French Revolution

 

 

I. American Revolution

      A. Imperial battles with France

                        1. British government seeks to control borders

                        2. raise taxes for military costs
                        3. objections of the colonists

 

            B. Enlightenment provides alternative path

                        1. natural rights

                        2. rule of reason

                        3. first example of enlightenment in action

 

II. Origins of the French Revolution

            A. (Economic cause) Bankruptcy of the royal government (1787)

                        1. last straw was expensive support of American Revolution

 

            B. (Social cause) Frustration with social system based on birth and privilege

                        1. NOT a matter of poverty, but thwarted ambitions

 

C. (Intellectual cause) C. Enlightenment ideals of natural rights

                        1.  American example is inspiring to some Europeans     

 

III. Revolution (1789)

            A. Calling the Estates General (May)

                        1. dispute over the rules for voting

                        2. revolt of the Third Estate in the tennis cour (June 17)

                             a.  Jaques-Louis David's painting

           

            B. People mobilize

                        1. National Guard and Storming of the Bastille (July 14)

                        2. The "Great Fear" and renunciation of Feudalism (August 4)

                        3. Women's March on Versailles (October 5)

                                    --The king is forced to move to Paris and be the "King of the French Nation"

 

IV. Birth of Modern Politics

            A. Rule of reason

                        1. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

                                    a. equality under the law

                                    b. professions open to talents

                        2. abolition of feudalism

                        3. Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)

           

            B. Difficult problems in establishing rational politics

                        1. what role for the king?

                        2. king causes a crisis by attempting to flee the country

                       

            C. King causes a crisis by attempting to flee the country

                        1. He is not prepared to be constitutional monarch

                        2. king captured and brought back to Paris

                       

            D. Declaration of the Republic (1792)

                        1. War with Austria goes badly

                        2. republic declared after mob demands purge of moderates and trial of the king

                        3. Statue of Liberty

           

            E. Trial and Execution of the King (Jan. 1793)

 

V. Jacobin Rule: Virtue and Terror

            A. Robespierre's idea of a Republic of Virtue

                        1. working to form the "general will"

                        2. top virtue is love of equality and nation

                       

            B. Revolutionary Calendar

                        1. throwing out traditional time

                        2. a new time of reason, measured according to nature

 

            C. Festival of the Supreme Being

                        1. rational religion