French+Revolution+Notes+Nicholas+Lim+09.05.10

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= = = Revolution and Terror = = Revolution, 1789 =
 * Revolution began in Versailles at 1789
 * Changed society, government and religion, also influenced other countries
 * Many people had strong feelings towards this revolution, both positive and negative.
 * The creation of National Assembly was victory for the Third Estate, but a loss for King Louis XVI
 * Riots in Paris made King Louis XVI think that he could loose control of capital too, sent 20,000 troops to keep order.
 * People in Paris grew afraid, thinking he would break up the National Assembly, grew even more after July 12th when King Louis XVI sacked Necker who was popular in France.
 * Replaced with a finance minister who opposed the Third Estate, people thought he was about to break down the National Assembly, angry and frightened crowds looked for weapons to defend themselves, after searching for 2 days, they broke into stores to steal thousands of guns.
 * On 14th of July, rumors spread that tonnes of gunpowder was stored in the old tower of Bastille, an old tower in the east end of Paris.

= The Storming of Bastille =
 * Parisians hated Bastille, was a prison where people were sent by sealed letters.
 * Dark and smelly, prisoners masked and chained to walls for life, torture chambers
 * Was a symbol of all they hated about the King, destroyed everything in there, killed the defenders, even when the government gave in.
 * By evening they had control of Bastille

= Images of the Bastille =
 * Symbol of victory of ordinary people over their rulers
 * Thousands of pictures drawn, Eg. Arrest of prison governor Marquis de Launay, what was found in the prison.
 * Fascinated foreign artists
 * **Inaccurate images**: Only 7 prisoners found, allowed to spend money, good food.

= The King Loses Control =
 * Considered sending soldiers, but was told soldiers would refuse. Gave up Bastille and Paris in the end.
 * Allowed the people to set up their own military force, the National Guard.
 * The Third Estate formed a new government, the Paris Commune
 * Towns and cities followed, riots all over the country, setting up communes and National Guards

= The Great Fear =
 * Violence spread to the countryside where unemployment and hunger was high.
 * Thousands wandered around and stole food, farmers feared these gangs would come and loot from them
 * When harvest time arrived, rumors spread that nobles were paying these wanderers to attack the peasants, on hoarded the grain to starve the farmers
 * Resulted in people refusing to pay Feudal Rights and Dues.
 * As violence spread, people began to fear the gangs even more, by late July, people were gripped by a "Great Fear".

= The Assembly Begins its Work =
 * The deputies in the National Assembly were scared by violence and used drastic measures to end it.
 * August 4th, Nobles gave up Feudal Rights and Dues and Feudalism was abolished.
 * Issued the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen"
 * All men are equal
 * Have the right to speak and write freely
 * Torture was banned and the law of arrest and imprisonment was changed
 * The power of France belonged to all people, not just king

= The Women March to Versailles =
 * King Louis XVI disliked the decisions of the National Assembly, refused to sign it, could not become law.
 * In early October, he brought more soldiers to Versailles as his body guards, causing many to think he was going to breakup the assembly again.
 * Crowds of market women gathered weapons, on October 5th they marched into Versailles, armed and protesting.
 * Supported by the National Guardsmen, the people complained about the high price of bread and excessive amounts of soldiers.
 * Asked him to leave Versailles and stay in Paris, refused at first but agreed later when two bodyguards were killed and windows smashed.
 * On October 6, traveled to Paris with oldest son and queen, surrounded by 60,000 people, Palace Versailles was locked up, lived in Tuileries Palace in Paris

King and The Assembly 1789-1792

= Reforms of the National Assembly =
 * The National Assembly followed the King to Paris, used old riding school as meeting place. New laws were made on how France was to be run.
 * Male tax payers over 25 could vote
 * Clergy land was sold to pay France's debts
 * Protestants gained the same voting rights as Catholics
 * Jewish had same voting rights
 * Local councils were elected by citizens
 * Salt, taille, traites, land, aides taxes abolished
 * Noble titles were abolished
 * Slavery was abolished, black and whites had the same privileges.

= The Reform of the Church =
 * The Church was divided into two groups
 * One side said they had too much power, land and money
 * The other said that they are devoted to God and do not need changes.
 * Many Catholics protested when land and money was being taken away from the church, grew even louder on July 1790 when the National Assembly drew up a law that reduced the churches power.
 * "Civil Constitution of Clergy" stated that priests and bishops must be elected like other public officials, all clergy also had to take an oath of loyalty to the French nation and law.
 * Over half the clergy refused, Pope supported by condemning the law. This resulted in a division and soon the whole nation followed, where the division was relying on the church and its power.

= Flight to Varennes =
 * King Louis XVI was unhappy with the Civil Constitution and opposed it, this made him look as if he disliked the revolution. Causing crowds to protest at the gates of the palace
 * Following the advice of the queen and ministers, the King decided to leave France to get help from France princes who have already set up armies across the frontier.
 * They also wanted to get help from Marie Antoinette's brother, who was the Emperor of Austria, if they invaded France, the King would be able to retrieve power he lost.
 * The palace was heavily guarded and they were forced to make a secret escape.
 * Close to midnight, 21 June 1791, the King and his family crept out of the palace in disguise.
 * 50km away from the frontier, they were recognized, caught, and sent back to France where they were humiliated.

= Road to War =
 * Emperor Leopold decided to help restore King Louis XVI power
 * European Kings were called upon to assist with the help of the King of Prussia
 * Did not intentionally want to invade France, just wanted to show support.
 * Word spread that war was inevitable, but France wanted it.
 * King Louis XVI thought France would loose and he would have power returned to him
 * The people thought that this would force King Louis XVI to show his true side, resulting in them dethroning him.

= Summary = The revolution changed the French society, religion and government.The creation of the National Assembly was seen as a victory, afraid of losing his capital, he sent 20,000 troops to guard Paris, causing them to believe that he was going to break up the National Assembly. They looked for weapons, and rumor spread that there was a tonne of gunpowder in the Bastille, this was a synbol to the hatred they had for the King. Using both reasons they stormed the Bastille and destroyed it. This was painted by many artists and foreigners were fascinated by it. The King lost control of Bastille and in Paris, the people set up the National Guard and commune. This revolution spread to the countryside where the hungry and unemployed (wanderers) would often loot their harvests. This resulted in a "Great Fear" among the people. They refused to obey the Feudal Rights and Dues, the National Assembly abolished feudal rights and issued a "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizens." This gave the people a significant increase in their power and freedom. Louis disliked this edict and refused to sign it, he then added more body guards in Versailles, making people think he was going to breakup the National Assembly again. This time a group of market women protested in Versailles. The King was forced to move to Paris and live in the Tuileries Palace. The National Assembly created several laws completely changing the way France worked. Churches were also changed in this revolution, one side thought that the church had too much power, land and money. The other side thought that the churches lived holy lives and should not change. Over half the clergy angrily protested when the National Assembly forced priests and bishops to be voted and that they had to make an oath to follow the French law. They did not sign it and with the help of the Pope, condemned the law. King Louis XVI also opposed it, he decided to secretly leave to get help from the French princes outside the frontier, and from the queens brother who was Emperor of Austria.They were caught almost at the end of the trip and taken back to Paris. Emperor Leopold decided to help invade France, with the help of all the European kings, many people believed war was inevitable.

= Questions = Was there any way that King Louis XVI could have gotten help from the other countries besides going there himself? (Using a messenger etc.) How did King Louis XVI contact the Emperor of Austria after he was caught?

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