WELCOME TO
DPS FARIDABAD
E LEARNING
PLATFORM
CHAPTER - I
THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Lecture - 2
PREPARED BY:
NEHA MATHUR
Brain Mapping
Storming of the Bastille
People of Paris
14 July 1789
Rumours that the king’s formed a Militia
troops would open fire on the
citizens
Stood for the despotic Stormed fortress prison of
power of the King Bastille in search of ammunitions
How & Why did this Happen?
Terms
● Old Regime: The society and institutions of France
before 1789
● Tithes: It was a tax levied by the church,comprising
one-tenth of the agricultural produce.
● Taille: It was a direct tax to be paid to the state.
Causes of French Revolution
A. Economic Crisis:
In 1774, Louis XVI, the king of France
found an empty treasury.
Causes for empty treasury:
• Long years of war
• France helped 13 American colonies to
gain independence which added to its
debt.
• Huge cost of maintaining the Palace of
Versailles
So, to meet its regular expenses, the state
was forced to increase taxes which was
paid only by the 3rd estate.
Causes of French Revolution
B. Social Disparity:
Social Setup
1st Estate 2nd Estate 3rd Estate
Clergy Nobility • Businessmen
• Merchants
• Court officials
• Enjoyed privileges by birth • Enjoyed feudal privileges • Lawyers
• Exempted from paying taxes • Exempted from paying taxes • Peasants
• Extracted taxes called tithes • Extracted taxes called taille • Artisans
Causes of French Revolution
C. Subsistence Crisis:
It is an extreme situation where the basic means of
livelihood are endangered
Causes of Subsistence Crisis:
Rapid Rapid increase in Wages could Drought or hail Outbreak of
increase in demand for food not match further made the Subsistence
population grains rising prices situation worse Crisis
Causes of French Revolution
D. Rise of Middle class in France
Growing middle class demands end to privileges
Peasants & workers Responsibility fell • New ideas sprang up
lacked resources to on prosperous & Prosperous • Creation of society
bring change in educated middle class based on freedom,
emerged equal laws and
social and members of third opportunity to all
economic order estate • Stress on division of
power within
government
Causes of French Revolution
E. Role of Philosophers:
1. John Locke:
In his book ‘Two Treatises of Government’, Locke
refute the doctrine of divine right of the monarch.
2. Rousseau:
In his book ‘Social Contract’, he proposed a
government based on social contract between
people and the representatives.
3. Montesquieu:
In his book ‘The Spirit of Laws’, he proposed a
division of power within the government between
the legislature, the executive and the judiciary.
Let’s Recall
Causes of French Revolution
Economic Crisis
due to empty
treasury
Let’s Recall
Causes of French Revolution
Social Disparity:
The burden of
taxes was borne
by the third
estate
Let’s Recall
Causes of French Revolution
Subsistence
Crisis
Let’s Recall
Causes of French Revolution
Rise of the
middle class
Let’s Recall
Causes of French Revolution
Role of
Philosophers
Let’s Recall (Self-Assessment)
1. Louis XVI belonged to _____________ dynasty.
2. What is meant by subsistence crisis?
3. Name the book written by Montesquieu.
4. Which social group emerged in France in the 18th century?
5. Which estate paid taxes?
Work To Do:
Self Reading of the chapter: The French
Revolution.
From: Page 3 - Page 7
