On July 1989, France celebrated it's 200th anniversary of the "Taking of the Bastille", one of the most important parts of the French Revolution. The revolution brought sudden and drastic change to the country, much like the civil war did in Britain, and with a quite similar outcome. A traditional view sees the aristocrats murdered by the bloodthirsty French people on the guillotine. A French doctor named Joseph-Ignace Guillotin proposed to create a machine to help execute those condemned to death quickly, painlessly and with dignity. He hired a German Harpsicord maker named Tobias Schmidt to design and make the first prototype. The first to die using a guillotine was a convicted thief and rapist on the 25th of April 1792, names Nicholas Jacques Pelletier. On 14 July, 1789, the people of Paris stormed the Bastille. An old French prison with a sinister reputation, it had been slated for demolition and was temporarily storing munitions and gunpowder. By 1789, it held only 7 prisoners and was being phased out.
2. Was France well governed before the Revolution part 1
The “ANCIEN REGIME” means “The old regime”. This is the name used to describe France before the revolution. France was ruled by a total monarchy, like Britain before its civil war. The King had total power. He was seen as “God’s Representative” and called “His Most Christian Majesty”.
In 1774, Louis XVI inherited the French throne when his father died (Louis XV). He loved hunting, loved his family, wasn’t very interested in politics. Louis had married an Austrian princess named Marie Antoinette when he was 15. She was young and beautiful, but soon became a source of gossip which hurt the image of the king. In 1781, a book was published called “A Historical Essay on the Life of Marie Antoinette” and was reprinted every year until 1793. The government tried to suppress it as it helped spread the rumors:
– Marie had many lovers.
– She wasted money ( bought a necklace worth 1.6 million livres)
– She interfered in the running of the country
In fact there was no evidence that she had any lovers. It was found that the necklace was a plot to discredit her, and the amount of money actually given to her was tiny.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
– To try and keep control of the growing country, Louis had divided the country into 30 districts called “Intendants”.
– Each of these districts were controlled by a leader, and they had enormous political power.
– For other issues, like tax collection and church management, the country was divided up differently.
– This made running the country confusing and difficult.
LAW AND ORDER
– The King enforced a harsh system of law and order.
THE ESTATES
– By 1789, France still had some aspects of the old “Feudal System” (refer to notes from Semester 1).
– Nobles had great power over the peasants, peasants had to give nobles their “dues” in money or goods.
– They may also have to work for the lord, especially at harvest time.
– The lord’s animals could wander into the peasant’s lands damaging their crops.
– There were 3 Groups called “ESTATES”. Each estate had its own privileges, and each estate served the King in some way.
3. What was life like before the Revolution part 1 and 2
There are issues in life before revolution. The issues the 1st estate have is that the major bishop were very wealthy and parish priest very poor. The issues that 2nd estates have is that the major nobles were very rich, other very poor. the issues that 3rd estates have is that some of the peasants were wealthy and others peasant, urban workers were growing in numbers, then a middle class was emerging rapidly and growing in wealth, and the landless laborers live off their labor and growing in numbers. The first estates consisted of the roman Catholic Clergy. The second estates consists of the Nobles about 2% of the population and own 20% of the land. The third estates' bourgeoisie had little rights and paid half of their income in taxes than city workers and peasants.
4. Changes in France
Major events in history normally do not occur for any one reason in particular, but instead are a culmination of many things that have occurred over time that have built up enough "pressure" for something to happen. In the 1770's and 1780's, another issue added to the already highly-stressed situation. During the course of the 18th century, an economic change was taking place that caused an inflation with in the country. Peasants found it hard to buy the basics like bread or milk. From the 1730's to 1789, the cost of living rose 45%, but wages rose only 22%. The population rose from 19 million (1715) to 26 million (1789), it is a 37% increase. The emerging middle classes was becoming wealthier and wanted more political power in government. The 3rd estates were paying the taxes while 1st and 2nd estates were not paying any.
5. Did the revolution make France a fairer country?
The National assembly was formed to have representative from the 3 estates. it wanted to make great changes in France. They drew up "Declaration of the rights of man" in August 1789. The declaration of the rights of man stated that men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally or through representative. All citizen being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents. No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in some cases.
6. What should be done with the King?
In 1788, Louis was prepared to try reform and was hailed as a hero when he called the Estates General. When many of its members formed the National Assembly in June 1789, he had no choice but to go along with it. The revolutionary leaders wanted to share power with him. Then the royal family escapes and runs. He tried to get to Montmedy, a town on the border which is 300 km from paris and 2 km from Austria. The plan was to get help from Austrian troops to help restore him to full power.
7. What should be done with the king II?
Once the king was brought back to Paris, the National Assembly decided to keep him on as the Constitutional monarch. On 3 September 1791, the constitution was proclaimed and Louis took an oath of loyalty to it. On 30 September, the national assembly declared its work finished. Austria, and absolute monarchy shared a border with France. The king was Marie Antoinette's brother. Austria was protecting nobles who fled the revolution and plotting to restore the monarchy. On 20 April 1792, France declared war on Austria. Not everyone agreed on the war with Austria. 2/3 of the nobles who were officers of the army had left the country, the army wasn't doing well. Then the economy is getting worse. People blamed Louis and felt he wanted France to lose, siding with Austria to restore the monarchy. The people stormed the Tuileries, arrested the king on August 10. By 21 September, the National Assembly declared France a 'Replubic'. The war with Austria got worse. Paris was open to the enemy. Between 1100 and 1400 clerics and nobles who had supported the King were jailed at the end of August, and then murdered. These were known as the September Massacres.
8. Why did the French execute their King?
People had taken down the king and declared a republic. in Louis' trial, he could have lawyers, but not call witnesses. The case was heard by the Convention itself, not judges. Louis faced 33 charges including bankrupting the nation, plotting against the revolution, trying to flee, and accepting a constitution he despised. On the day of execution (20 January 1793), he have an afternoon with a priest/confessor Edgeworth. At 1:00 pm, he is allowed to see his family for the first time since the death sentence was passed. Then at 8:30 pm, he have a dinner with a spoon: 2 chicken wings, veggies, 2 glasses of wine, sponge cake, and Malaga wine for dessert. Then at 9:30 pm, he have a last meeting with his family. At the next dat at 10:00 am, Louis arrives at the guillotine.
9. Was the terror really necessary?
Louis' execution was the most famous of many that happened during 1793-1794. This period was known as "The Terror". Thousands of people were killed on this day. More than 12,000 people were officially guillotined. Many other were shot, drowned, or put to death in other ways. And Est. 300,000 were imprisoned.
10. Robespierre: hero or villain?
Robespierre was a leading figure of the revolution for 5 years. He has been described as both the "most hateful character in History" and the "greatest man in History. To some people he was the defender of the poor.To others he was a vicious and cruel monster who murdered thousands of innocent victims. He was born in Arras. In 1780's, he become a lawyer and defends the poor. In 1789-92, he was elected to Estates general, national assembly, national convention, Leader of Jacobins, and many others. He started the Terror to deal with crisis in France. In 28 July 1794, he was guillotined with 21 of his supporters after the crisis is done and the terror is no longer needed, and when the Convention votes for his arrest.
11. Did the french support the revolution part 1?
There are 3 types of responses about the revolution, they are those who are excited about it (revolutionaries), those who are against it (counter-revolutionaries), and those who couldn't care less one way or another. San Culottes were urban workers who supported the revolution, and had 2 main demands, which is to be allowed to vote in elections and to have fixed prices on staples like bread and salt. They are the formed groups around Paris and the ones who held meetings. The San Culottes forced deputies to protect people from food shortages and high prices.
12. Did the french support the revolution part 2?
Revolts against an oppressive Paris government under the Jacobins began sprouting up all over from many different sources. An army of 30-40,000 called the Vendean Army, made of peasants, was a serious threat until finally crushed by the Paris army, although afterwards a GUERRILLA campaign kept going for years against the Paris government. There are people who are Counter-revolutionaries, they are the nobles, clergy, middle classes, and peasants. Jean Paul Marat was known as the "friend of the people". He was a doctor and had practiced 11 years in England. In 1789, he gave up science and medicine and started a newspaper. In it, he attacked the Girondins and the nobility calling them traitors. He went into hiding in the sewers and caught a skin disease called Prurigo. In Caen, a 25 year old Charlotte Corday started attending their meetings. The priest who had given her mother her last rites had refused to pledge allegiance to the revolution and was guillotined, the first to be guillotined in Caen. She decided to strike a blow for the oppressed by killing Marat.
13. Coup d'état
After the terror ended in 1794, the Jacobins and their supporters the San Culottes were slowly out of power. No government was able to be formed by 1799, and France was in crisis. The government had high debt.French armies had been badly defeated in wars with Italy, morale was low. In Paris, left-wing (republicans) and right- wing (royalists) were unhappy with the government. In August 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte was one of France's young military leaders and currently at war with his troops in Egypt. He was called by some politicians to launch a "Coup d'état". He was born in Corsica to a minor Corsican noble. He wins a scholarship to a elite military training college in Paris in 1784.He marries to Josephine Beauharnais in 1796. He reorganized the French Army and conquered most of Italy in 1796-1797.
14. Did napoleon betray the revolution part 1?
Napoleon ruled France for 15 years. No revolutionary government had ever lasted longer than 2 years. People were tired of political instability and welcomed a strong leader. To stay in power, Napoleon needed to fix Frances problems.
15. Did napoleon betray the revolution part 2?
Napoleon was determined that many good ideas of the revolution could be made to work properly. In the departments, he placed "deputies" by "prefects", appointed by him instead of elections. Mayors were no longer elected but appointed by him. The revolution made many new laws which existed alongside traditional ones. Napoleon set up a committee which simplified the law system. It was called the "Code Napoleon" and stands as the basis of French law today. He had people arrested that he thought were dangerous, without being charged of any crime. Over 2,500 people were imprisoned without trial for political offenses. He focused on secondary education and left primary education to the church. He was far more concerned about men than women. He didn't see education as a right of the people, but a means of training servants of the state.
16. Napoleon, the first European part 1
In 1799, France was at the point of collapse, and had been soundly beaten by their enemies. By 1810, Napoleon had made France the most important country of Europe. In 1810, Napoleon wrote to the Viceroy of Italy explaining why he must limit Italian imports to France in favor of French merchants. The continental system was the first common market. This was Napoleon's attempt to control the economy of Europe. Decrees in 1806-1808 forbid European trade with Britain or its colonies. Defeated countries were forced to supply their raw materials and resources to France and buy manufactured foods from France in return.
17. Why was Napoleon defeated part 1
By 1810, Napoleon had conquered almost all of Europe, but by 1815 France’s Empire had lost almost all of its territorial gains and Napoleon had been defeated and exiled. 21 October 1805, the British Navy under Admiral Nelson defeated the combined French and Spanish Navies near Cape Trafalgar, off the coast of south-west Spain. France had been at war with Britain for a long time, and the French Navy had been beaten before under Napoleon by the British. This Battle confirmed the superiority of the British Navy and forced Napoleon to depend on land battles. He felt that as long as he remained successful on land, the British could never beat him. In the Peninsular War, Napoleon used the excuse of a quarrel with the Spanish royal family to send in his brother Joseph to take over Spain and become King, but he was never able to fully control Spain. The British sent in troops to help the resistance effort. By 1814, the French had been driven out.
18. why was napoleon defeated part 2
The Spanish used Guerilla warfare against the French, like the Americans used against the British in the American Revolution, and the North Vietnamese used against the UN forces in the Vietnam War. This is where a local population uses “hit and run” tactics instead of direct frontal fighting. This includes ambushing the enemy, stealing supplies, etc. then hiding among the people. Guerrilla Warfare is hard for an army to cope with, an army can’t usually find anyone to fight back at once they are “hit”. Over 300,000 French troops were stuck in Spain for over 6 years dealing with guerillas. Napoleon did not anticipate how difficult it would be.Guerrilla Warfare made it possible for the British army to defeat the French army, 4 times its size.
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