🌩️ Introduction
The chapter opens with the dramatic storming of the Bastille prison on 14 July 1789, a symbol of royal oppression. This event marks the beginning of the French Revolution, a major event that reshaped not only France but also the world’s ideas of democracy, liberty, and equality.
🇫🇷 French Society in the Late 18th Century
- French society was divided into three estates:
- First Estate – Clergy
- Second Estate – Nobility
- Third Estate – Common people (peasants, workers, middle class)
- The First and Second Estates enjoyed privileges and were exempted from taxes, while the Third Estate paid all taxes and had no political rights.
- Widespread inequality, rising prices, and food shortages led to growing unrest.
- Enlightenment philosophers like Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire spread ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
🔥 Outbreak of the Revolution
- The French government was facing a severe financial crisis due to wars and extravagant spending.
- King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General in 1789 to raise taxes.
- The Third Estate formed the National Assembly and took the Tennis Court Oath to draft a constitution.
- The Bastille was stormed by angry citizens, symbolizing the fall of royal power.
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was adopted, guaranteeing fundamental rights to all (excluding women at the time).
🏛 France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy
- The National Assembly limited the powers of the king and introduced constitutional monarchy through the 1791 Constitution.
- Feudal privileges were abolished, and laws were introduced to ensure equality.
⚔️ End of Monarchy and Birth of the Republic
- France declared war on Austria and Prussia.
- The king was imprisoned, and monarchy was abolished in 1792.
- Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed.
- France became a republic, governed by the National Convention.
⚠️ The Reign of Terror (1793–1794)
- Maximilien Robespierre, leader of the Jacobins, imposed strict laws to crush enemies of the revolution.
- Thousands were executed by guillotine, including former allies and innocent people.
- After Robespierre’s execution, the Reign of Terror ended.
🧑✈️ A Directory Rules France
- A more moderate government called the Directory was formed.
- It was corrupt and inefficient.
- Napoleon Bonaparte, a military general, overthrew the Directory in 1799 and established his rule.
👩 Women and the Revolution
- Women participated actively in the revolution, demanded education, voting rights, and equal treatment.
- Despite their contributions, women did not gain many rights and their political clubs were later banned.
- Activists like Olympe de Gouges demanded equal rights for women.
🧑🏾🌾 Abolition of Slavery
- The revolution questioned the morality of slavery in the French colonies.
- Slavery was abolished in 1794, reintroduced by Napoleon, and finally abolished in 1848.
🧢 The Revolution and Everyday Life
- The revolution led to many changes in everyday life:
- New laws were made
- New calendar was introduced
- Use of citizen/citizeness replaced titles like ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’
- The national flag, anthem, and symbols were adopted
🌍 Conclusion
The French Revolution was a turning point in world history. It spread the ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity across the world. Although it went through phases of violence, it laid the foundation for modern democratic societies.
1. When did the storming of the Bastille take place?
Answer: The storming of the Bastille took place on 14th July 1789.
2. What was the name of the French King during the revolution?
Answer: The name of the French King during the revolution was Louis XVI.
3. Name any one political club formed during the French Revolution.
Answer: One political club formed during the French Revolution was the Jacobin Club.
4. Who wrote The Social Contract?
Answer: The Social Contract was written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
5. What was the Estates General?
Answer: The Estates General was an assembly of representatives from the three estates (Clergy, Nobility, and Common people) called by the king to discuss and approve new taxes.
6. What is meant by the term “Old Regime”?
Answer: The term “Old Regime” refers to the social and political system of France before the French Revolution, where society was divided into three estates.
7. Who was Olympe de Gouges?
Answer: Olympe de Gouges was a French woman activist who demanded equal rights for women during the French Revolution.
8. What was the guillotine?
Answer: The guillotine was a device used during the French Revolution to execute people by beheading.
9. Name the French colonies where slavery existed.
Answer: Slavery existed in the French colonies of the Caribbean – Martinique, Guadeloupe, and San Domingo.
10. What was the slogan of the French Revolution?
Answer: The slogan of the French Revolution was Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
1. Explain any three causes of the French Revolution.
Answer:
- Social Inequality: French society was divided into three estates. The First (Clergy) and Second (Nobility) estates enjoyed privileges while the Third Estate (common people) bore the tax burden.
- Economic Crisis: The state faced a financial crisis due to costly wars and extravagant expenses by the monarchy.
- Ideas of Enlightenment: Philosophers like Rousseau and Voltaire promoted liberty, equality, and fraternity, encouraging people to fight against injustice.
2. What role did philosophers play in the French Revolution?
Answer:
- Philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, and John Locke questioned the traditional authority and promoted ideas of democracy, freedom, and equality.
- Their writings inspired the people to challenge the monarchy.
- Rousseau’s idea of a social contract emphasized the government’s responsibility to the people, while Voltaire advocated for freedom of speech and religion.
3. Describe the conditions of the Third Estate before the French Revolution.
Answer:
- The Third Estate included peasants, artisans, workers, and the bourgeoisie (middle class).
- They had no political rights and had to pay heavy taxes, unlike the privileged First and Second Estates.
- They faced poverty, food shortages, and rising prices, while having no say in how the country was governed.
4. What were the main features of the Constitution of 1791?
Answer:
- It limited the powers of the king and made France a constitutional monarchy.
- It established a separation of powers among the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.
- Only active citizens (men above 25 years of age who paid taxes) were given the right to vote.
5. Why was the Bastille hated by the people of France?
Answer:
- It was a symbol of the king’s absolute power and tyranny.
- It was used as a state prison where political prisoners were detained without trial.
- Its fall on 14 July 1789 symbolized the end of monarchy and beginning of people’s power.
6. Who were the Jacobins? Describe any two features of the Jacobin Club.
Answer:
- The Jacobins were the most radical and revolutionary political club during the French Revolution.
- Features:
- They were led by Maximilien Robespierre.
- Members included the working class, like artisans and daily-wage earners, who wore long striped trousers as a symbol of equality.
7. What changes occurred in the everyday life of people after the Revolution?
Answer:
- Titles like ‘Monsieur’ and ‘Madame’ were replaced by ‘Citizen’.
- Censorship was abolished, and freedom of the press was allowed.
- New schools and uniform laws were introduced to promote equality and educate citizens.
8. Why was the Reign of Terror so called? Who was responsible for it?
Answer:
- The Reign of Terror (1793–94) was a period when Robespierre, leader of the Jacobins, ruled France harshly.
- Thousands of people, including former revolutionaries, were executed by guillotine on mere suspicion of being enemies of the revolution.
- It created an atmosphere of fear and terror across France.
9. Write any three achievements of the National Assembly between 1789–1791.
Answer:
- Abolished feudal privileges and the monarchy’s absolute power.
- Drafted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen which granted liberty and equality.
- Created the Constitution of 1791, making France a constitutional monarchy.
10. Mention any three demands of the women during the French Revolution.
Answer:
- Equal rights as men in terms of education, voting, and participation in government.
- Right to own property and equal wages.
- Recognition of their contributions in the revolution and equality in law.
📘 Key Terms & Glossary
🏰 1. Old Regime
Refers to the political and social system in France before 1789, where the monarchy, aristocracy, and clergy held all power and privileges.
🏛 2. Estate
A class or order in French society:
- First Estate – Clergy
- Second Estate – Nobility
- Third Estate – Commoners (peasants, workers, bourgeoisie)
👑 3. Monarchy
A form of government where a king or queen rules. In France, it was absolute monarchy before the revolution.
🧠 4. Philosophers / Philosophes
Thinkers during the Enlightenment who promoted liberty, equality, and reason. Examples:
- Voltaire – Freedom of speech
- Rousseau – Social contract
- Montesquieu – Separation of powers
📝 5. Estates General
An assembly of representatives from all three estates, called by the king in times of crisis. Each estate had one vote, which was unfair to the Third Estate.
🏟 6. National Assembly
Formed by the Third Estate in 1789 after walking out of the Estates General. It represented the people of France and pledged to draft a constitution.
🏛️ 7. Tennis Court Oath
A historic oath taken by members of the Third Estate on a tennis court to not disband until France got a constitution.
🗡 8. Bastille
A medieval prison-fortress in Paris, symbol of royal authority. Its storming on 14 July 1789 marked the start of the revolution.
📜 9. Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
A key document adopted in 1789, asserting liberty, equality, and fraternity. It laid the foundation of a democratic constitution.
👩👩👧👦 10. Jacobins
A radical political club led by Maximilien Robespierre. They were responsible for the Reign of Terror.
⚰️ 11. Reign of Terror
A violent period (1793–1794) during the revolution when Robespierre ruled harshly, executing many by guillotine.
🪓 12. Guillotine
A device used for executions during the French Revolution. It symbolized equality in death.
🗳 13. Republic
A form of government where there is no king, and leaders are elected by citizens. France became a republic in 1792.
🗺 14. Directory
A five-member executive body that ruled France after Robespierre’s fall. It was later overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte.
🚺 15. Olympe de Gouges
A French female activist who demanded equal rights for women and wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and Citizen.
⛓ 16. Slave Trade
France profited from the trade of enslaved Africans to work on plantations in colonies. It was abolished in 1794, reintroduced by Napoleon, and finally abolished in 1848.
🕊 17. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
The slogan of the French Revolution, representing its core values and goals.
🎆 18. Revolution
A sudden and significant change in the political and social structure of a society.
📆 Timeline of the French Revolution
| Year / Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1774 | Louis XVI becomes King of France. Inherits a huge debt and economic crisis. |
| 1789 (May 5) | Meeting of the Estates General at Versailles. |
| 1789 (June 20) | The Tennis Court Oath – Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly. |
| 1789 (July 14) | Storming of the Bastille – seen as the start of the French Revolution. |
| 1789 (August) | The Abolition of feudal privileges. |
| 1789 (August 26) | Adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. |
| 1791 (June) | The royal family tries to flee but is caught at Varennes. |
| 1791 (September) | France becomes a Constitutional Monarchy with the 1791 Constitution. |
| 1792 (April) | France declares war on Austria and Prussia. |
| 1792 (August) | Fall of the monarchy; King Louis XVI is imprisoned. |
| 1792 (September) | France becomes a Republic; Monarchy officially abolished. |
| 1793 (January 21) | Execution of Louis XVI by guillotine. |
| 1793 (October 16) | Execution of Queen Marie Antoinette. |
| 1793–1794 | The Reign of Terror under Robespierre; mass executions. |
| 1794 (July) | Fall of Robespierre; end of Reign of Terror. |
| 1795 | New Constitution; Directory (five-member government) comes to power. |
| 1799 | Napoleon Bonaparte overthrows the Directory; begins his rule. |
| 1794 (Feb) | Slavery abolished in French colonies. |
| 1804 | Napoleon crowns himself Emperor of France. |
| 1848 | Slavery permanently abolished in all French colonies. |