Paper 2 – France in revolution – 1774- 1799
2.1 - The origins and onset of revolution, 1774-1789
Introduction –
Storming of the Bastille - became the most enduring image of the French Revolution.
Arguably less significant than the events that were unfolding in the political assemblies of Versailles, the attack
nevertheless came to symbolise the revolution of 1789; it was a symbol of the collapse of royal power, an end to tyranny
and the rise of the liberated populace predictably, the reality of the situation is far more complex and the events of
summer 1789 did not suddenly seep away the despotism of the Ancien regime to create an enlightened society, where
the oppressed population were freed form their chains
Whether or not the AR was despotic and whether the population were oppressed are even matters of debate
Political situation
That said, it undeniable the political situation in France was very at the end of July 1789 than it had been at the start of
1788.
After years of ruling as an absolute monarch without the obligation to consult and assembly, king Louis was now found
himself in a situation where decisions on the future of the French nation were being formulated by a National Assembly,
created against his wishes and set on rewriting the political and social structure of the state
Not only this, Louis now faced open resistance on the streets of Paris as an armed militia staged demonstrations and
stormed government buildings like the Bastille
The causes of this huge shift in power within France have been subject of much debate, a debate stretching back over
two centuries.
The debate largely hinges around two issues
Who caused the revolution?
What drove these people to action?
In terms of who?
Was King Louis doomed from the start?
1774 - Louis XVI inherited throne in 1774 country governed by a deeply unequal social/political system under the Ancien
Regime
As Enlighted views spread in the 18th century an increasing no. of people began to question/challenge the nature of
their society
Absolutism, court faction and the parlements
Political power
France ruled by Bourbon royal family since the 16th century - absolute monarchy (chosen by God = divine rights of the
King)
French monarchy – no elected representative body, like a parliament, to check the power of the king.
King chose small group of ministers to advise him – most important = the controller general (most senior position in
French ministry. In charge of finances of the state). Chosen/dismissed by king.
No formal meeting of the minister - consulted when king wanted
King:
only person who could initiate new legislation/usually didn’t accept council of advisor’s views
Right of arbitrary arrest/imprisonment - someone could be arrested without and detained without a trial, by
issuing a lettre de cachet (royal seal), like an arrest warrant.
Lettres de cachet – criticised during the Enlightenment – seen as symbol of despotism (when royal power is used in a
cruel, abusive or oppressive manner)
Social power
Royal families of the AR – lived in absolute magnificence.
Royal palace of Versailles – one of largest/grandest palace in Europe
1
, Limits to the monarch’s power – Parlements
Biggest limit = parlements – local law courts/councils
1780s – 13 situated in regional administrative centres – e.g. Grenoble, Bordeaux & Toulouse
Most important parlement – Paris
Structure –
Did not create law/ were not elected
Members – important nobles/higher clergymen (e.g. bishops)
Responsibility – to ensure that the populace performed their civic duties/ prosecute those who didn’t. Tried
those accused of being outside the king’s law.
Political role –
Could refuse to register/ implement laws created by the king if they felt them to be against the values of the AR
If this happened – king could issue lit de justice – an edict over-ruling the parlement/ demanding the law was registered
Yet without support of parlement – v difficult for monarch to ensure law was implemented
If king dared to over-rule the parlements – risk being accused of despotism.
The three estates, the rights of nobles and church privilege
AR concerned with determined rights, privileges and responsibilities
Ancien Regime
1st estate – Clergy 2nd estate – Nobility/Aristocracy
130k/pop of 28 million Most privileged – majority of wealth
Lower clergy - parish 1780s- from 120k to 350k.
priests, monks, nuns Acquired title through inheritance.
(some v poor) Exempt from paying nearly all direct taxation as well as some indirect taxes (e.g.
Higher clergy – bishops Gabelle) as their duty was to fight and lead armies for the king. Late 18th century
(often v wealthy) – -this expectation no longer existed due to rise of professional armies.
position passed on within Exempt from compulsory military service.
families, much like Perks – exclusive hunting/fishing rights. Noblemen granted monopiles on a local
aristocratic titles scale over particular goods(Wine) or small businesses(bakeries) = frustration of
some of the members of the bourgeoisie
3rd estate – Everybody else
Majority of population – most were peasants
PEASANTS URBAN POP. BOURGEOISIE & M/C
Types of peasants Types urban Educated people -
owned land, employ labours/sell produce for profit workers: lawyers/doctors as well as
poor labourers Unskilled poor merchants,
Lived on/ famed the land of the nobility under a system workers – lived in bankers/industrialists
of feudalism. In return, had to pay feudal/seigniorial overcrowded/ 18th century – x3 in pop.
dues to landowner. Usually cost nearly ½ of peasant dirty city slums Influenced by enlightenment
income = could not get wealthy enough to buy own Higher-paid ideas – some bourgeoisie
land. required to carry out duties such as corvee (most skilled workers – dissatisfied by the fact they were
commonly involved repairing/maintaining roads) often contributing significant amount
Corvee + feudal dues +excessive taxation = heavy craftspeople to French economy, some argued
burden organised into more than nobility, yet they had
guilds no political say, rights/freedoms
The enlightenment and the spread of new ideas
France = home of enlightenment, significant philosophers
Enlightenment –
(AKA Age of reason) – Name given to European intellectual movement of the late 17th /18th centuries emphasizing
reason/individualism rather than tradition.
Writers, philosophers/political thinkers began to question the conventions of the societies they lived in.
Philosophers in France –
Promoted the use of reason, logic/evidence as opposed to the reliance on tradition, superstition/religion.
2
, Wrote about/considered a wide range of subjects, form politics/history, to religion/theology, to science/nature.
Montesquieu Voltaire Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Key Challenged the estates system of Favoured English government The Social Contract – (Democracy)
ideas the AR. Praised English law –more argued everyone in a society has right
Estates/feudalism should be tolerant/more liberal than to collectively choose laws under which
abolished. France they live/everyone- have equal rights.
Favoured British model of Seen as attack on French Accepted citizens should have a
government – believed monarchy/essays were responsibility towards rulers of
France should be banned & publicly burnt. their society, but that duties should
constitutional monarchy Major advocate of freedom be equal for all.
Argued Democracy = mob of expression/ critical of Strongly argued -everyone right to
rule/ruling elites benefited catholic church. freedom
from an understanding of Republican - proclaiming that Republican – believed monarchies
how to govern that common in republic, equality can only served the interest of the
people didn’t possess. more closely achieved. ruling class.
Spread of ideas - at intellectual gatherings, coffee houses of Paris/ growing mercantile towns – educated bourgeoisie/nobility
would discuss/debate latest political works/ideas.
Questioning of the fairness/values of their society = challenge structure/inequality of the AR
Censorship and repression if enlightened ideas
Under AR – the publication of literature was strictly (not efficiently), controlled.
Printers had to be granted approval licenses to own printing press/all new publications were supposed to be granted
approval by an official called the royal censor.
In reality - many printing presses operating illegal/there was a thriving black market in books/pamphlets bought into the
country from Geneva, where press controls were much more liberal.
The spread of radical ideas
Pamphlets/booklets containing enlightened ideas would be printed /circulated in urban areas, especially Paris/Lyon - many
bookshops/ highest no. of literates.
Feudal peasant living in an isolated rural area - far less likely to be exposed compared to literate Bourgeoisie who had
wealth/time to buy/discuss enlightenment philosophy at social gatherings
Not all 3rd estate knew about enlightenment ideas.
Role of Duke of Orleans (Bourbon/Royal Family)
Played significant part in spreading radical ideas in Paris before, present /after French Revolution
Would hold intellectual gathering – distribute radical pamphlets
Role of the American revolution
French soldiers sought for American freedom against British rule.
USA saw it as a war against monarchy, tyranny/despotism.
End of war = French soldiers influenced by the cries for republicanism, freedom/equality in America.
Leading French revolutionary figure of 1789 – Marquis de Lafayette, was French General during the American Revolution.
Conclusion From very begging of rule, Louis XVI faced challenges.
Nature of French society = unequal, unfair and inefficient.
Spread of enlightenment= increasing criticism of established order
HOWEVER
AR existed for centuries/ enlightenment had been spreading for decades before Louis XVI ascended throne in
1774.
So, it must be further questioned why things came to an end in the 1780
3
, How far were the causes of the French revolution a question of economic decline rather than political discontent?
Tocqueville- emphasised the impact of the enlightenment/the political discontent in causing the revolution
Jules Michelet – placed emphasis on the declining economic conditions of the 1780s.
Argued not the gradual spread of ideas of liberty/equality that caused the revolution, instead more
of a spontaneous response to the dire poverty/hardship/state on the verge of economic collapse.
Rural poverty and urban food prices
Not a new problem to France in the 1780s.
Labourers/feudal peasants – often couldn’t even feed themselves
1730s to1770s – despite occasional bad harvests, agricultural output had grown steadily, allowing the pop, to
increase while avoiding crisis
1780s –harvest failures became increasingly common
1778-79, 1781-82, 1785-86 and 1787
Growing pop = increase in poverty/starvation.
1788 bad harvest – particular disaster,long drought followed by terrible storm= destroyed much of the crops
Groups impacted
Peasantry – saw profits drop/unable to feed family
Urban pop. Harvest failure = increase in bread (main diet). Harvest failure = demand for manufactured
goods fell= urban decreased.
Bread price in Paris – x2 between august 1788/March 1789
Challenging socio-economic climate explains why
Parisians were easily provoked to take streets of Paris in rebellion in summer of 1789
Peasantry rose up in the Great Fear of the same year.
Taxation and crown debt
System of taxation under AR = extremely complex.
Taxes divided into 2 main types:
Direct – applied to individual person, usually in relation to their wealth or property.
Indirect applied in other ways, most commonly by being added to items or goods purchased.
Members of 1st/2nd estate – wealthy enough to buy exemption form taxes.
Examples of taxes
Name Type Detail Who paid?
Taille Direct Tax on land with landowners paying an amount proportional Only 3rd estate
to the amount they owned
Capitation Direct Depending on wealth/property/statues – each person put 2nd/3rd estate.
into one of 22 categories/payed a fixed sum according to their 1st exempt as long as paid annual fee
category. called the don gratuit (free gift)
The higher/wealthier the category = the more they paid
Vingtieme Direct Income tax – equivalent to 1/20 of a person’s income. Everyone. 1st/2nd could buy
exemption with a don gratuit
Gabelle Indirect Tax on salt – most basic need = hated Only 3rd estate
Tabac Indirect Tax on tobacco Anyone purchasing tobacco
Tax farmers
All indirect taxes – made up 55% of state income – collected by La Ferme Generale ( The General Farm )–
large organisation that was 2nd biggest employer in France after the army.
Officials - commonly known as tax farmers
had right to confiscate property/use physical force if people failed to meet the payments owed.
4
