Origen De la Revolución Francesa - "Los Estados Generales" (1788 - 1789)

The Financial Crisis of France and the Assembly of Notables

Background of the Financial Crisis

• The Kingdom of France is in bankruptcy, prompting King Louis XVI to appoint Jacques Necker for a third time as Director General of Finances to manage state accounts.

• On December 27, 1788, the Council of State decided to double the number of deputies from the Third Estate, which includes commoners such as peasants and urban bourgeoisie.

The Assembly's Voting Controversy

• A conflict arose regarding voting methods; King Louis XVI favored traditional voting by orders while the Third Estate advocated for individual voting.

• Representatives from privileged estates opposed new voting methods aimed at allowing individual votes, which would enable the Third Estate to dominate discussions in the Estates-General.

Composition and Political Dynamics

• The assembly consisted of 1,139 deputies: 291 from clergy, 270 from nobility, and 578 from the Third Estate. Necker supported doubling representation for the Third Estate.

• Faced with a wheat shortage, Necker proposed measures including banning grain exports and incentivizing imports to stabilize food supply.

Causes Leading to Revolution

• Historians attribute causes of the French Revolution to social inequality exacerbated by population growth and elite resistance to reform.

• Discontent grew among all estates due to financial mismanagement; monarchists represented old regime privileges while moderates sought compromise between classes.

Tensions within Society

• On May 5, 1789, when Estates-General convened at Versailles for financial issues, opposition quickly emerged from the Third Estate against other estates.

• The Third Estate utilized "cahiers de doléances" (registers of grievances), highlighting severe injustices faced by commoners under feudal rights.

Ideological Shifts Influencing Change

• Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Montesquieu influenced political thought advocating for liberty, equality, and separation of powers against an oppressive society.

• Economic strains included rising state expenses alongside declining agricultural production leading up to revolution; this created widespread food shortages.

Social Resentment Towards Privilege

• Collaboration with American independence efforts led France into fiscal crisis; public resentment targeted noble privileges that hindered access for emerging professional classes.

• Nobility was not monolithic; many small nobles shared economic struggles with commoners. Clergy also had lower ranks sympathetic towards peasant grievances.

Emergence of New Ideas

The Rise of the National Assembly and the Birth of the French Revolution

The Shift from Versailles to Paris

• The political clubs in France led to a public sphere that shifted cultural and intellectual influence from Versailles to Paris, isolating the court's ability to sway public opinion.

Formation of the National Assembly

• During the Estates-General meeting in May 1789, disputes arose over voting procedures. Members of the Third Estate faced constant opposition, prompting them to invite nobles and clergy to join their cause.

• On June 17, 1789, the Third Estate declared itself as the National Assembly, taking a significant step towards representing all citizens by voting on the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen.

Tensions with Monarchy

• King Louis XVI attempted to dissolve this assembly under advice from his council but faced resistance as members continued their meetings despite royal orders.

• On June 20, 1789, after being barred from their usual meeting place due to alleged repairs, members relocated and took an oath not to disband until a new constitution was established.

Emergence of Popular Support

• This act marked a pivotal moment in asserting popular self-determination and is often regarded as a key event leading up to the French Revolution.

• By late June 1789, military troops were mobilized around Paris and Versailles amidst rising tensions between citizens and royal authority.

Formation of National Guard

• In response to potential threats from royal troops, Parisians formed a militia called "La Guardia Nacional" comprising 48,000 men dedicated to protecting the National Assembly.

Escalation Towards Revolution

• Fears grew among revolutionaries regarding conservative elements within the court plotting against them. Increased military presence heightened these anxieties across Paris.

• On July 14th, crowds stormed the Bastille prison—a symbol of monarchical oppression—marking a decisive moment in revolutionary fervor despite only four prisoners being freed during this uprising.

Aftermath of Bastille Storming

• The fall of Bastille resulted in violence; its governor was killed. This event became emblematic of rebellion against tyranny and sparked further revolutionary actions throughout France.

• Following these events, public outrage led to violent retribution against perceived traitors within local governance structures.