French Revolution Notes
What was the French Revolution?
The French Revolution was a period when the people of France overthrew the monarchy and took control of the government.
When did it take place?
The Revolution lasted from 1789 to 1799, starting with the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, and ending in 1799 when
Napoleon established the French Consulate.
Background of the French Revolution
France's involvement in the American Revolution and King Louis XVI’s lavish spending left the country nearly bankrupt. Poor
harvests, rising food prices, and high taxes worsened the situation for the common people, leading to unrest. In 1789, the King
summoned the Estates-General to pass reforms.
France before the Revolution
France was a monarchy where the people were divided into three social classes, or "estates":
1. First Estate - Clergy (priests, bishops, monks), a small but powerful group.
2. Second Estate - Nobility, who had special privileges and paid no taxes.
3. Third Estate - Commoners (peasants, labourers) who made up 98% of the population and bore the burden of taxes.
Causes of the Revolution
1. Social - Inequality between estates, with the Third Estate heavily taxed while the clergy and nobles were exempt.
2. Economic - France was in debt from wars and the king’s extravagant lifestyle, leading to higher taxes on the poor.
3. Political - King Louis XVI was weak and out of touch with the people's suffering. The Third Estate formed the National
Assembly to demand reforms.
4. Intellectual - Enlightenment ideas of liberty and equality inspired people to challenge the monarchy.
Important Stages of the French Revolution
Stage 1: The Meeting of the Estates-General (1789)
The Estates-General was a legislative body that rarely met. In 1789, King Louis XVI called it for the first time since 1614 due to
financial problems in France. Despite the Third Estate representing the majority, voting was unfair as each estate only got 1 vote,
meaning the First and Second Estates (clergy and nobility) could always outvote the commoners.
Frustrated, the Third Estate declared itself the "National Assembly" on June 13, 1789, vowing to write laws and run the country.
They took the Tennis Court Oath, pledging to continue meeting until they were recognized as a legitimate governing body.
Stage 2: The Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789)
Fear grew in Paris as the National Assembly met, and revolutionaries suspected King Louis was preparing an army. To defend
themselves, they seized weapons but lacked gunpowder, which was stored in the Bastille, a symbol of royal oppression. On July
14, 1789, the revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, demanding its surrender. After intense fighting, the governor of the Bastille
gave in.
This event marked the start of the French Revolution, leading to widespread revolts in the countryside, known as The Great Fear.
Peasants attacked noble homes, and the old feudal system was dismantled on August 4, 1789, by the National Assembly.
Stage 3: Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789)
On August 26, 1789, the National Assembly published the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, inspired by
Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau. It marked the foundation of a new society, establishing a constitutional monarchy in 1791,
limiting the king's power and empowering a moderate assembly. However, radicals like Georges Danton and Maximilien
Robespierre demanded a trial for the king and pushed for a more republican government.
Stage 4: Women’s March on Versailles (October 5, 1789)
As bread prices soared, thousands of women from Paris marched to Versailles demanding affordable bread and action from the
king. The march forced King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette to relocate to Paris, signaling the increasing influence of
common people in the revolution. The king and queen were eventually executed in 1793.
Stage 5: Reign of Terror (1793-1794)
Amid internal and external threats, Robespierre and the Jacobins launched the Reign of Terror, where thousands were executed
for suspected treason. The guillotine became the main tool of execution, including for King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.
Around 17,000 people were executed, and over 200,000 were arrested. Robespierre's downfall in 1794 ended the Reign of Terror,
leading to a more moderate phase of the revolution.
Stage 6: The End of the French Revolution and the Directory
● On August 22, 1795, the National Convention established the Directory, a five-member executive government, replacing
the Committee of Public Safety post-Reign of Terror. It ruled France from November 1795 to November 1799.
● The legislative branch consisted of two councils: the Council of Five Hundred (proposed laws) and the Council of Ancients
(voted on laws).
● The Directory faced internal corruption, war, and civil unrest, leading to its downfall. On November 9, 1799, Napoleon
overthrew the Directory, ending the French Revolution and establishing the Consulate.
Rise of Napoleon
● Napoleon returned from a military expedition in Egypt and, in 1799, became First Consul, essentially dictator of France.
His reforms, such as the Napoleonic Code, emphasised merit over birthright in government appointments.
● He expanded France's territory across Europe but made the critical mistake of invading Russia in 1812, which led to the
decimation of his army.
Napoleon’s Decline
● After a failed invasion of Russia, Napoleon was exiled to Elba in 1814, briefly returned in 1815 during the Hundred Days,
but was defeated at Waterloo. He was exiled again to Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.
Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)
● The Congress of Vienna reorganised Europe after Napoleon’s defeat, focusing on preventing French aggression, restoring a
balance of power, and reinstating monarchies. It set a model for international diplomacy and collective security efforts,
influencing future organisations like the League of Nations and the United Nations.
● Its key goals included surrounding France with strong countries, restoring Europe's royal families, and reshaping Europe’s
borders.
Impact of the French Revolution
● The Revolution promoted ideals of liberty, equality, and secularism, ending feudalism and aristocratic privileges. These
ideals influenced Europe through revolutionary waves and the rise of republicanism.
● The Revolution, despite its violence and upheaval (e.g., Reign of Terror), reshaped France and Europe, leading to
long-term social, political, and cultural changes.
