The Eight Stages of The French Revolution
1) Normal
France was under a monarchy with Louis XVI claiming the throne in 1774. At that time, a system called L'Acien Regime was in force. This system divided the people of France into three Estates:
First Estate:
The First Class consisted of the King and members of France's Catholic Church, which consisted of the "higher clergy (bishops, archbishops) and lower clergy (monks, friars, rural and parish priests)" (alphahistory.com, n.d.). They owned approximately 10% of the land in France, had unlimited rights and considerable political power. They also did not need to pay tax, other than the French Catholic Church presenting a "voluntary don gratuit" (free gift) to the state every five years (thefrenchrev.wordpress.com, 2011).
Second Estate:
The Second Estate consisted of the nobility: men who were granted or born into titles. These titles provided them with numerous privileges. As the nobility were considered military people who "paid their dues to the nation with their blood", this led to the exempt of personal taxes as one of the privileges (alphahistory.com, n.d.). One of the common traits of the Second Estate is the ownership of land, as many nobles owned estates and acquired their main source of income through rent and agriculture.
Third Estate:
The Third Estate consisted of over 96% of the entire population of France, which was around 25-26 million peopl (alphahistory.com, n.d.). It consisted of numerous different classes, from the bourgeoisie (middle class, e.g. merchants, doctors, factory owners) to the poorest farmers, city workers, beggars and peasants. Most of them had no political power, and suffered from heavy taxes (bastille-day.com, 2012)., so the First and Second Estate taxed the third Estate and received the riches without contributing to the King.
As Louis XVI was indecisive and incapable of ruling, he ended up spending a lot of money along with the First and Second Estate. Numerous economic failures followed, leading to the country being on the brink of bankruptcy.
France was under a monarchy with Louis XVI claiming the throne in 1774. At that time, a system called L'Acien Regime was in force. This system divided the people of France into three Estates:
First Estate:
The First Class consisted of the King and members of France's Catholic Church, which consisted of the "higher clergy (bishops, archbishops) and lower clergy (monks, friars, rural and parish priests)" (alphahistory.com, n.d.). They owned approximately 10% of the land in France, had unlimited rights and considerable political power. They also did not need to pay tax, other than the French Catholic Church presenting a "voluntary don gratuit" (free gift) to the state every five years (thefrenchrev.wordpress.com, 2011).
Second Estate:
The Second Estate consisted of the nobility: men who were granted or born into titles. These titles provided them with numerous privileges. As the nobility were considered military people who "paid their dues to the nation with their blood", this led to the exempt of personal taxes as one of the privileges (alphahistory.com, n.d.). One of the common traits of the Second Estate is the ownership of land, as many nobles owned estates and acquired their main source of income through rent and agriculture.
Third Estate:
The Third Estate consisted of over 96% of the entire population of France, which was around 25-26 million peopl (alphahistory.com, n.d.). It consisted of numerous different classes, from the bourgeoisie (middle class, e.g. merchants, doctors, factory owners) to the poorest farmers, city workers, beggars and peasants. Most of them had no political power, and suffered from heavy taxes (bastille-day.com, 2012)., so the First and Second Estate taxed the third Estate and received the riches without contributing to the King.
As Louis XVI was indecisive and incapable of ruling, he ended up spending a lot of money along with the First and Second Estate. Numerous economic failures followed, leading to the country being on the brink of bankruptcy.
2) Criticism of Existing Regime
Instead of discussing about tax, the Estates-General met at Versailles in 1789, and they discussed whether they should vote by Estate or by head. The Third Estate representatives wanted everyone to vote, but as First and Second Estate objected, which led to the discontent of the Third Estate. The following diagram shows the number of representatives and number of votes for each estate.
Instead of discussing about tax, the Estates-General met at Versailles in 1789, and they discussed whether they should vote by Estate or by head. The Third Estate representatives wanted everyone to vote, but as First and Second Estate objected, which led to the discontent of the Third Estate. The following diagram shows the number of representatives and number of votes for each estate.
In the end, the First and Second Estate locked out the Third Estate's representative from the conference room. This angered the Third Estate, and they began calling themselves the National Assembly.
3) Widespread Dissatisfaction
The National Assembly decided to take the Tennis Court Oath, promising that they would not disperse until a new constitution was drawn up for France. The enthusiasm of the National Assembly had affected the citizens of France in numerous different ways. For example, the citizens from Paris had directed an outburst in Bastille, Paris' largest prison for keeping political prisoners (King&Leung, 2010). Also, numerous ideas influenced from the Enlightenment started spreading throughout the country, leaving people to grumble about their dissatisfaction with life. During the beginning of the 18th century, 80% of the people had to rent their lands from the lords of the First or Second estate, and were forced to pay an enormous amount of taxes in order to gain the right to grow crops (bastille-day.com, 2012). The loads were supposed to turn over a fraction of the taxes to the King. However, they often kept the biggest fraction to themselves, and only a third of the tax on salt was "redistributed to the King" (bastille-day.com, 2012). Due to economical disadvantages, the peasants were starting to have a hard time working and starving, causing their living conditions to worsen. As the cost of flour started increasing, a significant amount of people from the The bread prices nearly. As bread prices nearly doubled, the Third Estate were unable to afford to buy bread anymore, ultimately becoming a source of revolt as bread was compulsory in life (kisworldhistory.wikispaces.com, 2014).
The National Assembly decided to take the Tennis Court Oath, promising that they would not disperse until a new constitution was drawn up for France. The enthusiasm of the National Assembly had affected the citizens of France in numerous different ways. For example, the citizens from Paris had directed an outburst in Bastille, Paris' largest prison for keeping political prisoners (King&Leung, 2010). Also, numerous ideas influenced from the Enlightenment started spreading throughout the country, leaving people to grumble about their dissatisfaction with life. During the beginning of the 18th century, 80% of the people had to rent their lands from the lords of the First or Second estate, and were forced to pay an enormous amount of taxes in order to gain the right to grow crops (bastille-day.com, 2012). The loads were supposed to turn over a fraction of the taxes to the King. However, they often kept the biggest fraction to themselves, and only a third of the tax on salt was "redistributed to the King" (bastille-day.com, 2012). Due to economical disadvantages, the peasants were starting to have a hard time working and starving, causing their living conditions to worsen. As the cost of flour started increasing, a significant amount of people from the The bread prices nearly. As bread prices nearly doubled, the Third Estate were unable to afford to buy bread anymore, ultimately becoming a source of revolt as bread was compulsory in life (kisworldhistory.wikispaces.com, 2014).
4) Transfer of Power
On August 24th, 1789, the National Assembly had spread in terms of power and nearly ruled the whole country. They passed on laws to remove privileges of estates, and adopted a declaration named "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of The Citizen" (King&Leung, 2010). The declaration was meant to emphasize liberty, quality and fraternity. It also stated that "all men are born as equals" and "social distinctions should exist for the general good" (avalon.law.yale.edu, 2008). This ensured that freedom of speech, religion freedom and a representative government would always be maintained in society, which was a significant improvement from the substandard living conditions of the Third Estate.
On August 24th, 1789, the National Assembly had spread in terms of power and nearly ruled the whole country. They passed on laws to remove privileges of estates, and adopted a declaration named "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of The Citizen" (King&Leung, 2010). The declaration was meant to emphasize liberty, quality and fraternity. It also stated that "all men are born as equals" and "social distinctions should exist for the general good" (avalon.law.yale.edu, 2008). This ensured that freedom of speech, religion freedom and a representative government would always be maintained in society, which was a significant improvement from the substandard living conditions of the Third Estate.
5) Civil War
As the peasants had finally had enough, they revolted, leading to strikes, sieges and riots breaking out all over France. They began to fight against the First and Second Estate, and even the Bourgeois were scared of them. A number of Bourgeois even emigrated to another country to abandon the struggle because they were afraid of the peasants. On October 5th, the Parisians had travelled to Versailles to purposely bering the royal family back (King&Leung, 2010). The National Constituent Assembly developed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in hopes of reorganising the church. The Civil Constitution was to act against the Pope and members of the Clergy. They then switched the Ancien Regime system with a fair and rational system which divided France into equal proportions (e.g. departments, districts, cantons). They also tried to create a monarchial regime for the king to share executive powers. However, Louis XVI had weak leadership, and was stubborn so he attempted to flee with his wife between June 20-21 in 1791 (kisworldhistory.wikispaces.com, 2014).
As the peasants had finally had enough, they revolted, leading to strikes, sieges and riots breaking out all over France. They began to fight against the First and Second Estate, and even the Bourgeois were scared of them. A number of Bourgeois even emigrated to another country to abandon the struggle because they were afraid of the peasants. On October 5th, the Parisians had travelled to Versailles to purposely bering the royal family back (King&Leung, 2010). The National Constituent Assembly developed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in hopes of reorganising the church. The Civil Constitution was to act against the Pope and members of the Clergy. They then switched the Ancien Regime system with a fair and rational system which divided France into equal proportions (e.g. departments, districts, cantons). They also tried to create a monarchial regime for the king to share executive powers. However, Louis XVI had weak leadership, and was stubborn so he attempted to flee with his wife between June 20-21 in 1791 (kisworldhistory.wikispaces.com, 2014).
6) Reign Of Terror
In June, 1793, the climax of the French Revolution included immense violence. As the Jacobins took over control of the National Convention, they established extreme measures, even eradicating Christianity and a calendar. They were also the reason of the 10 month long Reign of Terror, where thousands and thousands of suspected "enemies of the revolution" were guillotined. During this period, more than 40,000 people were murdered or executed (ehistory.oso.edu, n.d.). Luckily, after armies had removed a number of foreign intruders, Robespierre was executed on the 28th of July, 1794 as a consequence of his actions.
In June, 1793, the climax of the French Revolution included immense violence. As the Jacobins took over control of the National Convention, they established extreme measures, even eradicating Christianity and a calendar. They were also the reason of the 10 month long Reign of Terror, where thousands and thousands of suspected "enemies of the revolution" were guillotined. During this period, more than 40,000 people were murdered or executed (ehistory.oso.edu, n.d.). Luckily, after armies had removed a number of foreign intruders, Robespierre was executed on the 28th of July, 1794 as a consequence of his actions.
7) Thermidorian Reaction
After Maximillien Robespierre was sent to the guillotine and executed, the French revolted against excessiveness in the Reign of Terror. Since the king was dead, a new era was now planned out. Privileges and excesses were now abolished, meaning that the lavish and extravagant lives wealthy lords lived were also gone. Instead, such privileges were replaced by rules of equality and rights for the common people which everyone agreed to and encouraged. This overruled the old lives in which most lived to serve a master during the years before the Revolution. After a number of years, Napolean Bonaparte rose to power. He was a well known authoritative figure and had gained immense popularity, love, and fame from the citizens due to his victories in war. As he was known as "a living symbol of their nation's greatness", Napolean became the new emperor of France.