THE FRENCH
REVOLUTION
BY PRANAY
INTRODUCTION
In 1789, in the wake of early morning, the city of Paris was in a state of alarm.
Rumours spread that the King would open fire upon the citizens. People started
gathering and they started breaking a number of government buildings in
search of arms. The commander of the Bastille was killed in the armed fight
and the prisoners were released. People hated the Bastille as it stood for the
despotic power of the king. People protested against the high price of bread. A
new chain of events began which led to the execution of the King in France.
French Society during the
late 18th Century
Right after the war in 1774, with Louis XVI ascending the throne, these were the main traits
shaping up the French Society during the 18th century.
• Upholding the traditional and heirarchical values, the French society was divided into three
estates. The first and the highest form of estates consisted of Clergymen, the second were the
Nobles, and the third consisted of common people including peasants.
• Almost 60% of French land were owned by the small group of clergymen and nobles. On the
other hand, the peasants who were the 90% of the entire French population hardly owned any
causing a very distinct difference in the living standards of these three societies.
• Although the clergymen and noble sowned 60% of french land, they were exempted from
paying taxes by the king. Only one-third of the entire french population which comprised of th
epeasant class were required to pay taxes.
• Other than paying land tax to the King, the peasant community also had to pay feudal dues to
the higher classes which added extra burden to their financial situation and many ended up
selling their lands to the feudal class.
• The church, which was the highest instituion after the King, also levied religious taxes called
‘tithe’ on the French population. Other than that, the third estate were alos charged with direct
taxes called ‘taille’ and indirect taxes on tobacco, salt, and other such essential commodities.
Causes of the French Revolution
When it comes to the French
Revolution notes, the very first step
is to understand the reason that led
to the revolt. Enlisted are the major
reasons for the start of the
revolution.
CAUSES FROM THE NEXT SLIDE
Social Causes
Social causes were major because of the way the common people were bifurcated
into different categories based on their earnings and classes. The French society was
divided into 3 states:
• The first estate consisted of the clergy class. These people were exempted from
paying any taxes.
• The second estate consisted of the nobilities. On top of being exempted from taxes,
they also enjoyed favourable feudal laws and privileges. One of those privileges was
feudal dues extracted from the peasants.
• The third estate consisted of the majority of the population. It comprised big
businessmen, merchants, lawyers, peasants, servants, and labourers. The third
estate was oppressed with Taille taxes levied on essential daily items like salt and
tobacco.
Economic Cause
The next point in the French Revolution notes is related to the
economic causes that led to the beginning of the revolt.
• An overbearing population rise in France was one of the major
causes of the French Revolution. The population grew from 23
million to 28 million in 1789. The increment in daily essentials
was not met, breaking the society.
• The labour class was employed on fixed wages, which remained
the same through inflation of prices. On top of it, the third estate
had to meet three different taxes and feudal dues.
• All of this led to a subsistence crisis (people couldn’t meet the
necessities of living).
Political Causes
Other than a failing political administration that focused on levying
numerous taxes, these were the main political causes behind the French
Revolution:
• 1774 saw the appointment of Louis XVI as the monarch king of France, also
known as the puppet king. He faced an empty treasury, drained through
years of wars. He was manipulated by the queen- Marie Antoniette.
• He was helping his overseas allies gain victory over Britain, their common
enemy. But this drained their resources in an unprecedented manner.
• The heightened money demand to keep up necessities from the
government caused a significant increment in taxes.
The Role of Middle Class
The French Revolution was in major parts due to the rise of another social stratum, the
middle class. The 18th century saw the rise of educated men who had the means to bring
about large scale changes and get their voices heard. The middle class consisted of
overseas tradesmen, manufacturers, and large scale business owners. They actively
worked on spreading freedom philosophy and ideas against oppression. In the French
Revolution notes, many political figures have been mentioned. Some of them have been
listed below:
• Charles Montesquieu – A nobleman by birth, he was outspoken against oppressive
policies. He was a lawyer and fought for the division of power inside the government,
against the absolute power of the government.
• Jean Jacques Rousseau – He is also known as the architect of the French Revolution. He
proposed a social contract between people and their representatives, and if the
government is found in violation of this contract, they had the right to take action against
them.
• John Locke – A political thinker that refuted the divine doctrine and worked to empower
the people.
The Struggle to Survive (1780-90)
Right after the war, these were the proceedings that led to the outrage
in the French population.
• There was a sudden increase in the French population which led to a
rapid demand in food consumption. This started to cause food scarcity
in the society.
• The production amount of essential grains were comapratively less
than the growing population required. Due to this there were sudden
hike in food prices and the peasant class could hardly afford it.
• The natural calamities such as drought or hail were also major factors
that affected an already submerging food production level of France.
• As labourers and peasants were getting paid very low wages during
that time, the standard of living gap between the richh and the poor
A growing middle class envisages
an end to priviledges
Due to the ongoing problems, this is how the middle class started adapting to the problems
in a distraught society.
• With access to education and new ideas, the third estate became aware of their rights and
started participating in revolts against taxes and food scarcity.
• Emergence of new social groups that acted as the pressurizing factors to the monarchy
started to earn a significant amount of wealth through overses trading.
• This emerging middle class mostly consisted of lawyers and administrative officials as
social positions were started to be categorised through a person’s merit.
• These middle class society believed in meritious achievements and not in any form of
priveleges by birth.
• With philospohers and political thinkers such as Rosseau and Montesquieu proposing ideas
on social contracts and a new type of governments, France started inclining towards a
future that looked less monarchical.
The Outbreak of the Revolution
The beginning of the French Revolution started as mentioned below:
• On 5 May, 1789, Louis XVI held an assemby to pass proposals for new form of taxes
which was boycotted by the third estate.
• They found the voting system unfair and swore not to atten dany assembly unless a
constituion is drafted limiting the power of the monarchy.
• On the other hand, rumours started spreading amongst the peasant community that
the nobility were hiring bands of brigades to destroy ripe crops in order to increase
the shortage of food production in the market.
• The peasants retaliated by looting stored grains and burning down records of
mortgage payments while the nobilities fled.
• Louis XVI had to accord recognition to the National Assemby to bring an end to these
uprisings
• On 14th August 1789, the National Assembly passed the decree of abolisihing the
France becomes a Constituional
Monarchy
After the National Assembly gained recognition and power, the
administrative system in France started to change as follows:
• 1791 was when the national assembly drafted the constitution. It
divided the powers to the judiciary, executive, and the legislature,
taking away powers from just one institution.
• An indirect election was used as the method to make laws in the
national assembly.
• Citizens above 25 years of age and tax payee of at least three days of
labourer’s wage were termed active citizens allowed to vote.
• Basic rights were ingrained in the constitution. Freedom of speech,
freedom of opinion, equality of law, etc. were some of those rights.
France abolished Monarchy and
becomes a republic
Other than France going on a war with Prussia and Austria initiated by the
National Assembly, these were the main proceedings while abolishing the
monarchy.
• Louis XVI started secret negotiations with the king of Prussia.
• Neighbouring countries wanted to seize the opportunities of the events
ongoing due to the French Revolution. The National assembly declares war on
Prussia and Austria.
• The 1791 constitution gave political rights to the rich section of the public. This
led to a revolt in Paris against the people. Later, the Royal families were
imprisoned and elections were held.
• The newly elected assembly was termed the Convection. It abolished the
Monarchy in 1792 and made France a republic.
The Reign of Terror
• From 1793 to 1794, Robespierre
Convection used strict policies
and brutal punishment to gain
effective control.
• All opposers were shut down,
imprisoned, or incarcerated.
• If found guilty, they were
mercilessly guillotined in public
settings to send a message.
• Meat and bread were rationed,
and peasants suffered losses
due to selling at fixed prices set
by the government.
Directory Rules France
•A new constitution abolished voting
on non-propertied sections of society.
•It introduced a directory that was
elected by two legislative councils.
•The clashing of the directory with the
legislative paved the way to the rise
of Military dictator, Napoleon
Bonaparte.
The Rise and Fall of Napoleon
Bonaparte
• In 1804, Napoleon seized the reins of France and declared
himself the Emperor. He started conquering neighbouring
nations and established his dominance by making kingdoms
ruling through his family members.
• The feudal system was abolished. Bonaparte saw himself as a
modernizer and introduced private property protection laws and
equal weight & measure systems in decimals.
• Initially hailed as a liberator, his military tactics were soon
termed crude, invading, and violent.
• The battle of Waterloo in 1815 saw his defeat.
