UNIT -1 The French Revolution Three estates of French society during 18th century First Estate Second Estate Third Estate Social Hierarchy bourbon kings Consition of French socety on the eve of French revolution Prolonged war debt and costto support of “American war of independance Privileges on the bose of ren rightCauses of French Revolution 2 == Events of French Revolution: Class X- In 1774, Louis XVI of the Bourbobn family was the king of France. The french society was divided into three estates. The clergy and nobility had special rights. The third estate formed the majority of population and was unprivileged class. On 5" may 1789 louis XVI called together the meeting of Estates General to impose newtax. Members of Third Estate demanded one person on vote. King rejected the demand of the Third Estate. On June 20, 1789, they assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in the ground of Versailles and declared themselves as National Assembly. They demanded to curtail the power of the king, King ordered troops to move in Paris which angered the natives and they destroyed the fort of Bastille. ‘Social Selence 4+ On 14th July 1789 the agitated crowd stormed the Fort of Bastille, a symbol of tyranny of old regime, and destroyed it This triggered the chain of revolt across the country. I Faced with power of revolting subjects, Louis XVI accorded recognition to the National Assembly and agreed to give up his power. lL On 4th August 1789 all the feudal system of obligation and taxes were abolished by a decree. IV. Churches’ properties were confiscated and clergy too had to give up all the privileges. V. The National Assembly drafted the Constitution in 1791 and distributed the power in- legislature, executive and judiciary along with one person one vote principle. + However voting was restricted to Active citizen only Pay taxes equal toatleast 3 days of alabour's wage + Remaining men and women were classed as passive citizen who did not have any political right. + Political clubs became a rallying point for the discussions on governmental policies in which Jacobin club emerged as the most favourite. + The members of Jacobin club mainly belonged to the less prosperous sections of the society like- small shopkeepers, artisans, such as shoe makers, watch makers, painters, as well as servants and daily wage workers. 5 Class IX- Social Science+ Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre and they were called sans-culottes meaning without knee breeches. + On 10th August 1792 Jacobins planned an insurrection and imprisoned the royal family. + On 21st September 1792 it declared France a Republic. + Louis XVI was sentenced to death on charge of ‘Treason’ and was publically executed on 21st January 1793. + The Jacobin leader Robespierre ruled ruthlessly from 1793 to 1794 and his reign was known as “Reign of Terror”. + In July 1794 Robespierre was convicted of excessivism and executed on Guillotine, + The fall of Jacobin allowed the wealthier middle class to seize the power and ruled through an Executive, made up of five members, called DIRECTORY from 26th October 1795. + However the frequent clash of directors with legislative council led to political instability. + This paved the way for the rise of military dictatorship under Napoleon Bonaparte who ended directory in 1799 and became the ‘First Council and later crowned himself as-The Emperor of France in 1804. + Napoleon was defeated in the battle of Waterloo in 1815. + The legacy of freedom, equality and fratemity that emerged out of French revolution remained the inspiring ideals of the following world, + Slaverywasfinallyabolished in 1848 from all the colonies of France. + Women fought their own way to get right to vote in 1946 in France. Glass IX- Social Sclence 6