Week 1: Old Regime EuropeAncien reime=Old Regime=the political and social order of pre-1789 EuropeI. The Society of Ordersa. “Estate”=”Order”b. The Great Chain of Beingi. Hierarchical orderc. Membership in an estate determined the type of work you did, whom you could marry, clothes you could wear, and if you received educationd. Traditional estates:i. Determined by birth1. Clergy2. Nobility3. Commonersii. Designed to promote social stability not individual freedome. The Peasantsi. Farmers that spent lives working the landii. Did not own land, belonged to noble landlordiii. Paid rent to landlord (cash or portion of crops)iv. Labor services v. Could pass on use of land to male childrenvi. Some rich peasants owned land, did not pay rentvii. Serfs1. Bound by law to their landlords2. Landlord has absolute authority over themf. The Nobilityi. 3% of European populationii. Landed estates were basis of wealthiii. Seigneurial rights1. Right to be paid rent from peasants2. Right to demand labor services iv. Great emphasis on distinction of birthv. Military values and honorvi. Special rights1. Exempt from taxation2. Tried in noble courtsg. The Clergyi. Divided by class and confessions1. Western Europe-Protestants and Catholics2. Parish clergy vs. upper clergyII. Town Lifea. The guilds-had to be member of local guild to practice a tradei. Only Christian menii. Apprentice-around age of 12iii. Journeyman-wandered from town to town working in various shops 1. Must then make a “masterpiece”2. If masterpiece was judged to be acceptable then can become a masteriv. Master-only ones allowed to marryv. Guilds proved inefficient as society grew III. Forces of Transformationa. Growing State Poweri. Louis XIV1. Palace of Versailles 2. Claimed absolute powera. “Divine right” of kingsii. Absolutism in Prussia, Austria, Russia1. Expanded military2. Expanded bureaucracy3. Challenge guild regulations on trade4. Weakening of quasi-parliamentary “estates”iii. English Parliament1. Power secured viaa. English Civil War (1642-1651)b. Glorious Revolution (1688)Week 1 Readings Royal Power Asserted/Noble Privilege Defended- Louis XVo Parliament is to serve him, not challenge himo His laws are just and he holds all the powero He has the right to dissolve parliaments as he sees fito Above his subjects, absolute authority, given divine power- Parliament of Bourdeuxo They have had power since the beginning of the monarchyo Exist to serve the people by reviewing laws made by the kingo King does not have power over themFrederick the Great, “Essays on the Form of Government”- Kings are men like their subjects- Should not engage in lavish, wasteful lifestyles- Should act in the benefit of the people- Servant of the stateDiderot on Natural Law - Natural rights- General will vs. private willo General will-beneficial for all humanityo Private will-selfishness, only serves one’s selfo “Laws should be made for everyone, and not for one person”Week 2: The French RevolutionI. The Crisis of the Old Regimea. The Fiscal-Political Crisisi. Absolutist monarchy1. Rule by “divine right”ii. Society of orders/estatesiii. The nobility1. Seigneurial rightsiv. The new middle class-commerce, banking, law, medicine1. Richest could purchase noble titles2. The less wealthy resented the elitesv. The problem of revenue1. Tax exemptions for:a. Nobility and churchb. Particular towns and provincesc. Unequal tax burdeni. Burden fell on those least able to payd. Inefficient collectionsi. Tax farmers went to provinces to collect, kept the moneye. Seven Years War (1756-1763)i. Put France into debtf. Parlement (regional courts)i. Obstacles to Louis XV’s tax reformii. Louis XV dissolves parlements in 1770g. Louis XVI (ruled 1774-1792)i. Restores Paris parlementii. Military support for American Revolution (1775-1783)iii. Sever fiscal crisis by the 1780sb. The Socio-Economic Crisisi. Interior of the country was worse off than exteriorii. Bad harvest sent bread prices upiii. Price of grain went up due to removal of price controls1. Bread Riotc. Public Opinioni. “Vulgar Enlightenment”ii. Pamphlets, journals1. Louis XVI-rumored that he could not produce an heir2. Marie Antoinette-scandalous reputationII. The End of the Absolute Monarchya. The Pre-Revolution of 1787-1789i. Charles de Calonne1. Royal Finance Minister (1783-1787)2. Proposed a proportionate tax paid by all land ownersii. The Assembly of Notables (1787)1. Nobility, town, church2. Rejected the proposed taxes3. Calonne forced to resigniii. 1788-Parlement of Paris said they would not approve any new loans to king until Estates General convened1. Louis XVI agrees to call Estates General (August 3rd, 1788)2. Estates Generala. Made up of representatives from 3 estatesb. Had not convened since 1614b. From Estates-General to National Assembly 1. First Estate: Clergy2. Second Estate: Nobles3. Third Estate: Commonersii. Middle Class rejected 1 vote system (1 vote/estate)1. Clergy & nobles could outvote commoners2. 3rd estate made up highest % of populationiii. Jan 1789-Clergyman Abbe Sieyes, What is the Third Estate1. 3rd estate embodies the nation2. Nobility was a foreign element3. Notion of 1st & 2nd estate riding on backs of 3rd estatea. Became an image of the revolutioniv. Meeting of Estates General, May 17891. 3rd estate refused to sit as separate group2. Formed National Assembly3. June 20, 1789-Tennis Court Oatha. Vowed not to return home until they gave Francea constitutionv. Relationship between Louis XVI & National Assembly1. Indecisiveness of Louis XVI 2. Activism of French populationc. The Fall of the Bastillei. July 14th, 17891. Marched fortress for weapons for militia2. Troops fired into crowd, killed 98 people3. Crowd returned, stormed Bastille, killed General4. Militia named itself National Guard5. To make peace, Louis XVI wore national ribbona. Shift of power from King to National AssemblyIII. The Work of the National Assembly a. Ending Feudal Privilegei. Unrest in the countrysideii. August 4, 1789-nobility and clergy renounce iii. Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen (Aug 27, 1789)b. Nationalizing Throne and Altari. October Daysii. Oct 5th-women marched on Versailles demanding lower bread prices 1. Demanded royal family come with them (they did)iii. Confiscation and sale of church lands (Nov 1789)iv. Civil Constitution of the Clergy (July 1790)c. Toward Constitutional Monarchyi. Constitution of 1791Week 2 ReadingsArthur Young. "Travels during the