French Revolution
The French Revolution - Background & Causes
The French Revolution (1789-1799) is a political revolution that broke out in late
18th-century Europe. It put the ideas of the Enlightenment into practice —> the rise of
nationalism. These were influential on the development of modern Europe as well as the
whole world.
Timeline: Renaissance —> Enlightenment —> The French Revolution
The Bourbon Dynasty: Louis XIV —> Louis XV —> Louis XVI
Louis XIV (The Sun King)
● Absolute monarch
● Under his rule, France became a great European power
● A huge amount was spent on the Palace of Versailles and frequent wars —> sowed
the seeds of future political & financial crisis
Palace of Versailles (Pros)
1. kept a close watch on nobles
2. weakened the nobles’ influence
3. (Cons) financial burden on the court
Financial Crisis - Wars
● fought many wars
● supported American Revolution
● caused financial deficit and great casualties
Financial Crisis - Extravagance
● Louis XVI and his court led luxurious lives
● extravagant balls, feasts, fashion, gambling
● Marie Antoinette (Wife of Louis XVI)
Financial Crisis - Corruption & Reduced Tax
● Corruption - Tax officials collected more than required
● Reduced Tax - Tax income was reduced (~natural disasters and famine)
- Government expenditure: 629 million French livres
- Government income: 503 million French livres
- Court expenditure: 6%
Political corruption
1. Louis XVI lived an extravagant life with his queen
2. Neglected government affairs
3. failed to solve financial and social problem
—> unpopular among the French people
Strict Inequality - Stress class division
● Ruling classes, held most government posts
● enjoyed special rights (e.g. did not pay taxes)
● owned a lot of land
● lived luxuriously
-The First estate: Right to collect tithe from people + exempt from government taxes
-The Second estate: Holding important positions in the government and the army,
exempted from government taxes
-The Third estate : No privileges (even with wealth) + have to pay taxes to landlords and
the Church in addition to fulfilling various feudal services
Social Inequality - Salt Tax
● Tax was levied on salt (essential commodity, e.g. preserving food) —> generate
revenue for the French monarchy
● expensive and burdensome (for common people & those living in rural areas)
● Oppressive and unfair taxation system
● become one of the targets of popular unrest and resistance
Enlightenment
● Enlightenment ideas deepened the discontent of the French towards social
inequalities and encouraged them to challenge absolutism
American Revolution
● France sent soldiers to fight against Britain in the American Revolution
● French soldiers brought back ideas of liberty and equality
● success of American Revolution —> encouraged the French to challenge
absolutions and social inequalities
The French Revolution - Course of the Revolution (Immediate Causes)
Immediate Causes:
1. Social Instability
2. Calling of the Estates-General
3. Tennis Court Oath
Social instability:
Bad Harvest —> Famine —> Serious Inflation —> People fled to Paris —> Increased
Competition —> Social Instability
Estates-General
● first held in 1303 —> did not meet since 1614 —> Louis XVI called it in May
1789
● legislative assembly between the three estates
● summoned by the King for advice and support
Before the Estates-General of 1789
Louis XVI invited representatives from the First Estate and Second estate to discuss tax
responsibilities —> the two estates refused to pay taxes
Estates-General (1789)
To save the government from bankruptcy, Louis XVI called the Estates-General to discuss
tax reform.
1. Louis XVI proposed tax reforms
2. 1st and 2nd Estate used ‘One Estate, One Vote’
3. 3rd estate proposed ‘One Head, One Vote’
4. Opposed from the First and Second Estate
5. 3rd Estate withdrew from EG and set up the National Assembly (to protest against
unequal treatment)
The aim of the three states:
First & Second Estate (303+ 282 representatives)
● keep the voting system of ‘One Estate, One Vote’
● continue to be tax exempt
● Increase taxes on the Third Estate
Third Estate (610 representatives)
● change the voting system to ‘One Head, One Vote’
● Impose taxes on the First estate and Second Estate
Tennis Court Oath (June 1789)
● Louis XVI ordered to close the meeting hall of the National Assembly
● members of the Third Estate met at a tennis court
● demanded a constitution
Aim of the Third Estate
● political power belonged to the people, not the king
● opposed absolute rule
The French Revolution - Outbreak & Development
Fall of the Bastille
● Louis XVI recognised the National Assembly
● pretend to appease the Third Estate + secretly tried to use force to restore order
—> people were furious and attacked the Bastille
Why the Bastille?
1. originally a fortress in Paris
2. convert into a state prison to hide political prisoners
3. symbol of absolutism
4. weapons
Declaration of the rights of Man and of the Citizen
● all people are born equal and free
● people should enjoy freedom of speech, the press, religion …
● the power of the government comes from the people
Constitutional Monarchy
● limit the power of the king
● aimed to represent the general public
● included the concept of the separation of powers
● the National Assembly had legislative powers
● forced Louis XVI to accept the constitution in 1791
The fight of Louis XVI
(1789) Louis XVI and his family lived under supervision in Paris —> (1791) attempted to
escape from Paris to Austria for support —> recognised in the small town of Varennes —>
viewed as a traitor to the revolution
French Revolutionary Wars
1. Feared among European leaders
- Worried that revolutionary ideas would spread & affect their power
2. An opportunity to gain power and territory
- As France was dealing internal conflicts (French Revolution), other European
countries saw it as an opportunity to attack France and expand their influence
● (1792) Prussia and Austria formed a coalition against France
—> French revolutionary leaders retaliated and declared war; they urge the people to
defended their country
First French Republic
● French army defeated Austria and Prussia
● elected National Convention —> ended the monarchy and set up the First French
Republic
● supreme power was held by the people and their elected representatives
● (1793) Louis XVI was convicted of treason and was guillotined
Reign of Terror (1793-1794)
● European rulers attacked again
● many riots (internal conflicts)
● radical revolutionaries gained power
Robespierre
● symbol of the Reign of Terror
● demanded the execution of Louis XVI
● relentless persecution of political opponents
● radical measures
Robespierre and his government used terror to rule France (arrested and killed many
people) —> That period was called ‘Reign of terror’, which ended when Robespierre was
guillotined by enemies
The Directory
● ruled after the Reign of Terror
● a group of 5 people chosen by the French legislature
● failed to put down internal revolts and resist foreign invasions
—> the French wanted a strong leader to restore order
