The French Revolution (1789-1799)
1. Introduction
● Background: The French Revolution was a period of profound social, political, and
economic upheaval in France that significantly influenced the course of European and
world history.
● Key Dates: The revolution began in 1789 and ended in 1799 with the rise of Napoleon
Bonaparte.
2. Causes of the Revolution
● Economic Factors:
○ Debt Crisis: France's involvement in costly wars, including the American War of
Independence, led to a massive national debt.
○ Taxation: The tax burden fell disproportionately on the Third Estate (commoners),
while the First (clergy) and Second Estates (nobility) were largely exempt.
○ Famine and Bread Prices: Poor harvests in the 1780s led to food shortages and
skyrocketing bread prices, exacerbating public unrest.
● Social Inequality:
○ Estate System: French society was divided into three estates, with the Third Estate
comprising the vast majority of the population but having little political power.
○ Class Tensions: The bourgeoisie (middle class) resented the privileges of the nobility,
and the peasants were burdened by feudal obligations.
● Political Factors:
○ Absolute Monarchy: The monarchy, under Louis XVI, was seen as ineffective and
disconnected from the people's needs.
○ Enlightenment Ideas: Philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu
promoted ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity, challenging the traditional monarchy
and inspiring revolutionary thought.
3. Key Phases of the Revolution
● 1789: The Revolution Begins
○ Estates-General and National Assembly: In May 1789, Louis XVI called the Estates-
General to address the financial crisis. The Third Estate, feeling underrepresented, broke
away to form the National Assembly, marking the start of the revolution.
○ Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): Seen as a symbol of royal tyranny, the fall of
the Bastille prison became a defining moment in the revolution.
○ Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 1789): This document
established the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity as the foundation of the
new French state.
● 1790-1792: The Revolution Radicalizes
○ Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790): The National Assembly sought to bring the
Church under state control, leading to deep divisions in French society.
○ Flight to Varennes (1791): Louis XVI's failed attempt to flee France and seek foreign
assistance led to his loss of credibility and increased calls for the abolition of the
monarchy.
○ War with Austria and Prussia (1792): Revolutionary France declared war on Austria
and Prussia, leading to the radicalization of the revolution as the nation mobilized
against foreign threats.
● 1792-1794: The Reign of Terror
○ Establishment of the First French Republic (September 1792): The monarchy was
abolished, and the Republic was proclaimed.
○ Execution of Louis XVI (January 1793): The king was tried and executed by guillotine,
which deepened internal and external conflicts.
○ Committee of Public Safety and Maximilien Robespierre: To defend the revolution,
the Committee, led by Robespierre, launched the Reign of Terror, a period marked by
mass executions of perceived enemies of the revolution.
○ Thermidorian Reaction (1794): Robespierre was overthrown and executed, leading to
a more moderate phase of the revolution.
● 1795-1799: The Directory and the Rise of Napoleon
○ The Directory (1795-1799): A five-member committee governed France, marked by
corruption and inefficiency. It struggled to maintain control amidst economic problems
and ongoing wars.
○ Coupof18Brumaire (1799): Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory, ending the
revolution and beginning his rise to power as the First Consul of France.
4. Impact of the Revolution
● Domestic Impact:
○ Abolition of Feudalism: The revolution ended feudal privileges and established the principle of
equality before the law.
○ Secularism: The revolution weakened the power of the Catholic Church and promoted secular
governance.
○ Legal Reforms: The Napoleonic Code, though implemented later, was rooted in revolutionary ideas of
legal equality.
● Global Impact:
○ Spread of Revolutionary Ideas: The French Revolution inspired revolutionary movements across
Europe and the Americas, promoting concepts of democracy and national sovereignty.
○ Napoleonic Wars: The conflicts that followed the revolution reshaped European borders and
influenced global geopolitics.
5. Conclusion
● The French Revolution was a transformative period that not only altered the course of French history
but also had a profound influence on global political and social developments. Its legacy is evident in the
continued emphasis on human rights, the rule of law, and democratic governance in modern societies.
