Origin of suspicion in the French Revolution?

Question:I'm writing an essay on the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and the issue of suspicion and paranoia is only a partial aspect of it, but a crucial one. I've come across manifestations of it prior to the Revolution- in Rousseau, of course, in the Flour Wars, in suspicion of the Huguenots, in the rumors that Louis XV (not XVI) was having children abducted off the streets of Paris so that he might use their blood to cure his sexually transmitted diseases, but I'm having trouble locating an historical "source" for this. Where did this paranoia originate, and when, and most importantly, what events in history prior to the French Revolution showed this paranoia manifesting most evidently?

I appreciate any help.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I'm writing an essay on the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and the issue of suspicion and paranoia is only a partial aspect of it, but a crucial one. I've come across manifestations of it prior to the Revolution- in Rousseau, of course, in the Flour Wars, in suspicion of the Huguenots, in the rumors that Louis XV (not XVI) was having children abducted off the streets of Paris so that he might use their blood to cure his sexually transmitted diseases, but I'm having trouble locating an historical "source" for this. Where did this paranoia originate, and when, and most importantly, what events in history prior to the French Revolution showed this paranoia manifesting most evidently?

I appreciate any help.

Do you mean paranoia on the part of the monarchy, or the populace, or both? I confess I've never heard the term paranoid applied to the situation. But I can see it.

In 1757, a crazed servant named Robert Damiens tried to assassinate Loius XV with a pen knife. Apparently the only one in the room that was at all surprised was the King! Perhaps he and his successor both had good cause to be paranoid.

I'm sure you're looking for something more substantive.

I'll give you a couple of things to think about as context for this growing distrust among the classes. Maybe that's what you're looking for.

The reign of Louis XIV was a period of prosperity for France. But its days were numbered. After his death, during the regency of Philippe, Duc d'Orleans, paper money, supposedly backed by gold, was introduced and there was a frenzy of wild speculation and everyone was getting rich. Then there was a meltdown when people tried to get their gold and found it wasn't there. It was a huge scam perpetrated by John Law at the direction of the Regent! The economy collapsed. Naturally, trust in the government collapsed with it, for good reason. All Paris was fuming. There were riots and robberies and killings all over the city. This was around 1718 or so.

Louis XV comes along and the whole royal court degenerates into orgiastic debauchery. Then over the next several decades the court gradually sequesters itself from the people, hiding out at Versaille more and more.

In my view, it is this separation from the people that led to the mistrust and suspicion. You know how out of touch Louis XVI was from the people. These were reigns of indifferent cruelty. The court became like this almost ethereal animal that sucked up all your resources and could just reach out and pluck you off the face of the Earth on a whim. So I can see paranoia.

The winter of 1788-89 was brutal. Vinyards shrivelled up across Burgundy. Farmers lost half their livestock. Famine hit. Nothing feads fear like hunger. People are poor, hungry, angry. The government doesn't care. There's your Revolution.

I don't know if any of this helped, but good luck!

(I've never heard about that child abduction thing, but I wouldn't doubt for a moment that Armand du Richelieu [not to be confused with the Cardinal] was in on the execution part of that. The Duc was one wicked dude, and he was quite experienced at climbing in and out of bedroom windows. Sorry, history nerd humor...)