Causes of the French Revolution
● Social Inequality:
○ The French society was divided into three estates: the First Estate (clergy),
the Second Estate (nobility), and the Third Estate (common people,
including peasants, workers, and the bourgeoisie).
○ The Third Estate faced heavy taxation while the First and Second Estates had
privileges and were exempt from many taxes.
● Financial Crisis:
○ France’s involvement in expensive wars, including support for the American
Revolution, drained the royal treasury.
○ Lavish spending by King Louis XVI and the Queen, Marie Antoinette,
worsened the economic situation.
● Enlightenment Ideas:
○ Philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu promoted ideas of
equality, liberty, and democracy, challenging traditional authority and the
divine right of kings.
● Famine and Economic Hardship:
○ Poor harvests in the late 1780s led to food shortages, rising bread prices, and
widespread hunger, which increased discontent among the peasantry and
urban poor.
2. Key Events of the French Revolution
● Estates-General and the Tennis Court Oath (1789):
○ The Estates-General was convened to address the financial crisis, but
disagreements between the estates led to the Third Estate breaking away
and declaring itself the National Assembly.
○ The Tennis Court Oath saw members of the National Assembly vow not to
disband until they had written a new constitution for France.
● Storming of the Bastille (14th July 1789):
○ The Bastille, a symbol of royal tyranny, was stormed by Parisians, marking
the beginning of widespread revolutionary violence.
● The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen:
○ In August 1789, the National Assembly issued this document, proclaiming
freedom, equality, and the rights of all citizens (inspired by Enlightenment
ideas).
● The Women's March on Versailles:
○ In October 1789, women, frustrated by food shortages, marched to Versailles
and forced the royal family to return to Paris.
● The Reign of Terror (1793-1794):
○ Led by Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobins, the revolutionary
government used extreme measures to suppress opposition, resulting in
thousands of executions by guillotine.
● Execution of King Louis XVI:
○ In January 1793, King Louis XVI was tried and executed by guillotine,
symbolizing the end of the monarchy.
● The Fall of Robespierre (1794):
○ Robespierre's reign ended with his arrest and execution, marking the end of
the Reign of Terror.
3. Key Figures
● King Louis XVI: The king whose financial mismanagement and inability to address
the people’s grievances contributed to the revolution.
● Marie Antoinette: Queen of France, often criticized for her extravagant lifestyle while
the country faced economic hardship.
● Maximilien Robespierre: A leader of the radical Jacobins and key figure during the
Reign of Terror.
● Georges Danton: Another prominent revolutionary leader who initially supported the
revolution but later fell out of favor.
● Napoleon Bonaparte: A general who rose to power during the revolution and
eventually declared himself emperor of France.
4. Consequences of the Revolution
● End of the Absolute Monarchy: The revolution dismantled the traditional monarchy
and feudal system in France, leading to the establishment of the First French
Republic in 1792.
● Rise of Revolutionary Ideals: The revolution inspired movements for democracy,
human rights, and equality across Europe and the world.
● Violence and Instability: The revolution led to years of political instability, with
various factions competing for power, and the terror and executions of the Reign of
Terror.
● Napoleon’s Rise to Power: In 1799, after years of instability, Napoleon Bonaparte
seized control in a coup d'état and eventually declared himself emperor, ending the
revolution but spreading revolutionary ideals across Europe.
5. Impact on French Society and Government
● Abolition of Feudal Privileges: The revolution ended feudal rights and privileges,
particularly for the nobility and the clergy.
● Secularization: The church’s influence over French society was reduced, and the
Catholic Church lost much of its property and political power.
● Legal and Political Reforms: The Code Napoleon (Napoleon's legal code) was
established, influencing legal systems in many countries.
● Social and Economic Changes: The revolution led to changes in the distribution of
wealth and power, though many of the poor continued to face hardship in the
aftermath.
6. The Significance of the French Revolution
● Global Influence: The French Revolution inspired other revolutions and uprisings
across Europe and the Americas, contributing to the spread of democratic ideas and
challenging monarchies and colonial empires.
● Human Rights: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen laid the
groundwork for future human rights documents, including the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights.
● Legacy of Revolutionary Movements: The revolution showed the potential of
popular movements to bring about political and social change, even though it also
demonstrated the dangers of extreme violence and authoritarianism.
7. Skills and Knowledge Expected
● Understanding of Key Events and Chronology: Students should be able to
sequence the major events of the French Revolution.
● Cause and Effect: Recognize the main causes and the far-reaching consequences
of the revolution, both in France and beyond.
● Analysis and Interpretation: Critically analyze different historical sources (e.g.,
documents, images, propaganda) to understand the perspectives of different social
groups during the revolution.
● Historical Empathy: Consider the revolution from the viewpoints of various groups,
such as the peasants, the bourgeoisie, the nobility, and the revolutionary leaders.
In summary, Year 8 students studying the French Revolution in the Cambridge Curriculum
are expected to gain a broad understanding of the events, causes, key figures, and long-
term impacts of the revolution, while developing skills in historical analysis and interpretation.
