Background The French Revolution was perhaps one of the most consequential periods in European history. It was a time of instability, ideological shift, and violence that saw the end of traditional monarchy in one of the most powerful European countries of the era. There is no single cause of the French Revolution. Instead, it is the culmination of conditions that have existed in the country for decades. Starting from the reign of Louis XIV, France amassed large amounts of debt that was most profoundly felt by the lower class. At the same time, the Enlightenment was taking hold, with thinkers such as Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu publishing works that questioned the very foundation of French society. Along with this, the coronation of an incompetent king and the recent success of the American Revolution all stimulated revolutionary sentiments in the country. The Enlightenment The Enlightenment marked a period of ideological shift in Europe, starting from 1685 and culminating during the French Revolution in 1789. During this era, people started to embrace rationality and believe humanity could be improved through logical reasoning alone. As a result, people became more skeptical and, instead of blind obedience, they demanded empirical proof for something to be true. Thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Denis Diderot, Pierre Bayle, and Voltaire all contributed to this intellectual movement. However, it is perhaps Jean-Jacques Rousseau who is the most important philosopher when considering the French Revolution. In his work, The Social Contract (1762), Rousseau asserts the state should be determined by the ​ “general will” of the people. In a good society, people consent to having their government limit some freedoms in exchange for safety and a better life. However, the state should still preserve people’s natural rights and liberties. Most importantly, if citizens do not agree with the state, then it is their duty to abolish the government and restart (Reill and Wilson). SiMUN Historical Crisis Council 1 The Monarchy Beginning with the reign of Louis XIV, France engaged in major military conflicts that made it the European power of the time. Louis XIV sought out wars to bring glory to the nation. However, his reckless spending coupled with a series of unsuccessful wars deeply impoverished France. In addition, special privileges given to the clergy and nobility, such as their exemption from taxation and their accessibility to the king, further contributed to France’s debt and created tensions with the lower class. These issues were not addressed during the reign of Louis XV nor by Louis XVI, both regarded as weak leaders. With the rise of Enlightenment, people started to question the necessity of the monarchy and the legitimacy of the divine right of kings (State). France Before the Revolution Before the revolution, French society was structured as what is known as the ancien régime. ​ ​ The king was as the head of state, a single ruler who held absolute power over the country. Besides the king, French society was divided into three Estates: the First Estate composed of the clergy, the Second Estate consisted of the nobility, and the Third Estate represented the rest of the population. This rigid social structure decreased social mobility, meaning that even the SiMUN Historical Crisis Council 2 most intelligent, skillful, affluent people of the lower class could not move up in the social ladder (Haberman, Arthur, et al. 160). Furthermore, France was on the verge of bankruptcy when Louis XVI came to the throne. Due to France’s warfare in the past, Louis XVI mainly used France’s revenue to service its debt. In addition, the First and Second Estates were exempt from taxes, meaning that France’s only source of income was through peasants and the lower class. The growing population coupled with high unemployment aggravated the situation. Plus, droughts in the spring and hailstorms in the summer in the years leading up to the Revolution further devastated French peasants through the increase in the price of grain. Widespread hunger and a government that did very little to alleviate the situation triggered peasants into revolt (L. Frey and M. Frey 3). Recent Events The Estates-General May of 1789, in acknowledgement of France’s pressing political and economic issues, King Louis XVI called for the Estates-General. It was a gathering of representatives from all three Estates to discuss issues, with each Estate drawing up a list of grievances (cahiers de doleances) that highlighted their concerns. While members ​ ​ of the First and Second Estates proposed a constitutional monarchy and a free press, it was the Third Estate that was the most drastic, demanding a new constitution that called for freedom and social equality based on ideas from the Enlightenment. Even though the Third Estate comprised of 95 percent of the population, they had the same amount of votes as the first two Estates. This meant that the first two Estates always outvoted the Third Estate in favour of preserving their own privileges. This enraged delegates of the Third Estate, leading to the formation of the National Assembly. On June 17, the Third Estate swore the Tennis Court Oath that promised the National Assembly would continue on until France has a written constitution, marking the beginning of the Revolution (Wilde). Storming of Bastille SiMUN Historical Crisis Council 3 As tensions increase, a mob of revolutionaries invaded the Bastille prison on July 14, 1789, which was regarded as a symbol of royal power and oppression. Three-hundred revolutionaries stormed the prison, seizing stockpiles of guns and ammunition. The city hall was captured and the mayor was executed. As Paris fell into chaos, King Louis XVI was forced to recognize the National Assembly. This use of violence for political means will become a hallmark of the French Revolution (Allen). Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen As the National Assembly tried to restore order, they made reforms such as the abolition of tithes, seigneurial rights, and exemption from taxation. On August 26, 1789, the National Assembly published the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, ​ ​ a fundamental document based on Enlightenment ideals and the recently drafted American Constitution that emphasized natural rights, freedom, and rule of law. It proclaimed that natural rights are universal and inalienable to all (Llewellyn and Thompson). Slaves were considered free once they reached the mainland of France, and all citizens were subject to the same basic set of rules. This council starts September 1st, 1789, subsequent to these events. Questions to Consider 1. Considering the establishment of the National Assembly, what should be the new role of the king? How much and what kind of power should the king possess? Should there be a monarchy at all? 2. Taking into account Enlightenment ideals that founded the French Revolution, how does each member of the council interpret such ideals differently? What rights are people entitled to? How can the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of ​ the Citizen be effectively enforce implemented? ​ 3. Widespread famine was a cause of the Revolution. How does this council plan to repair the French economy and address its debt problem? What can be done to help peasants who are currently starving? 4. What is the best way to deal to with enemies of the Revolution? How can the National Assembly maintain control through the chaos and fighting factions? What are possible consequences of such control? When considering these questions, bear in mind your individual’s own beliefs and ambitions during the Revolution. Further Resources http://www1.curriculum.edu.au/ddunits/downloads/pdf/dec_of_rights.pdf http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/French_Revolution http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution http://historylists.org/events/list-of-10-major-events-of-the-french-revolution.html SiMUN Historical Crisis Council 4 http://serious-science.org/parties-of-the-french-revolution-7211 https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/07/french-revolution-bastille-day-guide-jacobins- terror-bonaparte/ https://www.britannica.com/topic-browse/History/Age-of-Revolutions/French-Revol ution French Revolution Character Matrix Character Faction Background 1 Maximilien Extreme Jacobin As a French lawyer and politician, Robespierre Robespierre played a very prominent role during the French Revolution as a member of the Estates-General, the Constituent Assembly and the Jacobin Club. He was also known for being an advocate for democracy and of the poor, and often used violent means to accomplish missions. 2 Marquis de Moderate A hero of the American Revolution, the LaFayette Marquis de LaFayette is an aristocrat and represented the nobility during the Estates-General. Despite his class, he advocated for natural rights, supported the end of slavery, and helped draft the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. LaFayette was more ​ moderate in his politics and preferred a middle ground. 3 Jean-Paul Marat Extreme Jacobin A journalist known for fiercely advocating for basic human rights and as a defender of the sans-culottes. Marat’s views were uncompromising and made public through numerous pamphlets and newspapers. 4 Georges Danton Extreme Jacobin As the first president of the Committee of Public Safety, Danton was instrumental in the early phases of the Revolution and the rise of the Jacobin Club. He wanted to overthrow the French monarchy and establish a republic. 5 Jacques Hebert Herbertist/Radical Hebert was a French journalist who was the founder and editor of the Le ​ Père Duchesne, a radical newspaper. He ​ SiMUN Historical Crisis Council 5 was a leader of the French Revolution and had many followers called Herbertists, who advocated for the ​ dechristianization of France and supported extreme measures used in the Terror. 6 Jacques Pierre Girondin Brissot was a leading member of the Brissot (de Warville) Girondist movement during the French Revolution.