La Revolución francesa en 14 minutos

Summary

The French Revolution, a pivotal upheaval in late 18th-century Europe, saw the overthrow of the absolutist monarchy and the rise of the bourgeoisie. Driven by Enlightenment ideals and economic turmoil, it led to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy and eventually the First French Republic. Key events include the storming of the Bastille, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and the Reign of Terror. Figures like Robespierre and Danton played significant roles, and the Revolution's legacy, symbolized by 'Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité,' continues to resonate.

Takeaways

• 🗝️ The French Revolution was a pivotal social and political upheaval in late 18th century Europe, leading to the overthrow of the old regime and the rise of the bourgeoisie as the new ruling class.
• 💡 Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu influenced society, advocating for reason, equality, and liberty as a means to combat ignorance and tyranny.
• 📚 The Encyclopaedia, led by Diderot and D'Alembert, played a significant role in spreading Enlightenment ideas and contributed to the discrediting of the Old Regime.
• 👑 France was ruled by an absolutist monarchy under Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, whose extravagant lifestyle contrasted sharply with the economic struggles of the common people.
• 🏰 The division of French society into three Estates highlighted the disparity in power and wealth, with the Third Estate comprising 97% of the population but bearing the brunt of taxation and having no political power.
• 🤝 The Third Estate's formation of the National Assembly represented a significant step towards democracy and the establishment of a constitution for France.
• 🏰 The storming of the Bastille on July 14th symbolized the people's resistance against monarchical absolutism and boosted their confidence in the revolution.
• 📜 The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the subsequent steps taken by the National Constituent Assembly marked the beginning of a new political and social order in France.
• 🔄 The political spectrum of right and left originated from the seating arrangement in the assembly, with monarchists on the right and republicans on the left.
• ⚔️ The French Revolution was marked by internal strife, war, and the eventual radicalization leading to the Reign of Terror, where thousands were executed for alleged anti-revolutionary activities.
• 👑 The rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, from General to Emperor, signified the end of the revolutionary period and the beginning of a new era in French history.

Q & A

What was the French Revolution and when did it occur?

The French Revolution was a significant social and political upheaval in Europe that took place in the late 18th century, specifically during the late 1700s. It was characterized by the violent overthrow of the old regime and the establishment of a new political order dominated by the bourgeoisie.

What was the Enlightenment and how did it influence the French Revolution?

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement in the 18th century that emphasized reason, liberty, and equality. It influenced the French Revolution by challenging ignorance, superstition, and tyranny, and by promoting the idea that a better world could be built through human thought and action.

What role did the Encyclopaedia play in the French Revolution?

The Encyclopaedia, initiated by Diderot and D'Alembert, was a collection of articles embodying the Enlightenment thought. It contributed to the discrediting of the old regime by spreading ideas of reason, equality, and liberty, thus fostering a society that questioned the status quo and ultimately paved the way for the revolution.

How was the French society divided during the period of the French Revolution?

French society was divided into three Estates. The First Estate was the clergy, the Second Estate was the nobility, and the Third Estate consisted of the bourgeoisie, merchants, artisans, and the peasantry. The Third Estate made up 97% of the population but had no political power and bore the brunt of taxation.

What was the significance of the capture of the Bastille on July 14th?

The capture of the Bastille was a pivotal event in the French Revolution. It symbolized the overthrow of absolute monarchy and marked a significant boost in confidence for the Parisians, who saw it as a victory against the oppressive regime.

What was the National Assembly and why was it formed?

The National Assembly was formed when the deputies of the Third Estate, frustrated by the lack of representation and voting power, decided to constitute themselves as a new assembly. They aimed to represent the French people and work towards drafting a constitution for France.

What were the key principles of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was a fundamental document that established the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. It emphasized the rights of individuals and the sovereignty of the nation over the monarch.

How did the political terms 'right' and 'left' originate in the context of the French Revolution?

The terms 'right' and 'left' originated in the National Constituent Assembly, where those defending a parliamentary monarchy sat on the right, and supporters of a republic representing the middle and popular classes sat on the left, thus giving rise to the modern political spectrum.

What was the Reign of Terror and who was responsible for it?

The Reign of Terror was a period during the French Revolution characterized by extreme violence and the execution of thousands of people accused of counter-revolutionary activities. It was led by the radical Jacobins, with figures like Robespierre and Marat playing significant roles.

How did Napoleon Bonaparte rise to power and what changes did he bring?

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power through a coup d'état in 1799, after which he became the First Consul of the Republic. He later declared himself Emperor in 1804. His rule marked a shift from the radical phase of the revolution to a more stable and centralized government, with a focus on internal order and economic growth.

What were the lasting impacts of the French Revolution on Western society?

The French Revolution had profound and lasting impacts on Western society. It introduced the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, which have since become foundational values in many democratic societies. It also set the stage for the rise of nationalism and the decline of absolute monarchies.

Outlines

00:00

🏛 The French Revolution and Enlightenment

The French Revolution, a pivotal event in late 18th-century Europe, overthrew the old regime and established a new political order dominated by the bourgeoisie. The Enlightenment, with thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, challenged ignorance and tyranny, advocating for a better world. The Encyclopaedia, a collaborative project led by Diderot and D'Alembert, spread these ideas, contributing to the discrediting of the Old Regime. France's dire economic situation, exacerbated by military spending and poor harvests, fueled social discontent. The First and Second Estates, the clergy and nobility, enjoyed privileges while the Third Estate, comprising 97% of the population, bore the brunt of taxes and had no political power. The Third Estate's desire for access to power and a centralized state akin to England's was a key driver of the revolution.

05:02

🗝️ The National Assembly and the Fall of the Bastille

The Third Estate's formation of the National Assembly marked a commitment to creating a constitution for France. Despite the King's attempts to dissolve the assembly, the deputies, led by Mirabeau, remained steadfast. The storming of the Bastille on July 14th by Parisians symbolized the people's support for the revolution and their defiance of monarchical absolutism. The subsequent beheading and public display of the prison governor's head became a common revolutionary act. The National Constituent Assembly, which included the nobility and clergy, passed significant reforms such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, abolished feudalism, and drafted a new constitution. The political spectrum of right and left emerged from seating arrangements within the assembly. Fears of a royal coup led to the King's forced move to Paris, and the subsequent approval of a constitutional monarchy in 1791.

10:04

🗡️ The Radicalization and Execution of the Monarchy

The radicalization of the French Revolution saw the rise of figures like Robespierre and the Jacobins, who eventually abolished the monarchy and established the Republic. The National Convention, dominated by the Jacobins, put Louis XVI on trial for treason, leading to his execution by guillotine. Marie Antoinette suffered the same fate. The Reign of Terror, led by the Committee of Public Safety under Robespierre, resulted in the execution of thousands accused of counter-revolutionary activities. The political divide between the radical Jacobins and the moderate Girondins deepened, with Marat's assassination and Robespierre's eventual downfall. The revolution continued to evolve, with Napoleon Bonaparte emerging as a military hero and later staging a coup to become First Consul, restoring order and reviving the economy.

👑 The Rise of Napoleon and the End of the Revolution

The Directory period, marked by economic crisis and political dissension, saw Napoleon Bonaparte rise to power after a coup in 1799, becoming First Consul. He stabilized France and revitalized the economy. In 1804, through a plebiscite, Napoleon declared himself Emperor, an act many historians consider the end of the French Revolution. However, the revolutionary ideals of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité continue to resonate, marking a lasting transformation in the Western world.

Keywords

💡French Revolution

The French Revolution refers to a period of radical social and political change in France during the late 18th century. It marked the collapse of the Bourbon monarchy and the rise of radical political factions. The video script describes it as the most important change of the late 17th century, emphasizing its impact on the old regime and the establishment of a new political order led by the bourgeoisie.

💡Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the 18th century in Europe, advocating for reason, liberty, and progress. The script highlights figures like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, whose ideas challenged ignorance, superstition, and tyranny, aiming to construct a better society. The Enlightenment's principles deeply influenced the French Revolution, as it inspired the quest for a more just and rational system of governance.

💡Estates-General

The Estates-General was a general assembly representing the three traditional classes, or Estates, of French society: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. In the script, it is mentioned as the body convened by King Louis XVI to address the fiscal crisis. The Third Estate's quest for equal representation led to its transformation into the National Assembly, a pivotal moment in the revolution.

💡Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie, as described in the script, refers to the middle class of society, which included merchants, bankers, professionals, and artisans. They were a driving force behind the French Revolution, seeking political power and economic opportunities. Their rise to prominence symbolizes the shift in power dynamics during the revolution, as they eventually became the ruling class.

💡National Assembly

The National Assembly emerged from the Third Estate's refusal to be overshadowed by the other two Estates in the Estates-General. As detailed in the script, they formed this new assembly at the Tennis Court in Versailles, vowing to remain until they had drafted a new constitution for France. This marked a significant step towards democracy and the establishment of a constitutional government.

💡Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

This document, highlighted in the script, was a fundamental piece of the new constitutional framework adopted by the National Constituent Assembly. It asserted the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and it served as a cornerstone of the French Revolution, influencing the development of subsequent democratic principles and human rights declarations.

💡Reign of Terror

The Reign of Terror, as mentioned in the script, refers to a period during the French Revolution when the radical Jacobin faction led by Robespierre implemented a campaign of mass executions, targeting perceived enemies of the revolution. This phase exemplifies the extreme measures taken in the name of revolutionary ideals and the descent into violence that characterized parts of the revolution.

💡Guillotine

The guillotine, named after Dr. Guillotin who proposed its use, was a beheading device that became a symbol of the French Revolution due to its widespread use during the Reign of Terror. The script notes its introduction and the significant role it played in the executions of thousands, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.

💡Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte emerges in the script as a military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. Initially a general winning battles for the Republic, he later executed a coup d'état and declared himself Emperor, marking a significant shift in the political landscape and the end of the revolutionary period for some historians.

💡Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité

These words, meaning 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,' are the famous motto of the French Revolution, as stated in the script. They encapsulate the core ideals that the revolution aimed to achieve, influencing not only France but also the broader Western world's approach to governance and social justice.

Highlights

The French Revolution marked a pivotal social and political upheaval in late 18th century Europe, leading to the overthrow of the old regime and the rise of the bourgeoisie as the new ruling class.

The Enlightenment, with key thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, played a crucial role in shaping revolutionary ideals of reason, equality, and liberty.

The Encyclopaedia, spearheaded by Diderot and D'Alembert, served as a critical tool for disseminating Enlightenment thought and challenging the status quo.

France's economic crisis, exacerbated by military spending and poor harvests, fueled social discontent and contributed to the revolutionary fervor.

The division of French society into three Estates, with the clergy and nobility enjoying privileges while the Third Estate bore the brunt of taxation and had no political power, was a key factor leading to the revolution.

The Estates General of 1788, convened to address the tax deficit, set the stage for the Third Estate's quest for representation and equality, leading to the formation of the National Assembly.

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, symbolized the people's resistance against absolutism and marked a turning point in the revolution.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the subsequent suppression of feudalism were major outcomes of the National Constituent Assembly's work.

The political spectrum of right and left originated from the seating arrangement in the National Assembly, with monarchists on the right and republicans on the left.

The flight to Varennes, where King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to escape to Austria, highlighted the king's diminishing power and the growing influence of the revolutionaries.

The National Convention's decision to abolish the monarchy and establish the First French Republic was a radical shift in the nation's political landscape.

The Reign of Terror, led by the Jacobins and marked by mass executions, represented the radicalization of the revolution and the tragic excesses of the period.

The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as a military leader and his eventual self-proclamation as Emperor marked the end of the revolutionary period and the beginning of a new era in French history.

The Directory period, characterized by economic crisis and political dissension, was a transitional phase before Bonaparte's rise to power.

The enduring legacy of the French Revolution is encapsulated in the motto 'Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité', which continues to inspire movements for social justice and equality.

Transcripts

The French Revolution was the most important social and political change which took place in Europe in the late XVII Century.

It was a violent period in which the old regime was overthrown, setting up a new regime where the burgeoisie,

occasionally supported by the masses, became the ruling political class.

Let's see the causes of this revolution:

18th Century, we are in France, the active current of thought is the Enlightenment.

The ideas of people, such as Voltaire, Rousseau and Montestquieu, have made bedlams in society.

They held human thought could battle ignorance, superstition and tirany, to build a better world.

This kind of thinking was expanded through meetings, held in wealthy people's houses,

in which intellectuals participated, and philosophy , politics and literature were discussed.

The Encyclopaedia was read, an initiative by Diderot and D'Alambert that told in its successive publishings

with many colaborators that wrote thousands of articles to embody the Enlightened thought.

The Encyclopaedia contributed to the discredit of the system, a cultivated society that thinks for itself,

it was the best way to ensure the end of the Old Regime.

The principles based on the Reason, Equality and Liberty were present in the mind of the French.

Not only of the French, the Enlightened ideas had spread across Europe and its colonies.

On the other side of the ocean, the Enlightenment had worked as an impulse so that on a Fourth of July, 1776

the Thirteen Colonies of North America achieved Independence.

France is under the yoke of an absolutist monarchy,

ruled then by Louis XVI, who was married to Marie Antoinette,

the power of the King and the Nobility was the base of this regime.

The economy in the State was in a very precary situation,

the military spendings and the bad harvests created a serious social situation,

the people were hungry, while the luxury and wastes of the royalty continued normally,

getting even more into debt the situation of the State.

The Enlightened thought plus the social discontent were the perfect broth for the beginning of the revolution.

But first, let's see the division of the French society:

The society was composed by three sectors, named Estates

The First Estate was the church, which didn't pay taxes,

obtained from the peasant the tithe,

i.e., one tenth part of the product of the harvests.

Only the church could legalize marriages, births and deaths,

and the education was in its hands.

The Second Estate was composed by Nobility,

owners of the land,

which did not pay taxes, either.

The peasants would pay them tribute and could only sell their harvests to them.

It was a breed enclosed on itself.

The First and Second Estates, i.e. the clergy and nobility,

summed up around 3% of the population.

The Third Estated would make up to 97% of the population,

and the composition was very diverse:

on one hand, there was the burgeoisie, formed by the wealthy merchants and bankers,

the liberal professionists,

physicians, lawyers...

also by artisants and small merchants.

On the other hand there were free peasants, small landlords, lessees and workers.

The Third Estate had no power nor political decision,

but paid all of the taxes,

had the worst jobs and no rights.

The burgeoisie needed access to power,

and to handle a centralized State which protected and impulsed its economic activities,

just as it had been happening in England.

Let's go back to Paris.

When poverty provoked revolts, people went to complain to Versailles about the hunger they endured,

then the rumour spread about the Queen, very haughty, said the phrase:

"Let them eat cake".

Something like that trascended and resulted very provoking.

To raise the serious taxing deficit, the King declared the State in bankruptcy

and convened in 1788 the Estates General, a Medieval Parliament which was last held 174 years before.

It was an assambly in which the deputies of the clergy, nobility and the people reunite.

Around 1200 deputies were present,

the half of them represented the first two Estates, and the other half represented the Third Estate which achieved to duplicate its representation.

The inaugural session was held by the King Louis XVI,

The clergy and the nobility claimed the vote for Estate, which granted them a majority without the need of a consensus.

The Third Estate asked the vote per capita, which allowed more equality in the vote.

With the negative of the first two Estates and the blocking of every vote,

the Third Estate invited loose deputies of the clergy and nobility to join them.

Two nobles and 149 members of the clergy did,

in the face of this revolutionary act, the King Louis XVI closed the room and forbade the entrance to the members of the Third Estate.

The deputies of the Third Estate agree to constitute in a new assembly,

and to be the real representatives of the French people.

They found a new place for reunions,

the Tennis Court in the Palace of Versailles,

this assembly took the name of National Assembly, promising to be together until getting France a Constitution.

The King tried to break up the assembly,

deputy Mirabeau then said the phrase:

"We are here by the will of the people, and that we shall be removed only at the point of a bayonet".

On July 14th, Parisian people supported their representatives, and with the fear of the royal troops arresting them,

they assaulted the fortress of the Bastille,

symbol of monarchy absolutism, but also strategic spot of the repression of Louis XVI

since his canyons aimed to the workers' neighborhoods.

After three hours of battle, the insurgents captured the prison,

returning to the town hall, the crowd accused the governor of the prison of betrayal,

he was stabbed and received a shot that killed him.

He was beheaded and his head was exhibited in the city nailed in a pica.

emerging the custom of nailing and parading in a pica the heads of the beheaded,

something very common during the Revolution,

the Capture of the Bastille gave the parisians a lot of confidence in themselves,

what was expressed in the press,

Jean-Paul Marat, a physician founder of a newspaper of huge success,

became the voice of the Revolution,

and a species of leader of the proletariat, with his constant harrassment to the rich.

The King finally gave in and invited the nobility and the clergy to join the National Assembly,

the assembly took the name of National Constituent Assembly.

among the labors that the assembly would do, it can be highlighted the approval of the Declaration of the Rights of the Man and of the Citizen,

the supression of feudalism,

the appropiation of the goods of the church,

the Civil Constitution of the clergy,

the Freedom of press, and of course the redaction of a new Constitution.

In this assembly the ones defending a parliamentary Monarchy would sit on the right,

and in the left, the supporters of a republic that represented the interests of the middle and popular classes.

This is how the concepts of political right and left were born.

In the late september of 1789,

a rumour of the King preparing his troops started to spread,

and the journalists, with Marat on top, scared people so that they would react.

The people marched to Versailles, camped, organized revolts on the outside of the Palace,

and even a group of women entered to the Palace and beheaded members of the Royal Guard.

They, later, demanded the King to move his residence from Versailles to Paris,

and so he did; a big crowd paraded to Paris and he had to lodge in the Palace of the Tuileries.

It was a way to have him more controlled and submit him under the people's will.

The Constituent Assembly, which moved his chamber to Paris,

achieves to approve the Constitution in 1791,

France would work as a Constitutional Monarchy,

the Constitutions established the sovereignty resided on the Nation, and no mor on the King,

the King does nothing else but to accept the Constitution,

with his immensely weakened power, the King starts to scratch a new plan to recover his power.

He knows he only can do this with the aid of a foreign army, his plan is to escape Tuileries,

to reach the closest border.

The King and Queen dress up as peasants and escape during the night.

When they are about to reach the border with Austria,

his plan fails, they're discovered and made prisoners.

In this moment, the doctor Guillotin proposed a sofisticated beheading method

which he presents to the assembly.

The journalist Marat, excited with this artifact,

gives this machine the name of guillotine,

which will have a very important role.

With the King and Queen made prisoners, and the fear of an imminent attack, the assembly gets ahead and declares the war to Austria,

the country of the family of Marie Antoinette.

Soon Prussia joins Austria.

On August 10th, 1792, the masses assaulted the Palace of the Tuileries,

and the Constituent Assembly suspended the constitutional functions of the King.

The Constituent Assembly convenes elections with the purpose of setting up, by universal suffrage,

a new Parliament that would recieve the name of National Convention,

The social and political tension in France was increasing,

and also it was in war and was giving in territories to its enemies.

The new chosen parliament composed almost entirely by the Jacobeans, with Robespierre on top,

and the Girondins being more moderate,

decide to abolish the monarchy and proclaim the Republic.

They opened up a trial against the King for betrayal,

who is finally condemned to death,

and dies executed in the guillotine.

the Queen Marie Antoinette would end with the same luck and would later be executed.

The Revolution radicalized.

During this period the accounts were squared, between the radical Jacobeans and the moderate Girondines.

Bloodthirsty Marat lashes out against the moderates in the newspaper,

and publishes alleged lists of traitors to the Revolution.

This would end with a murdered Marat,

while taking a bath in his house;

the consequence, Marat would become a martyr,

a legend of the radicals.

The National Convention redacted a new Constitution,

created also a new calendar, according to which, the year 1792 would become the year 1 of their era.

They changed the name of the months: Floréal, Brumaire, Germinal...

weeks were deleted with the ideal of supressing the religious connotations of Sunday

and each month would divide in three periods of three days.

The big orators Danton and Robespierre are the revolutionary figures

that took more protagonism in that moment.

The Legislative Power of the new Republic was in charge of the Convention, while the Executive power was held by

by a newly created body,

the Committee of Public Safety,

with the purpose of safeguarding the Republic.

This body was under the lead of the Jacobean Robespierre.

The Jacobeans tied off what now is known as the Reign of Terror,

from 1793 and 1794,

a species of Jacobean dictatorship.

The French republican experiment evolved into a terrorist regime;

between 10,000 and 40,000 people were guillotined in face of accusations of anti revolutionary activities.

The merciless responsible of the Terror served wrong to the values they pledged to defend.

Priests and members of the Nobility were guillotined.

Meanwhile, in the war of the border, a young General starts to win battles for the French Republic,

Napoleon Bonaparte,

but in the interior, a war that evolved into a civil war

faced the supporters of the French revolution and the anti revolutionaries.

It was named the War in the Vendée.

The collective madness made the revolutionary leaders themselves run with the same fate

by being accused and condemned because of the jealousy of their rivals

or because of their aspiration of a personal dictatorship.

Robespierre proposes more terror in a way to virtue,

Danton, on the other hand, believes it is time to finish the terror, consequence, Danton is guillotined.

The number of executions increases,

what is known as Great Fear,

Robespierre's madness could only end one way, beheaded in the guillotine.

With the fall of Robespierre, the fear ended, but the Revolution didn't.

As an attempt of moderation, in 1795 the Constitution of the year 3 was enacted,

which had elaborated and approved the constitution in the previous years,

it was a very different Constitution than that of 1793,

and in essence, the principles of the Monarchical Constitution of 1791 returned.

The two novelties it featured was that the Legislative power was composed by two chambers,

following the British model, and the Executive was integrated by five people that would make up the Directory,

name with which the Republican regime would still be known.

The Directory is a phase between 1795 and 1799

with a more moderate tone.

This period is distinguished by the dissension among the directors

and a bad economic crisis.

Napoleon Bonapart, returned of his campaign in Egypt, found the motivation so that in 1799

he would execute a coup d'État,

on Brumaire 18th.

He made himself be called First Consul of the Republic,

the first political stage of the Consulate starts.

In this period he got to restore the internal order with great support of the French.

The economy would grow again.

In 1804, he strikes again through a plebiscite,

and Napoleon proclaims himself Emperor.

For many historians, this is were the Revolution ended,

but the cry of Revolution lasts nowadays everywhere.

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.

These words transformed the way of Occident forever.