french rev Essay

Submitted By 98bcaltavuturo
Words: 1153
Pages: 5
Open Document
The counterrevolutionary sans-culottes movement took of Paris in the years following the overthrow of the monarchy. It was the zeal of these crsaftsmen, shopkeepers, servants and merchants that ignited governmental, social and economic reform in the newly formed nation. Both men and women played unique and critical roles in this push for a more balanced and prosperous nation. Each group had different goals and different ways they achieved their objectives both in the Paris streets and in the assembly houses. The differing goals of men and women sans-culottes showed what they valued most and represented each group’s rise to higher level of social respectability and prosperity. The men of the sans-culottes movement definitely stressed economic and political reform most and would achieve these goals by negotiating with the Convention and maintaining unity among fellow sans-cullottes. Women, on the other hand, utilized this movement to fight for not only the simple bare necessities such as bread and fair wages but also their voice in the public sphere and their social legitimiacy. The counterrevolutionary events in Year I to Year III are very telling in that they adequately summarize the motivations and courses of actions that both the male and female sans-culottes took to reach a more prosperous life. “The Women of Paris and Their French Revolution” documents the life and times of the sans-culottes women in Paris and their struggle against the provisional government and the society that had mistreated them for so long. This book discusses the many hardships that women faced in late 18th century France that took a toll on their opportunuties and quality of life. The first chapter “Passerby” discusses the prevalence of prostitution and poverty in Paris. Godineau explains that the “women of La Halle”, a group of merchants from the outskirts of Paris, faced a number of hardships in this new Parisian society. In the spring of Year II, these women were forced to break ordinaces by going to collect their goods the night before to ensure their carts would be stocked in the morning. These merchant women also accused certain male merchants of hoarding certain products like fish, so they simply could not buy any to sell as retailers in the morning at the La Halle market. These women were also persecuted by authorities for selling their goods above the legal limit, which was not even high enough for them to make a profit which would buy bread for their hungry children. So, no matter how hard they tried, these women could not succeed in the marketplace because they were operating in a society that had set them up for failure. The women of La Halle serve as an example of how no matter how hard women worked to earn their keep, they were held back and persecuted by men. Prostitution in Paris was also a very common line of work for sans-cullottes women. Due to the work crisis in Paris, it was difficult for uneducated, destitute women to find work, so prostitution presented itself as a prime opportunity to make quick cash. While viewed as worthy of scorn, many women claimed that they resorted to prostitution because of “lack of work” and that they preferred streetwalking to stealing. Despite this, city hall issued a decree on October 4, 1793 that forbade “all prostitutes to gather in streets, promenades and public places and incite men to libertine behavior” (12). Prostitution, while not the most honorable profession, provided economic security to some women, but was criminalized by the Parisian city government. This is yet another occurrence in which the women of Paris were put down when trying to advance themselves in society. These are examples of obstacles that women faced in French society, which motivated them to find their collective voice during the counterrevolutionary movement. Women's roles in family and work life also help explain their roles and collective goals during the counterrevolutyionary sans-cullottes movement.
Show More

Related Documents: french rev Essay

French Rev Essay

The French Revolution did fulfill the ideas of the Enlightenment. The French Revolution idea was brought over across the Atlantic Ocean from the Americas. The French abetted the colonies on their revolution against Britain and France got the same idea to split with its king. It all started when the king locked the 3rd estate out of the court meeting and so they later met in a tennis court and started the writing of the Constitution. They wrote down what they understood should be for everyone. Many…

Words 772 - Pages 4

French Rev Essay

Josh Fish AP World French Revolution Essay During the late 18th century, France was in a state of political upheaval, the 1st and 2nd estates had absolute power over the 3rd estate. They treated the third estate as unequal’s and very unfairly. Therefore after the fall of Bastille the French Revolution began. The third estate revolted against the 1st and 2nd estates due to the heavy taxes placed on them, the lack of rights and voice they had in the government, and the horrible condition in which…

Words 822 - Pages 4

french rev Essay

and although corrupt could not be replaced Results: Taxation caused resentment amongst the third estate which was comprised of bourgeoisie and sans-culottes. First estate clergy were exempt an paid don gratuit any fee they felt appropriate French Society: Division of the estates, First estate made up of bishops who were guilty of absenteeism and plurality allowing them to hold many diocese and gain maximum monetary benefits owning 10% of the land. Administrative power, controlled education…

Words 1653 - Pages 7

American and French Rev. Essay

Both the American and French Revolutions were focused around liberty and equality. Both countries were trying to gain freedom. America was trying to gain freedom from the rules and taxes put upon them by Great Britain. Whereas the French wanted to abolish the French monarchy and create a better government in which the people could have more of a say in society. Although the revolutions of both started for very similar reasons, and both countries fought for the same thing, the outcomes of the two…

Words 797 - Pages 4

DBQ french rev Essay example

Each Estate had its own grievances they that were handled during the French Revolution. The Tennis Court Oath was probably the utmost famous riot during the French Revolution according to my speculation. The first estate or clergy was in a state of panic when the Cahiers came and proclaimed that the clergy give up its state of dominance, the second estate otherwise known as nobility also had its own problems, the Cahiers stated that they give up their statuses, and the third estate or peasants were…

Words 508 - Pages 3

Essay on French aid in American Rev.

Dean Conti Ms. Aversa English 11R 21 October, 2013 People that are proud create stories around their life to make themselves look like better people, more successful people, more intuitive people and a good person to look up to. This however is not the case when it comes to the play “Death of a Salesman” written by Arthur Miller. Willy Loman, a self-proclaimed legend of the business world. A man who was inspired to be a salesman based on seeing the success of others in the same occupation…

Words 688 - Pages 3

French Rev Reivew Sheet Answers Essay

The French Revolution (Chapter 19 - textbook pages 478- 503) PRE-REVOLUTION 1. Who made up each of the following Estates in France under the Old Regime? a) First Estate: Clergy and members of the church; owned land; few people; paid NO taxes b) Second Estate: Nobility; owned land; few people; paid NO taxes c) Third Estate: 98% of the population (Bourgeoisie, professionals, merchants, artisans, peasants); had no rights; owned little land; paid ALL the taxes 2. What social, political…

Words 1122 - Pages 5

Cause Of Violence In The Haitian And French Revolution

If you were to live in either the Haitian or French revolution you had to be extremely cautious, saying, doing, or even being the wrong thing could lead to harsh death. Violence in the Haitian and French revolution was a key role in how it played out. Leaders of both these revolutions had to keep discipline and strict rules in order to keep themselves safe from any traitors or threats. This would often result in brutal, sometimes barbaric behavior, as well as scaring the people for their lives.This…

Words 1020 - Pages 5

DBQ: The French And Indian War

The French & Indian War altered the political, economic, ideological relations, and the geographical influences between Britain and its American colonies by Britain owning the most land in North America, taxes being levied in the colonies, and people thinking differently after the war. Before the French & Indian War in 1754 the French owned a lot of North America, but when Britain won the French & Indian War the British also won a lot of the French land (Doc A). The English took a lot of the French…

Words 795 - Pages 4

Essay on DBQ 2

Matt McClelland Mr. Ritter Period 6-7 September 20th, 2014 The French and Indian War reshaped the political, economic, and ideological relationship between Britain and its American colonies in many ways. The relationship was altered politically due to Britain’s control of the eastern coastline, economically on how British policies after 1763 were designed to raise revenue to pay for the cost of British debt, and ideologically because American colonists views on the relationship between Britain…

Words 807 - Pages 4