frenchrev

French Revolution - background

"Ancien regime" is in a difficult position financially by the 1780’s

various proposals by Necker & others to take the aristocracy are unsuccessful

nobility resist monarchy’s attempts to levy new taxes through Parlement
Louis XVI calls for Estates General (medieval French Assembly dominated by clergy & aristocracy) to meet in 1789

Estates General, 1789

3 "estates" represented: clergy, nobility, commoners (largely bourgeois)

power exerted by 3rd estate - over the other two: declares itself the National Assembly

liberal, commercial, economic revolution begins with Tennis Court Oath in June, 1789 - to build a French constitution

Parisian working class joins the effort with the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789

Louis XVI accepts the new order

Early days of the Revolution

July-August, 1789:Rural France is disrupted, records destroyed as revolution spreads

liberal nobility in National Assembly concede feudal rights in concession to masses

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen is adopted in late August, 1789

far-reaching document: includes both men & women for France’s new society

Discussion Questions

How did beginning of French revolution compare to beginning of American revolution?

Could the monarchy have prevented the revolution, or was it inevitable?

Compare/contrast Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen with the Declaration of Independence