Introduction
Source: Freepik
France was among the intellectually and economically advanced countries of Europe in the 18th century. During the reign of Bourbon monarch Louis XIV France was at the height of her glory. French capital, Paris had become the cultural center of Europe. Europe was then profoundly influenced by the French thinkers and their philosophy. Within 75 years of Louis XIV’s death, France lost its glory. The year 1789 witnessed a great disorder in France. The masses revolted against the French monarchy and brought about his downfall. This political upheaval is known as the ‘French Revolution’.
The French Revolution is not only a great event in the history of Europe, but the most significant event in the history of the human civilization. The revolution abolished the absolute monarchy of France. It also destroyed the essential rights of the priests, clergies and nobles. The great principles of liberty, equality and fraternity were accepted by the world.
Divisions of France:
The French Revolution is regarded as the starting point of history of modern world. During the period between the death of Louis XIV and 1789, there was huge growth in the population, trade and territorial boundaries of France. The French Revolution was a revolt against a monarchy but the aim of bringing about social equality was the underlying inspiration.
French Revolution was a struggle for the social equality.
The France was divided into three classes:
- First Estate
- Second Estate
- Third Estate
First Estate: The first estate consisted of ‘Clergies’. It was again subdivided into higher and lower clergies. The higher clergy was very prosperous class. They were holders of the land. They received a tax named ‘Tithe’ from the laymen. The clergy enjoyed several privileges and political and economic concessions. They were exempted from the taxes. They were not interested in meditation and religious awareness. The higher priests had become pleasure loving. But the condition of the lower clergy was no better than that of the peasants.
Second Estate: The second privileged class was that of ‘nobles. They were in possession of a large part of land. They were entitled to enjoy political and economic privileges and concessions. They were free from taxes. They were benefited by political military and judicial posts on hereditary basis. They were governed by a set of laws separate from those meant for the members of the third estate.
Third Estate: The third estate consisted of the ‘common people’. The third estate was subdivided into three classes. The middle class included teachers, lawyers, doctors, writers, artists, government employees, merchants etc. This class was well-educated. Their financial condition was good. This class raised its voice against monarchy to get prestige and their rights.
The third estate included a large number of farmers and serfs. Their condition was very miserable. They were cruelly crushed. The farmers and peasants had to work as bonded labors. They had to pay heavy taxes. The lower middle class of peasants were considered as inferior class in the third estate. The burden of taxation rested most heavily on them. They were deprived of many privileges.
The common people of third estate were compelled to pay 1/10 of their income as “Tithe tax to the clergy, ‘crown’ tax to the king, ‘Tally’ tax on property.
The Tax System in France:
The extreme inequality was the specialty of the then French society. The clergy and nobles were exempted from the most taxes despite of having a large income. On the other hand, the poverty-stricken common people had to pay more than 50% of their income in form of the taxes. The common people were exploited under the tax system. They had to pay various taxes like Tithe tax, Salt tax etc. Apart from this, they had to take special care of the king. They were treated as bonded laborers.
Judicial system in France:
The judicial system was also based on inequality. The codes of law differed from province to province. The principles of judgement also differed from one social class to another. The judicial spheres were not confirmed. There were more than 360 legislative statutes at the same time. There was chaotic situation in judicial field. This disorder resulted in anger of the common people.
Voltaire had rightly said about the judicial system of France that, ‘The people of France had to alter the laws as he changes horses in his journey from one end to another in France’.
It was but natural that common man in France resented this all-infusing social inequality. This discontent of the masses finally expressed itself in the form of a powerful revolt in 1789.
The French Revolution was engineered by the members of the third estate The third estate was not a homogeneous group. It was consisted of merchants, lawyers, doctors, teachers, craftsmen, government employees, farmers and serfs. They were responsible for the intellectual and cultural glory of France. The food production of the country depended greatly on them. Despite of this, they were compelled to pay taxes which led to their miserable condition. The French thinkers, especially Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau awakened the masses against this social injustice.
Montesquieu (1689-1755): Montesquieu was born in the family of nobles; he was a lawyer by profession. After the comparative study of British and French judiciary, he wrote “The Spirit of the Laws”, According to him, the legislative, executive and judicial powers should be separated. This separation of powers would guarantee freedom, equality and protection of life and property. He protested against the absolute monarchy. He was deeply influenced by British administrative system as it was a fine synthesis of excellences of monarchy, democracy and feudalism. His ideas deeply influenced the intelligentsia of France. America has accepted his theory of separation of power.
Voltaire (1694-1778): Voltaire was a well- known writer and philosopher. He was known for his satirical writings. His philosophy influenced the people, He wrote the famous book entitled “Candid”. He was not the proponent of the democracy, but he was very staunch proponent of individual liberty. He also supported monarchy. “The rule of one lion is ever better than hundred rats.” Voltaire criticized French monarchy, selfish clergy and nobles through his plays, poems, history and biography. Therefore, he was exiled from France. His thoughts motivated the people to revolt against the injustice and tyranny.
Rousseau (1712-1778): Rousseau was born at Geneva. For his livelihood he started to work as a private secretary, musician and watch-repairer. He was a great writer. Rousseau is regarded as a pioneer of French Revolution. His books “social contract” and “Emile” became very popular. He expressed his political thoughts in his book social contract Man is born free, but later he finds himself in all kinds of oppression. As man moves away from the ‘state of nature’ he is subjected to more and more restrictions. The society willingly accepts them with a view to ensure self-discipline in this regard, the society creates a political state. Thus, the state is not a divine creation but is the outcome of a sort of unwritten social contract. Rousseau proclaimed the three popular principles of democracy- liberty, equality and fraternity. Napoleon Bonaparte had rightly remarked, “Without Rousseau, the French Revolution would not have taken place.” This explains how philosophy of Rousseau motivated the French revolutionaries.
Efforts to Improve the conditions:
Source: Freepik
Louis XVI was crowned as the French monarch in 1774. A man of character, he was kind and a well-wisher of his people but was incapable to action. He could form his own opinions. He also had honestly tried to improve the conditions in France. He did his best to bring France out of the financial mess with the help of Turgot, Necker and Calon, his finance ministers. They opined that it would not be possible to increase the revenue of France, unless the nobles were made to pay the taxes. The nobles, however, were inflexible and refused to accept the levy of taxes and any restriction in their privileges. Finally, Louis XVI was thus compelled to convene the Estate-General, a representative body of all the three classes in France.
The Estate-General and the Tennis Court Oath:
The members of the third estate suggested that the representatives of all the three estates should sit and vote together in view of the serious financial crisis. The representatives of the first two estates opposed the suggestion as they thought that it would lower their social and political prestige.
The king sided with the first two estates and turn down the proposal for a joint session. The representatives of the third estate left the parliament. The hall was subsequently cordoned off by the royal army. The enraged representatives of the third estate assembled on the tennis court near the royal palace and claimed that they alone were true representatives of the people. They declared themselves as National Assembly and took a solemn oath to remain united till people’s sovereignty was established. This was the beginning of an open confrontation between the feudalism power and the common people in France. The king sent orders to leave the hall. Mirabeau, their leader gave a befitting reply “Nothing but bayonet could disperse them as they were there by the will of the people.” Upon this the king did not take any action against the commons. This was a landmark success in the history of the Third Estate. Meanwhile, some of the representative from higher class joined the lower class. The air of revolution reached in army too. Finally, king Louis XVI gave his consent for the combined National Assembly. The people took it as their first triumph over monarchy. These events were taking place at Versailles.
The Fall of Bastille the new National:
Source: Freepik
Assembly raised ‘Civil Guards’ to protect themselves under the command of Lafayette. The National Assembly made many improvements. The king secretly attempted to destroy the National Assembly. The rumors of arrest of the leaders of national assembly spread in Paris which made the mob very furious. This mob became rebellious. It made the desperate resolve to attack the fort of Bastille. Accordingly, the people attacked the Bastille on 14th July and captured the bulk of ammunition and freed all the prisoners. Bastille was a symbol of absolute monarchy, social inequality and injustice. The fall of Bastille became a symbol of liberty. This was the first violent incident in the course of French Revolution. Therefore, 14th July is celebrated as National Day in France.
The works of National Assembly:
After the fall of Bastille, the discontent increased among the common people about clergy and nobles. As a result, the clergy and nobles rejected their traditional privileges on 4th Aug, 1789. The National Assembly abolished the bonded labor. It cancelled the taxes which were paid to clergy and nobles. It annulled the age-old feudalism. Therefore, 4th August became Social Revolution Day of France.
Declaration of Human Rights:
12th August 1789 The National Assembly declared the manifesto of Rights of Man. It was greatly inspired by the declaration of American Independence and philosophy of Rousseau. The people were assured of liberty, equality and fraternity. The principles like protection of fundamental rights, freedom of speech, personal property, resistance to oppression, control of masses on economy, sovereignty was accepted unanimously. This manifesto is regarded as the “Death certificate of an old age.”
Marie Antoinette was responsible for the unsatisfactory administration of Louis XVI. She was the Princess of Austria. She spent huge amount of money in purchasing luxurious articles. She collapsed the French treasury. So, she gained the nickname of “Madam Deficit” When the march of the people went to the palace of Versailles demanding bread, Maria Antoinette very rudely said,
“Eat cake if you don’t get bread, or else eat butter if not cake.” They forced the people to revolt.
The March of Women:
The king Louis XVI attempted to pressurize the revolution. The king’s act made the people furious. The thousands of women marched the palace of Versailles on 5th October 1789. Some disguised men joined the procession. The furious mob imprisoned the King, Queen and their son and brought them to Paris and they were kept under house arrest. This event is called as ‘Funeral procession of Bourbon monarchy’. The people were saying that we have caught the baker, his wife and son. Now we can get enough bread.
The constitution of France:
Louis XVI pleaded for assistance to some of the European kings. The king, queen and their prince were caught by the masses when they were trying to run away in disguise to another country. The king and his family were kept in the refinement. France was declared as Republic state on 22nd September 1792. The king was beheaded on guillotine on 21st January 1793. The most violent reign of terror started in France after that incident.
Read more: Industrial Revolution: https://testyourgk.in/industrial-revolution-its-effects-1750-to-1850/
The Reign of Terror:
The Reign of Terror continued for about one and half years from 1793 to 1795. The first year was marked by terrorism of the extremist leaders. Thousands of innocent sympathizers of the revolution were beheaded by Robespierre merely on suspicion. People, at last weary of this bloodshed, arrested Robespierre on 28th July, 1794 and put him to death under the Guillotine. The leadership of the revolution gradually-slipped into the hands of military. Napoleon Bonaparte, an intelligent, efficient and an ambitious General shortly crowned himself as the emperor bringing the French republic to an end on 18th May, 1804.
Effects of the Revolution:
The French Revolution overthrew the absolute monarchy of France. Feaudalism disappeared forever. The principles of republicanism took deep roots in France were conferred the liberty by the republic. There was the beginning a new age of equality. France attained the new vigor as a result of the principles of nationalism. There was overall transformation not only in political field but also the social life of France after revolution. There was economical stability, industrial growth, national integration, social equality, religious tolerance, improved status, public education system etc. The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte in French politics is considered as a significant incident of French Revolution. He is regarded as an off-spring of the revolution.
Conclusion
French Revolution had affected the world politics. The ancient feudalism was uprooted from Europe. The people understood that the absolute monarchy is illegitimate and it can be uprooted. This philosophy made many countries pro democratic. The principle of sovereignty became the important principle of modern social life. The revolution had given the value structure of liberty, equality, fraternity, constitutionalism and democracy.
Connect with us on social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/test_your_gk?igsh=MWN6b3Bwd2lhaDN1OA==
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561756379011&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Pinterest: https://pin.it/4ad8gsy44
Telegram: https://t.me/testyourgkofficial
1 thought on “French Revolution: The fall of Bastille 1789”