FREV - Everybody's talkin' bout Revolution (Lesson)

Everybody's talkin' bout Revolution.

In 1771, Louis XV exiled the Parlement of Paris, and established new law courts that are more subservient than before. Many believe Louis was trying to circumvent long-accepted privileges by doing so, thus they force his son, Louis XVI into relenting and recalling the Parlement.

And so it begins - the snowballing of activities that lead directly to the revolution. Jacques Necker attempts to float more loans while straightening out the finances. In 1781, ministers convince Louis XVI to fire Necker, which he does. But by 1782, Necker is rehired and inflates the figures to reassure the French and get new loans. This tactic doesn't work; instead most nations refuse to loan France any more money. Necker is thus replaced with Charles Alexandre de Calonne. He demonstrates that Necker's figures were inflated, but attempts to reassure the king and queen by buying 2 chateaux and building 4 more.

The Parlements highly dislike Calonne as they think he is arrogant, wants to tax the land, and identify him with fiscal irresponsibility. Thus, Calonne attempts to sidestep Parlement by having the king convene the Assembly of Notables (hand-picked representatives from each of the 3 estates), expecting the assembly to endorse its proposals, which did include a land tax, as well as overhaul the tax system. The assembly refused. The upper 2 estates were concerned they would lose privileges and thus the nobles convinced Louis to fire Calonne on April 8, 1788. He is replaced with Archbishop of Toulouse who asked for a land AND stamp tax. Some of the assembly had been willing to consider the new taxation provided it came with some concessions they requested such as:

  • Calling regular meetings of Estates-General
  • Allow more power to the Parlements
  • Reforms to guarantee protection of rights

Louis is now caught between a rock and a hard place. He needs the nobles to resolve the financial crisis, but doesn't want to give in to demands. Instead, Louis banishes them to a town south of Paris. Soon smaller parlements followed suit - one even called for a meeting of its estates without monarchical approval. Other provincial parlements began demanding meetings of the Estates-General. In response to the growing situation, land and stamp taxes are withdrawn in exchange for a tax on income and the Parlement of Paris is recalled from exile. Louis ordered new loan edicts without presenting it to Parlement which is technically illegal as Parlement has control of monetary issues. Louis's response?

 That is of no importance to me. It is legal because I will it

 

In May 1788, the king arrested 2 of the Parlement's most radical members. Small riots soon broke out, with one town throwing roof tiles and stones at royal soldiers. On August 8, 1788, Louis announced he would convene Estates-General in May of the following year. He reappointed Necker.

With the announcing of the Estates-General, questions were raised as to voting process. In the past, the representatives at the Estates voted by block, meaning each estate received one vote:

first estate is the clergy , approximately 1 percent of the population, gets one vote, 2nd estate is the nobility, approximately 3 percent of the population, gets one vote , 3rd estate is the peasants and bourgeoisie, approximately 96 percent of the population, gets one vote

The Society of 30 forms with Lafayette at the head. They met to discuss, debate, and distribute pamphlets. Abbé Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes, previously an obscure priest, issues a public statement:

We have 3 questions. What is the 3rd estate? Everything. Second, What has it been heretofore in the political order? Nothing. Third, what does it demand? To become something therein.

 

Many of the 3rd estate begin advocating for "One Man, One Vote." Meaning rather than voting by block, many request that each representative be allowed a vote. Fear led Louis to double the number of 3rd estate representatives, but maintained each block would have only 1 vote. Louis asked local assemblies to draw up a list of grievances known as the cahiers d'oleances. What resulted was a wide variety of complaints from concrete reforms to the foul breath of sheep ruining Lorraine's pastures. Some listed problems with the king. The predominant issue, however were the lettres de cachet which allowed a person to be arrested for any reason, without cause. Some of the cahiers praised the king while shifting fault to his advisors, yet most were edited before reaching the king.

On May 5, 1789, over 1,000 members met at Versailles for the Estates-General. Louis quickly greeted the 1st and 2nd estates, but kept the 3rd estate waiting for 2 hours. During his speech, they put their hats back on - a privilege reserved for the first and second estates and a major sign of disrespect. After announcing that each estate would be a block vote, the 3rd estate began delaying the proceedings by requesting all 3 estates meet together. Traditionally each estate met in separate rooms to vote. With the decision to continue voting by block, the third estate began pushing for each block to vote in the same room. The idea was that if they were to meet and discuss the issues together, there was a chance that one of the other 2 estates could be swayed to vote with the 3rd estate. On June 17th, when the request is denied, the 3rd estate declares itself the National Assembly and the true representatives of sovereignty, thereby giving them as much, if not more power than the king. The 1st estate considers joining them. On June 20, the meeting hall where the 3rd estate had been gathering was locked ("for repairs.") Rather than leaving, the 3rd estate met at a nearby indoor tennis court and demanded defined limits on the king's authority. They also swore the Tennis Court Oath, in which they swore not to disband until a new constitution was written. In the past, the Estates-General would be called for a meeting, then go home after a couple weeks with no clear cut time as to when they would reconvene. This means years could pass between meetings. This declaration stated that they would continue to meet regularly until they completed a new constitution NOT that they would stay together 24/7 until one was written.

Louis initially declared the National Assembly invalid, but on June 23, he announced substantial reforms:

  • Would periodically convoke Estates-General
  • Abolish the taille (land tax) and corvee (labor tax)
  • Eliminate tariffs and tolls
  • Allowed the three estates to vote by head so long as it did not concern "ancient and constitutional rights of the 3 orders"

But many didn't think it was enough. On June 22nd, Louis fires Necker again, only to be forced to rehire him after thousands invade the Tuileries Palace. On June 27, Louis orders the 2 remaining estates to join the 3rd estate.  Necker is once again fired on July 11th and the next day demonstrators carry statue busts of Necker. People began to arm themselves due to increased military presence. Shortly after the final dismissal of Necker, Parisian crowds went in search of weapons.

 

Painting - the storming of the Bastille

The Storming of the Bastille.

Did You know - Storming of the Bastille The Bastille was long seen as a symbol of oppression, being used primarily as a prison for political opponents. On July 14th, however, this was not necessarily the case. There were 7 prisoners total, including 1 nobleman whose family requested him to be placed there, three forgers, a renegade priest, and an Irishman who alternately thought he was Joan of Arc, St. Louis, and God.On July 14, 1789, thousands of people seized weapons stored in a veteran's hospital (Hôtel des Invalides). As they moved throughout the day, the crowd swelled to 80,000 people. Believing ammunition and gun powder was stored there, the crowd made their way to the Bastille. Along with being an armory and fortress, the Bastille was also a prison and symbol of political oppression as many of the people imprisoned there were imprisoned without trial. The crowd quickly laid siege to the fortress; the soldiers inside resisted and a minor battle ensued. Shortly after the troops surrendered, but not before dozens of civilians had been killed, becoming martyrs for the cause. The mob began to attack; a butcher decapitated the commander of the fortress and his head was carried on a pike throughout the streets. The mob seized the weapons and gunpowder and freed the prisoners. The storming of the Bastille perhaps saved the National Assembly from being dissolved by force. Later that evening, royal officials were replaced with a revolutionary municipality and citizen militias were organized in order to patrol the city. Additional revolutions occurred in 26 out of the 30 main cities, Paris was not an isolated occurrence. Louis becomes uncertain of the army's loyalty so he sends away most troops, recognizes the new municipal government, the "Commune of Paris," and the national guard led by Lafayette. He once again recalls Necker and on July 17, he goes to Paris to meet with commune, accepting the tricolor. 

Side Note - The tricolor quickly became a symbol of the revolution. Often it was cloth that could be pinned to a hat or coat. Of the three colors, the red and blue represented the city of Paris and the white represented the ruling family, the Bourbons.

 

Learn More:  Click here to access Steven Kreis' Historyguide.org -The Moderate Phase Links to an external site.

 

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