FREV - Everybody's talkin' bout Revolution, con't. (Lesson)
Everybody's talkin' bout Revolution, continued.
Chateau Chauvac was built in the 13th century, burned during the Great Fear, and reclaimed and rebuilt under Napoleon's reign.
Image courtesy of the Chateau's former owners.
The Great Fear.
Elsewhere, peasants had gained hope with calling of the Estates-General and the cahiers. News of the Bastille inspired revolts in the countryside, and between July 19 and August 3rd, peasants attacked chateaux burning title deeds and obligation papers. Consider this - Why would the peasants storm the the chateaux and burn them? What do they stand to gain by doing this? How can this be seen as an extension of the fervor in Paris? How might this impact the course of the revolution?
A rumored plot on behalf of the aristocrats resulted in the mobilization of many peasants as townspeople and peasants began forming militia to defend themselves and save the harvest. Many believed the nobles were hoarding grain to stop the patriotic cause while another rumor had soldiers ordered to destroy the crops. This became known as the Great Fear. Rumors also abounded that vagrants were actually in the pay of nobles, destroying harvests in order to keep the peasants submissive. Peasant revolts worried the National Assembly, yet they decided to appease the peasants rather than denounce the violence.
Thus on August 4th, the National Assembly formally abolished feudal regime as well as:
- Abolished personal obligations and privilege.
- Abolished sale of offices, exclusive rights of nobles to hunt.
- Called for end of tithes, simony.
The Assembly later declared that seigneurial dues would end only after the peasants had paid compensation to their lords; most peasants refused and eventually all dues were abolished without the regained compensation under the new radical 1793 government. The changes did away with the old regime, destroyed absolutism by redefining subject king relationship, and determining the king was to be constrained by a constitution. The decrees, collectively known as the August 4th Decrees, also allowed the Assembly to create a new government.
Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.
The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen at its heart designated natural rights preserved by legitimate law, which meant the new government would be based on reason, not history and tradition.
Its time to take a closer look at the: Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen. Download a copy below and be sure to read it carefully. As you read consider the following:
- How does it address the grievances of the 3rd estate?
- Which philosophes are represented within it?
- How is it similar to the US Bill of Rights? How is is different?
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