The French Revolution

1. French Revolution – Summary (Deep Dive)

The French Revolution was a turning point in world history. It was not just a political
upheaval but also a cultural and social transformation. It marked the end of feudalism and
the start of modern democracy. Here’s a deeper summary:
• Political Cause: King Louis XVI's failure to resolve France’s financial crisis, heavy
debts from wars, including France's involvement in the American Revolution, and his
inability to implement reforms led to a loss of confidence in the monarchy.
• Economic Causes: The French economy was severely strained due to lavish royal
spending, wars, and bad harvests. The peasantry and urban poor faced food shortages
and rising prices, which led to widespread dissatisfaction.
• Social Causes: The rigid social hierarchy of France, which consisted of the First
Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (peasants, workers,
bourgeoisie), was unfair. The Third Estate bore the brunt of taxes while the other two
estates were exempt.
• Ideological Causes: Enlightenment ideas (liberty, equality, fraternity) promoted by
thinkers like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu influenced the public and gave
the revolutionaries the intellectual tools to challenge the existing social and political
order.
The revolution had profound effects, not only on France but also on Europe and the world, as
it spread ideas of democratic governance, nationalism, and equality.

2. French Society in the Late 18th Century (Deep Dive)

Social Classes and Inequality:
• First Estate: The clergy consisted of bishops, priests, and monks. They controlled a
large portion of land, paid no taxes, and had significant influence over the population.
Their wealth was built on the tithes (taxes) paid by the common people.
• Second Estate: The nobility owned vast estates, were exempt from taxes, and held
important positions in the army, government, and church. This class was privileged but
faced growing criticism from the lower classes for its privileges.
• Third Estate: This was the largest and most diverse class, composed of:
 • Bourgeoisie: The urban middle class, including merchants, bankers, and
professionals who were often wealthy but lacked political power.
• Peasants: The agricultural workers who made up 80% of the population,
burdened by high taxes and feudal dues.
• Urban Workers: These were the poorest members of society, including artisans,
laborers, and shopkeepers in cities like Paris, suffering from low wages and
rising prices.
The Third Estate was responsible for paying most of the taxes, and their discontent
eventually led to the revolution.
Economic Crisis:
• Bad Harvests in 1788 and 1789 caused widespread famine, increasing the price of
bread (the staple food). This made it harder for the lower classes to survive.
• Government Debt: France had borrowed heavily for wars, including support for the
American Revolution, and the king’s lavish spending further deepened the crisis.
• Taxation System: The tax system was unfair, with the nobility and clergy being
exempt. The Third Estate had to bear the burden of taxes, including the taille (land
tax) and gabelle (salt tax).

3. Key Events of the French Revolution (Deep Dive)

1.Estates-General (May 1789): King Louis XVI convened the Estates-General to
address the financial crisis. However, it became clear that the Third Estate was
underrepresented. The Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly and
promised to create a new constitution.

2.Tennis Court Oath (June 1789): After being locked out of the Estates-General
meeting, the National Assembly met on a tennis court and swore not to separate until
they had written a new constitution. This marked the first act of defiance against the
monarchy.

3.Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): The storming of the Bastille symbolized
the revolution. The Bastille was a royal prison and symbolized royal tyranny. People
feared that the king would use military force to crush the revolution, so they seized
arms from the Bastille to defend themselves.

4.Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (August 1789): This declaration
proclaimed liberty, equality, fraternity as the fundamental rights of all men. It was
 influenced by the American Declaration of Independence and laid the foundation
for the French Republic.

5.The Women’s March on Versailles (October 1789): Women, enraged by the high
price of bread, marched to Versailles and demanded that King Louis XVI and Marie
Antoinette return to Paris. The royal family was forced to move to Paris, symbolizing
the power shift from the monarchy to the people.

6.Reign of Terror (1793-1794): Led by Maximilien Robespierre, the revolution

became more radical. The Committee of Public Safety executed thousands, including
King Louis XVI, Queen Marie Antoinette, and Danton (a former revolutionary leader),
by guillotine. The Reign of Terror aimed to protect the revolution from its enemies but
also resulted in widespread fear and violence.

7.The Fall of Robespierre (1794): Robespierre was arrested and executed by the
revolutionary government, ending the Reign of Terror.

8.Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte (1799): Napoleon, a military leader, took control of

France after the revolution ended. He stabilized the country but ultimately declared
himself emperor, ending the revolution and establishing an empire.

4. Impact of the French Revolution (Deep Dive)

• Abolition of Feudalism: The revolution ended the feudal system, abolishing privileges
of the nobility and clergy. Land was redistributed, and peasants gained more rights.
• End of Absolute Monarchy: The revolution overthrew the monarchy and established
the French Republic. The execution of King Louis XVI marked the end of the ancient
regime.
• Rise of Secularism: The Catholic Church's power was greatly reduced. Church lands
were seized, and the state controlled many aspects of church life.
• Democratic Ideals: The revolution spread the ideas of liberty, equality, fraternity.
Other countries, especially in Europe, were inspired to demand similar rights and
freedoms.
• Napoleon’s Empire: Napoleon spread many of the revolution’s ideals across Europe,
though he eventually became an authoritarian ruler, undermining the democratic
ideals of the revolution.
5. Main People in the Chapter (Deep Dive)
1. King Louis XVI: His inability to manage the economy and his resistance to reforms
led to the revolution. He was executed by guillotine in 1793.
2. Marie Antoinette: The queen, who was criticized for her extravagant lifestyle. Her
spending contributed to the financial crisis.
3. Maximilien Robespierre: A key leader during the Reign of Terror. He believed that
the revolution needed to be defended through violence and executed thousands of
perceived enemies.
4. Georges Danton: A revolutionary leader who initially supported Robespierre but was
later executed. He was one of the leaders of the Committee of Public Safety.
5. Napoleon Bonaparte: He rose from the revolution to become the Emperor of France.
Napoleon brought stability but ended the revolution by consolidating power in his own
hands.