Social Classes In French Revolution

French Social Classes in the Revolution & Empire: 1799-1815

|Social Class |The “Age of Montesquieu” |The “Age of Rousseau” |The “Age of Voltaire” |Post-Napoleon |
| |(Constitutional Monarchy) |(Republic) |(Enlightened Despotism?) | |
| |1789-1792 | |1799-1815 | |
| | |1792-1799 | | |
|Monarchy |Power no longer absolute: |King and queen executed |Napoleon became emperor with
|Constitutional Monarchy |
| |Constitutional monarchy |Republic had no monarch |absolute power |under restored Bourbons |
|Clergy |Civil Constitution of the |Revolutionary Calendar replaced|Concordat of 1801 restored |Church never did regain |
| |Clergy made Church a dep’t of |the Christian calendar |relations with the Catholic |the influence it had prior|
| |the gov’t |The Cult of the Supreme Being |Church |to 1789 |
| |Clergy members required to take|further undermined the Catholic|“Refactory clergy” reinstated| |
| |an oath to the gov’t |Church |while clergy loyal to the | |
| |Church lands confiscated | |Revolution were removed | |
| | | |Church was far weaker than in| |
| | | |1789 | |
|Nobility |Political influence eclipsed by|Imprisoned or fled the country |Many èmigrès returned to |Significant influence |
| |the bourgeoisie |as émigrés between 1791-95 |France |politically (though not as|
| |Feudalism (seigneurialism) |Later influence undermined the |Increased influence in |much as before 1789) |
| |abolished |Directory |Napoleon’s imperial nobility |Feudalism abolished since |
| | |In rural areas, patriotic | |1789 |
| | |nobles remained most | |Nobles continued to |
| | |politically and economically | |dominate rural areas |
| | |powerful group | | |
|Middle Class |Took control of France in July,|Lost influence between 1792-95 |Constitution of 1799 did not |Reduced influence until |
|(Bourg- |1789 |as a result of the San culottes|guarantee human rights or |the Revolution of 1830 |
|eoisie) |Noble privileges abolished |and the Reign of Terror |liberty | |
| |Declaration of the Rights of |Back in control during the |Political freedoms of | |
| |Man resulted in codification of|Directory but under attack from|bourgeoisie wiped away | |
| |political, social and civil |the right and the left |Some gained noble titles & | |
| |rights | |served in Napoleon’s gov’t | |
| |Reforms in higher education | | |
|
|Social Class |The “Age of Montesquieu” |The “Age of Rousseau” |The “Age of Voltaire” |Post-Napoleon |
| |(Constitutional Monarchy) |(Republic) |(Enlightened Despotism?) | |
| |1789-1792 | |1799-1815 | |
| | |1792-1799 | | |
|Urban Working Class|Saw increased influence in |San-culottes enjoyed major |Ban on trade unions continued|Guilds remained illegal |
| |Paris (e.g. storming of the |influence from 1791-95 |Workers were restricted in |Little influence until |
| |Bastille) | |their travel |after 1830 |
| |Guilds dissolved providing job | |Established reasonable prices|Increased socialist |
| |more opportunities for | |for bread & flour |influence during |
| |artisans. | | |Revolution of 1848 |
| |Le Chapelier Law (1791) | | | |
| |outlawed strikes, workers | | | |
| |coalitions and assemblies | | | |
| |Bread was more affordable | | | |
|Peasantry |“Great Fear” resulted in some |Land gains remained but lords |Napoleon supported the ban on|Wealthier peasants were |
| |gains for the peasantry |continued to hold the most |feudalism |only group to improve |
| |Feudalism abolished |political and economic power in|Indirect taxation was as bad |between 1799 and 1815 |
| |Wealthy peasants bought |rural areas |as during the Old Regime |Rural poor gained little |
| |confiscated church lands |Heavily taxed by the Republic | |from the Revolution |
|Women |Women influential in March on |Women’s political clubs closed |Divorce laws rewritten to |Women essentially gained |
| |Versailles and in San-culottes |by Jacobins by 1793-94 |favor husbands |little from the Revolution|
| |Gained equal right to divorce |Reign of Terror also targeted |Gains in inheritance and |(although their actions |
| |as men in 1792 |certain women (e.g. Olympe de |property rights were removed |did inspire future |
| |Workshops in cities employed |Gouges) | |reformers) |
| |more poor women |Directory in 1795 disbanded | | |
| | |women’s workshops and urged | | |
| | |women to tend to their homes | | |