French Revolution: Causes, Events, and Impact 1789-1792
Ideological Causes of the French Revolution
Ideological causes: Illustrated propagation of ideas which claimed changes in society and politics.
Social Causes of the French Revolution
Social Causes: The bourgeoisie accumulated great wealth and influence, but belonging to the Third Estate prevented them from prospering and participating in politics. This led to growing discontent.
Political Reasons for the French Revolution
Political reasons: During the country’s economic crisis, the King of France, Louis XVI, took no action and continued to levy high taxes.
Economic Reasons for the French Revolution
Economic reasons: Several years of poor harvests caused hunger among the people. Poverty was increasing. Tax yields were lower, and the privileged (nobility and clergy) had decreased purchasing power.
In this situation, King Louis XVI had two options: to make the privileged (nobility and clergy) pay taxes or to raise taxes on the Third Estate. Either of these options would put him at odds with his subjects.
Louis XVI decided to summon the Estates-General, an assembly representing the three estates, for advice. It was May 1789, and the revolution was about to begin.
The Revolution: The Estates-General and the Constituent Assembly (1789-1791)
Once the assembly of the Estates-General started, the Third Estate members sought to change the voting system so that each person cast a vote and not each estate, as had traditionally been done. This would ensure their majority since they represented 80% of the population. The nobility and clergy rejected this proposal, and the Third Estate representatives left the Estates-General to meet in Paris in a gable or indoor tennis court as the National Assembly.
In this location, deputies of the Third Estate (mostly illustrated) proclaimed themselves representatives of the nation and vowed not to leave until they had drafted a constitution for France to organize a new political, economic, and social order, ending the absolute power of the monarch. This act, known as the Tennis Court Oath, may be considered the true beginning of the Revolution.
The King sent troops to Paris to stop the deputies of the Third Estate, but the town of Paris, moved by the situation, came out to defend the Third Estate and took the fortress of the Bastille to get weapons and gunpowder. It was July 14, 1789, the beginning of the French Revolution.
What happened in Paris was repeated in many French cities, where people took power and stormed castles and mansions of the nobility. This wave of violence was known as the Great Fear.
In August, the National Assembly abolished the privileges of the nobility and clergy. The feudal society was disappearing. They also issued a Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen inspired by freedom, equality, and national sovereignty.
In 1791, the Constitution was adopted. Louis XVI was still King but was subject to the Constitution and the will of the people. However, he wanted to return to absolutism.
The Constitutional Monarchy in France (1791-1792)
The Constitution of 1791 gave sovereignty to the people and separated powers as follows:
- Executive: The King, who directed and chose the government.
- Legislative: The National Assembly.
- Judiciary: The courts of justice, independent of the above powers.
The Constitution established elections every two years to elect deputies to the National Assembly, but only active citizens could vote (those with a certain level of wealth), i.e., the middle class (based on census suffrage). The poorest of the population were excluded from the system.
The constitutional monarchy failed because:
- Louis XVI did not want the Constitution and sought support from neighboring monarchs to regain absolute power.
- In the National Assembly, opposing groups (moderates vs. radicals) soon formed regarding the decisions to be taken. The unity of 1789 was broken.
- The economic situation continued to worsen, leading to continued hunger and discontent.
- The enemies of the Revolution (nobles and clergy) had reorganized, and in many parts of the country, armies were enlisted to fight the new government.
In this situation, Louis XVI tried to escape to Austria but was arrested and imprisoned. Austria and Prussia declared war on France to restore the Old Regime. The people refused to accept the return of the Old Regime and tried to lynch Louis XVI in the Tuileries Palace. Disorder was widespread in France, so the National Assembly called for elections by universal male suffrage.
Universal suffrage: A system of voting in which all adult citizens can vote, regardless of their economic power. Universal male suffrage excludes women.