Notes from 7/15, part 1

French Revolution, 1789-1815

The Catholic Church, the monarchy, and the aristocracy were extremely powerful in France
1st Estate: Clergy. Owned 10% of land and did not have to pay taxes
2nd Estate: Nobility. Owned 30% of the land as well as high offices and church positions
3rd Estate: everyone else
Peasants were 80% of the population
The peasant class had tripled in population in only 60 years
Bad harvests in rural areas, overcrowding in cities

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Meanwhile, France was nearly bankrupt
Only the poor paid taxes
Attempts to tax the rich failed
War against England cost more money
Power struggles between the King and the Parliament meant little was done
The 3rd Estate tried to make France a constitutional monarchy (Oath of the Tennis Court) and create a National Assembly. The King got his troops ready
7/14/1789, Bastille Day. Violence spread to rural areas as well.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

1789. Also see the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution
The bad economy led to even more protests by the poor classes. The royal family was forced from its palace in Versailles into Paris
The King was forced to accept Constitutional Monarchy in 1791. Later attempts to escape the country and align with foreign powers failed.
King Louis XVI was convicted of treason and died at the guillotine.

New National Convention

The most radical Jacobins were led by Robespierre, who brought 40,000 people to execution in the name of revolution
Reign of Terror: Eventually Robespierre executed some of his best supporters, leading to his own execution
Foreign countries supported the monarchy and the status quo during this time. Why?

Reactions

More conservative nations around the world feared the spread of revolution. Royalty worried about being overthrown.
Austria, Prussia, Russia, Great Britain created a Quadruple Alliance to defeat Napoleon and return the Bourbon dynasty
Second Revolution:
-Rioters killed French nobles
-French armies attacked nearby nations and “freed” feudal subjects, declaring war on -most of Europe
-France creates a “planned economy” with price controls
-Rise of French “nationalism”

Napoleon Bonaparte

France remained politically and economically unstable
Napoleon provided a means of unifying the people and giving hope to the poor and oppressed
Ended the Holy Roman Empire and created a German Confederation
Napoleonic Code (1804) of the Grand Empire:
Made laws more uniform throughout the country
Protected property and equal rights (of men) before the law
As Napoleon conquered parts of Europe, they also reformed laws according to the code
**DON’T FIGHT A LAND WAR IN ASIA DURING THE WINTER* Napoleon finally lost and was exiled

Meanwhile, in Haiti . . .

The French aristocracy in Haiti wanted more autonomy from France
Mixed-race freemen (“gens de couleur”) wanted equality with whites
They and the aristocracy sent representatives to Paris and sympathized with the poor in France
Officials in Haiti could not keep order
Slaves began uprisings
Rebel groups formed