order for the
Estates-General gave each estate a single vote,
despite the fact that the Third Estate—consisting
of the general French public—was many times
larger than either of the first two. Feuds quickly
broke out over this disparity and would prove to
be irreconcilable. Realizing that its numbers gave
it an automatic advantage, the Third Estate
declared itself the sovereign National Assembly.
Within days of the announcement, many
members of the other two estates had switched
allegiances over to this revolutionary new
assembly.
- Moreover, the outdated rules of order for the
Estates-General gave each estate a single vote,
despite the fact that the Third Estate—consisting
of the general French public—was many times
larger than either of the first two. Feuds quickly
broke out over this disparity and would prove to
be irreconcilable. Realizing that its numbers gave
it an automatic advantage, the Third Estate
declared itself the sovereign National Assembly.
Within days of the announcement, many
members of the other two estates had switched
allegiances over to this revolutionary new
assembly.
- In a final act of desperation, Louis XVI decided in
1789 to convene the Estates-General, an ancient
assembly consisting of three different estates that
each represented a portion of the French population. If
the Estates-General could agree on a tax solution, it
would be implemented. However, since two of the
three estates—the clergy and the nobility—were
tax-exempt, the attainment of any such solution was
unlikely.
- THE BASTILLE & THE GREAT FEAR
- Shortly after the National Assembly formed, its
members took the Tennis Court Oath, swearing
that they would not relent in their efforts until a
new constitution had been agreed upon. The
National Assembly’s revolutionary spirit
galvanized France, manifesting in a number of
different ways. In Paris, citizens stormed the
city’s largest prison, the Bastille, in pursuit of
arms. In the countryside, peasants and farmers
revolted against their feudal contracts by
attacking the manors and estates of their
landlords. Dubbed the “Great Fear,” these rural
attacks continued until the early August issuing
of the August Decrees, which freed those
peasants from their oppressive contracts.
Shortly thereafter, the assembly released the
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the
Citizen, which established a proper judicial code
and the autonomy of the French people.
- Shortly after the National Assembly formed, its
members took the Tennis Court Oath, swearing
that they would not relent in their efforts until a
new constitution had been agreed upon. The
National Assembly’s revolutionary spirit
galvanized France, manifesting in a number of
different ways. In Paris, citizens stormed the
city’s largest prison, the Bastille, in pursuit of
arms. In the countryside, peasants and farmers
revolted against their feudal contracts by
attacking the manors and estates of their
landlords. Dubbed the “Great Fear,” these rural
attacks continued until the early August issuing
of the August Decrees, which freed those
peasants from their oppressive contracts.
Shortly thereafter, the assembly released the
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the
Citizen, which established a proper judicial code
and the autonomy of the French people.
- RIFTS IN THE ASSEMBLY
- Though the National Assembly did succeed in
drafting a constitution, the relative peace of the
moment was short-lived. A rift slowly grew
between the radical and moderate assembly
members, while the common laborers and workers
began to feel overlooked. When Louis XVI was
caught in a foiled escape plot, the assembly
became especially divided. The moderate
Girondins took a stance in favor of retaining the
constitutional monarchy, while the radical
Jacobins wanted the king completely out of the
picture.
- Outside of France, some neighboring countries
feared that France’s revolutionary spirit would
spread beyond French land. In response, they
issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, which insisted
that the French return Louis XVI to the throne.
French leaders interpreted the declaration as
hostile, so the Girondin-led assembly declared
war on Austria and Prussia.
- Outside of France, some neighboring countries
feared that France’s revolutionary spirit would
spread beyond French land. In response, they
issued the Declaration of Pillnitz, which insisted
that the French return Louis XVI to the throne.
French leaders interpreted the declaration as
hostile, so the Girondin-led assembly declared
war on Austria and Prussia.
- Though the National Assembly did succeed in
drafting a constitution, the relative peace of the
moment was short-lived. A rift slowly grew
between the radical and moderate assembly
members, while the common laborers and workers
began to feel overlooked. When Louis XVI was
caught in a foiled escape plot, the assembly
became especially divided. The moderate
Girondins took a stance in favor of retaining the
constitutional monarchy, while the radical
Jacobins wanted the king completely out of the
picture.
- THE REIGN OF TERROR
- The first acts of the newly named National Convention
were the abolition of the monarchy and the declaration
of France as a republic. In January 1793, the
convention tried and executed Louis XVI on the grounds
of treason. Despite the creation of the Committee of
Public Safety, the war with Austria and Prussia went
poorly for France, and foreign forces pressed on into
French territory. Enraged citizens overthrew the
Girondin-led National Convention, and the Jacobins,
led by Maximilien Robespierre, took control.
- Backed by the newly approved Constitution of 1793, Robespierre
and the Committee of Public Safety began conscripting French
soldiers and implementing laws to stabilize the economy. For a
time, it seemed that France’s fortunes might be changing. But
Robespierre, growing increasingly paranoid about
counterrevolutionary influences, embarked upon a Reign of
Terror in late 1793–1794, during which he had more than 15,000
people executed at the guillotine. When the French army
successfully removed foreign invaders and the economy finally
stabilized, however, Robespierre no longer had any justification
for his extreme actions, and he himself was arrested in July 1794
and executed.
- Backed by the newly approved Constitution of 1793, Robespierre
and the Committee of Public Safety began conscripting French
soldiers and implementing laws to stabilize the economy. For a
time, it seemed that France’s fortunes might be changing. But
Robespierre, growing increasingly paranoid about
counterrevolutionary influences, embarked upon a Reign of
Terror in late 1793–1794, during which he had more than 15,000
people executed at the guillotine. When the French army
successfully removed foreign invaders and the economy finally
stabilized, however, Robespierre no longer had any justification
for his extreme actions, and he himself was arrested in July 1794
and executed.
- The first acts of the newly named National Convention
were the abolition of the monarchy and the declaration
of France as a republic. In January 1793, the
convention tried and executed Louis XVI on the grounds
of treason. Despite the creation of the Committee of
Public Safety, the war with Austria and Prussia went
poorly for France, and foreign forces pressed on into
French territory. Enraged citizens overthrew the
Girondin-led National Convention, and the Jacobins,
led by Maximilien Robespierre, took control.
- THE THERMIDORIAN REACTION & THE DIRECTORY
- The era following the ousting of Robespierre was known as the
Thermidorian Reaction, and a period of governmental restructuring
began, leading to the new Constitution of 1795 and a significantly
more conservative National Convention. To control executive
responsibilities and appointments, a group known as the Directory
was formed. Though it had no legislative abilities, the Directory’s
abuse of power soon came to rival that of any of the tyrannous
revolutionaries France had faced.
- The era following the ousting of Robespierre was known as the
Thermidorian Reaction, and a period of governmental restructuring
began, leading to the new Constitution of 1795 and a significantly
more conservative National Convention. To control executive
responsibilities and appointments, a group known as the Directory
was formed. Though it had no legislative abilities, the Directory’s
abuse of power soon came to rival that of any of the tyrannous
revolutionaries France had faced.
- NAPOLEON
- Meanwhile, the Committee of Public Safety’s war effort was
realizing unimaginable success. French armies, especially
those led by young general Napoleon Bonaparte, were
making progress in nearly every direction. Napoleon’s forces
drove through Italy and reached as far as Egypt before
facing a deflating defeat. In the face of this rout, and having
received word of political upheavals in France, Napoleon
returned to Paris. He arrived in time to lead a coup against
the Directory in 1799, eventually stepping up and naming
himself “first consul”—effectively, the leader of France.
With Napoleon at the helm, the Revolution ended, and
France entered a fifteen-year period of military rule.
- Meanwhile, the Committee of Public Safety’s war effort was
realizing unimaginable success. French armies, especially
those led by young general Napoleon Bonaparte, were
making progress in nearly every direction. Napoleon’s forces
drove through Italy and reached as far as Egypt before
facing a deflating defeat. In the face of this rout, and having
received word of political upheavals in France, Napoleon
returned to Paris. He arrived in time to lead a coup against
the Directory in 1799, eventually stepping up and naming
himself “first consul”—effectively, the leader of France.
With Napoleon at the helm, the Revolution ended, and
France entered a fifteen-year period of military rule.
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