The French Revolution

Nota:

• Keywords: -Revolution (violence/structural changes) -Napoleon Bonaparte -Napoleonic Empire -Spanish War of Independence

1. The beggining of the Modern Age

   Nota:

   • 1789
   1. Reason: Enlightened despots failed
   2. Changes were violently imposed
      1. Ancient Regime ended in France
      2. New reforms were made
      3. New Habits were introduced
      4. People changed their customes
      5. Names and months of the year were changed

         Nota:

         • They were changd on September so their calendar wasn't like our calendar.
2. Causes of the French Revolution

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   • Period of violent political and social changes. Abolition of monarchy and end of the estates system.
   1. Influence of the Enlightment

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      • French intellectuals and Bourgeoisie supported Enlightment ideas. They thoguht that the French subjects should be free and equal under the law
   2. Political crisis
      1. Clergy (1st Estate) 300 representatives 1 vote
      2. Nobility (2nd Estate) 300 representatives 1 vote
      3. Middle class and peasantry (3rd Estate) 600 representatives 1 vote
         1. They thought this way of voting was unfair for them

            Nota:

            • Why? Because the clergy and the nobolity had the same ideas o when he Estates had to vote they will always win.
      4. King Louis XVI opposed meeing of the Estates General
         1. The estates of the realm couldn't present their demands
   3. Economical crisis
      1. France participation in military conflicts=bakrupt

         Nota:

         • For example the American War of Independence
      2. Royal family spent a lot of money

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         • In palaces, luxury goods and parties.
      3. To improve -> Increasment of taxes for even the higher class
   4. Social crisis
      1. All the Estates were "against" the king
         1. Clergy and nobility
            1. wanted to protect their economical priviligies

               Nota:

               • They didn't want to pay taxes.
         2. Middle class and peasantry
            1. Bourgeoisie wanted to abolish absolute monarchy

               Nota:

               • because it didn't allow them to participate
            2. Petit bourgeoisie had economic problems

               Nota:

               • Because of wars and high taxes
            3. Peasantry also sufered economic problems

               Nota:

               • Also because of wars and high taxes.
3. Major events
   1. National assembly
      1. Proposed a new voting system
         1. The king denied it
            1. Third Estate proclamated themselves true representatives of the nation
               1. Formed a National Assembly and demanded a constitution
   2. Constituent assembly
      1. 1st draft of the constitution
      2. Storming of Bastille
      3. Legal reform
         1. Declaration of Rights of Men and Citizens (DRMC)
         2. Abolition of feudal right
         3. Civil Constitution of the Clergy
            1. Jurors

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               • Supported government
            2. Non jurors

               Nota:

               • Does not support the government
      4. Flight to Varemes
         1. Consecuences: Republicanism grew
      5. Tennis Court Oath

         Nota:

         • Oath=juramento When they found their normal place where they got togheter closed and they went to a tennis court.
      6. New Constitution was passed
   3. Legislative assembly
      1. Constitution = new assembly
      2. 2 groups
         1. Girondist
            1. Leader: Bissot
            2. Male limited suffrage
            3. Burgeoisie
            4. Moderate
         2. Jacobins
            1. Leader: Robespierre
            2. Male Universal Suffrage
            3. Sans-culotte
            4. Radical
   4. Convention
      1. 2 stages
         1. Girondin
            1. Republican procamation
            2. Louis XVI was accused of treason

               Nota:

               • he was first in prison, then, after being judged he was guillotined.
            3. Republican calendar year 1-> 1792
            4. New war because of the king's execution

               Nota:

               • Thre was an international coalition to stop
            5. The spread of the Revlutionary ideas
            6. Internal counter revolution (La Vendée)

               Nota:

               • supported by monarchists, clergy and nobility
         2. Jacobin
            1. 12 members led by Robespierre
            2. "Terror" dictatorship->execuions of
               1. Marie Antoinette
               2. Girondists
               3. 45.000 more
            3. Government dealt with
               1. European War
               2. Internal Counter Revolution
            4. New laws
               1. Universal suffrage
               2. Prices controled
            5. 1794: Robespierre was removed from power