On July 14, 1789, an angry mob of Parisians attacked the Bastille, a medieval fortress in the center of Paris. The crowd was hoping to free the hundred of political prisoners rumored to be held captive inside and gain access to weapons and gun powder. For decades the fortress served as a symbol of the power of the French King, and caused resentment amongst the population of Paris.
The crowd beheaded the captain of the guard, and freed all the prisoners inside (there were 7). The people of Paris now had weapons and confidence and the kings guards were forced to flee the city. The French Revolution had begun.
In we talked about what motivates people to rebel against their government. Both economic and social reasons were listed. There are major political revolutions in history that you will study later in high school and college, most far more violent then the American Revolution. No matter if the Revolution is taking place in Russia during the early 1900s or France during the 1780s, there are always common themes and demands of the groups revolting. These are: Power, Money, and Land. The holy trinity of revolutions.
The Power issue in France had to do with the political system that was set up. The King had absolute power, and did not need the help of the Estates General (French legislative branch). He could raise taxes or declare war on a whim. The people who had power were a small percentage of the population, members of the nobility and the clergy. They had special privileges and held the best jobs in government. In addition to that, these people controlled the majority of the land in France, forcing farmers to pay heavy fees to work the land.
Soldiers returning from fighting in the American Revolution spread the ideas of democracy and freedom. Many of these men did not understand why they had to fight for freedom against a king, to return home to a king. Americans now had a government of elected rulers, not officials appointed by a king. In America people who were qualified got a job, not people who were born into the nobility.
Those special privileges had to deal with money. The clergy and the nobles did not have to pay taxes. The middle class, the farmers, and the poor city workers paid the brunt of France's taxes. In addition to the tax burden, a series of droughts and famine caused the price of bread and grain to become unaffordable for many middle class and city workers. These people became upset that the government did not step in and help them. Farmers could not sell their crops and had troubles paying their taxes and rent to the rich land lords.
Hungry People+Poor People= Angry People.
The majority of the population of France was ready for a change, and change happened quickly.
Within the matter of a few months, Louis XVI, the king of France was removed from office, replaced with an elected Republic. The French government issued "The Declaration of the Rights of Man", which promised that the people of France were entitled to "liberty, property, security, and the resistance to oppression". Ideas that were borrowed from the Declaration of Independence.
Many politicians and Americans were pleased with the French Revolution. Happy to see that the ideas of democracy and freedom were spreading to Europe. This happiness, would soon disappear.
France became immersed in bloodshed. Governments changed, and mass executions of political enemies took place. The King and Queen of France were among the 40,000 people who would become a victim to the "Reign of Terror". The guillotine, invented as a more humane way of executing someone, became the symbol of death and anarchy. Monarchs across Europe, declared war against the French, hoping to prevent the violence and disorder from spreading to their nations.
Back in the United States, President Washington faced the task of deciding what course the United States should take.
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