CHAPTER

HISTORY

01
The French Revolution

The French revolution landmark in the history of Europe and the world. It
is a

ended the monarchial system in France. The slogan of French Revolution i.e.
liberty, freedom and equality became important ideas of the new era.
Chopter Sylabus
French Society During the
Late Eighteenth Century
FrenchSociety During the Late 18th Century The Outbreak of the
In 1774, Louis XVI of Bourbon family became the king of France. He was Revolution
married to the Austrian Princess Marie Antoinette. When Louis XVI became the France Abolishes Monarchy
king, he got an empty treasury. Long years of war and maintenance of the court ot and Becomes a Republic
the Palace of Versailles were the main reasons of it. Did Women have a
3 Lo Revolution?
iLouis XVI helped thirteen American colonies to gain their independence from
Britain.As a result of this, more than 1 billion livres' were added to the debr which The Abolitton of Siavery
had already risen to more than 2 billion livres. The lenders who gave the credit The Revolution and
began to charge an interest of 10 per cent on loans. Everyday Life
To meet the expenses like maintain the army, the court, running government
offices and universities etc, the state was torced to increase the taxes. However this
measure was not sufficient as French society was divided into three estates in 18th
century and only members of the third estate paid taxes
The society of estates was part ofthefeudal system
of the middle ages. The
society and institution of France before 1789 is considered as old regime'.

T Livres Units of currency in France at that time, which was discontinued in 1794.
2 Feudal A social system that existed during the middle ages in Europe. h this system, people were given land and protection by a nobleman
and had to work and fight for him in retum.
3 0ld Regime The tem 0ld Regime is usually used to describe the society and institution of France before 1789.
 Allinone Social Science Class
2
The three estates
A Growing Middle Class
of France at that time were

First Estate (the In the 18th century, new social group emerged who
It
Clergy) a

the middle class.

comprised of the group of persons, who have special were known as

functions
in the Church. had become rich by expanding of overseas trad.
They owned vast Land and wealth. They
and manufacturing goods like woolen and silk textiles
They enjoyed certain privileges by tiles.
from paying
birth, like exemption
taxes to the state. In addition to merchants and manutacturers, there we
The Church levied tax, called Tithe' from the peasants,
a
lawyers and administrative officials, who were educato
which comprised of onetenth of the agricultural produce. They believed that no group of society should be
privileged by birth.
Second Estate (the Nobility) Philosophers like John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau
It comprised of rich, aristocrat people of the state. and Montesquieu considered that middle class was sole
also enjoyed the privilege of exemption from payingThey responsible for revolution. They spread the ideas of
taxes to the state.
freedom, equal laws and opportunities for all.
They enjoyed feudal privileges, i.e., feudal dues, which The ldeas of Philosophers were as follows
they extracted from the peasants. ) John Locke in his Tuo Treatises of Government
criticised the doctrine of divine and absolute right of
Third Estate the monarch (king).
It comprised of the rest of the population i.e., businessmen, (i) Rousseau in his book "The Social Contract' proposed
merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants, artisans, the form of the government based on social contract
landless labour, etc. berween people and their representatives.
They had no privilege as they had to pay direct taxes (iii) Montesquieu in his book 'The Spirit of the Laus,
called Taille to the state as well a number of indirect proposed the concept of separation of powers
taxes levied on articles of everyday consumption, like salt, between the Legislature, the Executive and the
tobacco, etc. Judiciary. This model of government was accepted by
the USA, after the thirteen colonies declared their
Peasants made up about 90 per cent of the population independence from Britain.
on France. Only a small number of them owned the land
they cultivated. These ideas were spread among the
people through
books and newspapers. With the news that Louis the
6 0 per cent of the land was owned by nobles, the Church
planned to impose more taxes to meet the expenses o
XVI
and other richer members of the third estate. the state, it generated
anger and protest against the
Peasants were forced to work in the house of nobles and system of privileges the
among people.
their lands, to serve in the army or to participate in
building roads.
The Outbreak of the Revolution
On 5th
The Struggle to Survive May, 1789 Louis XVI called for
of the Estates General°
an assembly
to pass the proposals for new
During 1715-1789, the population of France increased taxes.
rapid increase in demand for food
rapidly which led to
First, second and third
grains.
estates sent their
of bread. But representatives. The first and second estates sernt
Insufficient production increased the price 300 representatives
each, who were seated
did keep pace with the rise in rows
the wages of the
workers not
facing each other on two sides.
in prices. Third estate sent 600
when bad weather conditions representatives. They were n
prosperous and educated than first and second
Situation became worse
reduced the harvest. This
condition created subsistence members but they faced esta stand
.

at the back. discrimination and had to

crisis

Taille Tax to be paid

directly to the state. livelihood are e n d a n
where the basic means of
c.
4 ngered.
extreme situation
5 Subsistence crisis An estates sent their representatives.
General A political body to which
the three
6 Estates
The French Revolution

Peasants, artisans and women were denied

the by the Church
assembly but they sent their demands and entry to
Tithes were abolished and lands owned
through representatives. grievances were seized by authority.
The members of the third By this, the government acquired assets worth at least
should be conducted by taking demanded that voting
estate 2 billion livres.
where each member should.haveassembly
as a whole
one vote. But the
king
rejected this proposal and members of the third estate France Becomes a Constitutional
walked out of assembly in
protest. Monarchy
National Assembly of Third Estate The National Assembly completed the draft of the
Constitution in 1791. Its main objective was to limit the
On 20th June, 1789, the
assembled in the hall of anrepresentatives
of the third estate powers of the monarch.
indoor tennis court in Versailles. Now, the powers were separated and assigned to different
They declared themselves a National Assembly. institutions like the Legislature, Executive and
also declared to draft a new They Judiciary.
Constitution for France This change of powers made France constitutional
that would limit the a
powers of the monarch. monarchy.
The representatives of the third estate were
led by
Mirabeau and Abbé Sieyès. The Laws Made by the National
Mirabeau was born in a noble family, but discarded his
Assembly
Under the new Constitution, the laws were to be made
feudal privileges. Abbe Sieyes was originally a priest. He by the National Assembly. The assembly was indirectly
wrote an influential pamphlet called 'What is the third elected i.e. active citizens voted tor a group of electors,
Estate? who in turn chose the assembly members.
The highlights of the changed system were
Revolt Starts at the Bastille G) Men who were above 25 years of age and who
In France, due to severe winter, harvest was severely paid
taxes equal to at least 3
days of a labourer's wage were
affected, which led to the increase in price of bread. given the status of active citizens, i.e.
they had right
The bakers to vote. The remaining and all
exploited
this situation and stored supplies.
classed as passive citizens.
men women were

After spending hours in long queues at the bakery,.

crowds of angry women raid the shops. (ii) To qualify as an elector and then as a member of the
assembly, a man had to belong to the highest group of
On 14th July, 1789, an agitated crowd destroyed the
taxpayers.
Bastille. The Bastille was hated by all French people as it ii) The Constitution began with a Declaration of the
symbolised the dominating power of the king. Rights of Man and Citizen, such as the right to life,
In the countryside, rumours spread from village to village freedom of speech, freedom of opinion and equality
that the lords of the manor had hired the gang of robbers before law. These were established as 'natural and
to destroy the ripe crops. After, hearing this rumour, inalienable' rights and it was the duty of the state to
peasants attacked chateau in many areas of France. protect these rights.

The peasants looted stored grain and burnt documents

containing records of manorial dues. Due to all these, a Check Pofnt 01
large number of nobles moved to neighbouring countries. How many American colonies got independence
by the help of
Louis XV1?
End of Special Privileges 2 How much debt was increased because of the war in France?
3 Name the direct tax of the third estate to the state in the
As a result of revolt on 4th August, 1789, France under
French society.
Louis XVI passed the aw for abolishing the feudal
4 Who formed the 'National Assembly' in France in 1789?
system of obligations and taxes.
5 In the Constitution of 1791, the powers were divided among
The members of clergy were also forced to give up their
legislative, executive and..
privileges. 6 It was the duty of the . . . to protect each citizen's natural right.

7 Manor An estate consisting of the Lord's lands and his mansion.

8 Chateau Castle or stately residence belonging to a king or nobleman.
9 Tithes Taxes levied by the Church, comprising one-tenth of the agricultural produce.
 Allinone Social Science Classo
s

and now all

held in August, 1792
France Abolishes Monarchy Elections were

above 21 years of age were regardless off

alowed to vote
men

and becomes a
Republic
Rulers of France's
neighbouring countries were worried
their wealth.
The newly elected assembly was called the Conventio
by the developments in France. It abolished monarchy on 2Ist September, 1792 and
They made plans to France was declared a Republic.
sendtroops to put down the events taking place since
1789. Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a court on the
The National Assembly declared war against Prussia charge of treason.
and Austria in April 1792. Thousands of volunteers On 21st January, 1793, Louis XVI was executed publicly
joined army for the National Assembly. at the Place de la Concorde. After some time, the Quen
The patriotic song Marie Antoinette was also sentenced to death.
sung by volunteers was the
Marseillaise which was composed by the poet Roget de
L'Isle. It was sung for the first time by volunteers from The Reign of Terror
Marseilles as they marched into Paris. It later became The period from 1793 to l1794 is referred to as the 'Rejan
the National Anthem of France.
A large of Terror in France. This was due to the policy of severe
segment of the population was convinced control and punishment followed by Robespierre.
tocarry the revolution further, as the Constitution
of 1791 gave political rights only to the richer section. During this period following events took place
People used to discuss government policies and their G) Many people were arrested and tried by a
tribunal (court). These included all those
revolutionary
own plan of action in political clubs. The most people who
were considered enemies (like
successful of these was the club of ex-nobles, clergy and
Jacobins, which got members of political parties) of republic by
its name from
comvent of St Jacob in Paris. If the court found them guilty, they were
Robespierre.
(ii) Peasants were forced to transport their
guillotined
The Jacobin Club grain to the cities
and sell it at the prices fixed
Members of the Jacobin, club belonged by the government.
less prosperous sections of mainly to the ii) The use of expensive white flour was torbidden. Meats
society. They included and breads were rationed.
shopkeepers, artisans, cooks, shoe-makers, watch-makers, iv) People were forced
printers, servants and daily-wage workers. Their leader to eat the pain d'egalite
(equality
was Maximilian Robespierre.
bread), a loaf made of whole wheat.
(v) Instead of Monsieur (Sir) and Madame
They dressed differently by wearing long striped French men and
(Madam), all
trousers similar
women were called as Citoyen and
to those by dock workers. It was
worn Citoyenne (citizen).
a way of declaring the end of the power holded by the (vi) Churches were shut down and
their
wearers of knee breeches. converted into barracks or offices. buildings were

They came to be known as 'sansculottes meaning (vii) Due to the hard

policies
of Robespierre, even his
people without knee breeches. Sansculottes men supporters left him in the end. He was finally
wore a red cap that symbolised liberty. convicted by a court and
guillotined in July, 1794.
The Convention: Newly Elected Assembly
On 10th August, 1792, the Jacobins attacked the
A Directory Rules France
After the fall of the
Jacobins, the wealthier middle
Constitution was introduced classes
Palace of the Tuileries with large number of Parisians, seized power. A new
They killed the King's guards and held the King denied the vote to whiC
non-propertied sections of sociery.
It provided
himself as hostage for several hours. Later, the for
councils appointed a
two elected
legislative councils. These
assembly voted to imprison the royal family.
five members under Directory, an Executive made up o
the Jacobins.
10 Convent Building belonging to a community
devoted to a religious life.
country or government.
11 Treason Betrayal of one's
12 Guillotine Adevice for beheading a person by means of a heavy blade that is dropped between two posts serving as guides; widely usea
during the French Revolution.
 The French Revolution
5
Sometimes the Diretors
Councils and the councis clashed with the Legislative French Wonen Gof Right to Vote
often dismissed the
This political Directors
instabiliy paved the way for the rise of During the Reign of Terror, the gowernment ordered for
Napoleon Bonaparte, militany the closure of women's chubs and banned their political
these changes, the
a
dictator. Inspite of al
ideals of freedom, activities. Many prominent wonen were arrested and
fraternity remained equality and executed.
inspiring ideals that motivated
political nmovements for France and the
rest of the Women's strugele for voting and equal political rights
Europe. Was carried on
through an international suffrage
Women in Revolution movement during the late 19th and early 20th
century.
Women Finally in 1946, French women won the Right to Vore.
played a very significant role in the French
Revolution. Most.of the
estate worked for a living. women belonging to the third Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793)
Olympe de Gouges (1748-1793) was one of the most important of the
LTheyworked as seamstresses laundresses, sold
or politically active women in
revolutionary France. She protested
tlowers. irits and vegetables in the against the Constitution and the Declaration of Pights of Man and

damestic.servants in rich family etc. market, employed as Citizen

iVOnly the daughters of nobles and wealthier members of In

in
1791,she wrote a Deciaration
which she addressed the
Queen
of the Pights of
Woman and
Citizer
and the members of the Nationai
the third estate could study at conventa Assembly
Besides caring for dheir families, the French women had In 1793, Olympe de Gouges criticised the
jacobin govermment for
forcibly closing down women's clubs She was tried by the National
tocook. fetch water, stand in for Convention, which charged her with treason. Soon afrer,
after the children,.etc. Their queueswere bread, look executed
she was

than the men. wages always lower

Women in France were disappointed with the The Abolition of Slavery
Constitution
of 1791. It reduced them to passive
citizens who had political rights.
no (LThe greatest social reform made by the Jacobin
They demanded political rights, viz., Right to government was to abolish slavery in French colonies
be elected to the assembly and to hold Vote, to The French colonies in the Caribbean like
To express their own views and political office. Martinique
demands, women Guadeloupe and San Domingo were important suppliers
started their own political clubs and of tobacco, indigo, sugar, coffee, etc.
newspapers.
There were about sixty clubs of women in French The French needed workers for
of which, "The
cities plantations in its
colonies but the Europeans did not want to work
Society of Revolutionary and Republican in
Women" was the most famous. distant, unknown lands.
Thus, a three
way trade in slaves started between
Aaws Passed to Improve Women Lives Africa and America in the 17th centurv. This wasEurope,
known as triangular slave trade.
In the early years, laws were passed to improve the lives
of women. The changes occuTTed by these laus were French merchants travelled trom the
ports of Bordeaux
or Nantes to the Atrican coast, where they
Women gained access to education with the from local chiettains.
bought slaves
introduction of state schools and a system of
compulsory education for girls. These port cities owed their economic
prosperity to the
Women could no longer be forced into marriages by flourishing slave trade.
their fatherS and they could marry according to their Throughout the 18th century, there was little criticis1m
will of slavery in France.
o Marriage was now a contract which could be registered After long debates, the National Convention
under civil law. law in 1794 which declared slavery
passed a
and freed illegal all
(iv) Divorce was made legal. Both men and women could slaves in France's overseas colonies.
apply for it. After ten years, Napoleon reintroduced
the plantation owners who considered
slavery to please
Women could train for jobs, become artists or run
small business. blacks as their right.
enslaving African
13 Seamstresses A woman who earns her living by sewing
 6 Allinone Social Science Class o

slaves Rammohan Roy are som.

hese were known as Sultan and Raja
African Negroes". Tipu the ideas of th e the
Islaverywas abolished in were inspired by
the French colonies in Finally, Indians who,
1848 Revolution.
French
The Revolution and
Life Everyday Check Point 02
After 1789, many Who composed the song Marseillaise ?
changes took place in the lives of as
'Sans-culottes?
women, men and children in 2 Who were known
France. defeated at Waterloo in 1815.
3 .was
LOne important law that came into effect in 1789 was the 4 When was the monarchy abolished by the convention?
abolition of censorship.
5 The Slave trade began in the. ****

According to censorship, all written and

or
cultural activities could be performedmaterial
published only
With
after they
the abolition
had been of
approved
censorship
by the
andcensors
the Declaration
of the Timeline-)

the Rights of Man and Citizen, freedom of speech and Important Event
expression became a natural Year
right of man. 1774 Louis XVI ascended throne of France.
This led to the
growth of
newspapers, pamphlets, books 5th May, 1789 The king called an assembly of the Estates
and printed pictures. Freedom of the press gave voice to General to pass proposals for new taxes.
opinions and counter opinions. 20th June, 1789 Third estate representatives assembled and
took
the Tennis Court Oath. They fomed a
National
Assembly.
Conclusion 14th July, 1789 Storming of the Bastille; French Revolution
LIn 1804, a
Napoleon Bonaparte, famous French General, started.
crowned himself Emperor of France. 4th August, 1789 National Assembly passed a decree to abolish
the feudal system of
obligations and taxes.
5th Oct, 1789
He conquered neighbouring European countries, Women marched to Versailles and
bak
brought
dispossed dynasties and created kingdoms where he King Louis XVI with them to Paris.
placed members of his family. 1791
new
National Assembly completed draft of
He saw himself as a moderniser of Europe. He introduced Constitution; Revolutionary woman Olympe de
Gouges writes 'Declaration of the Rights of
and Woman and Citizen'.
many laws such as the protection of private
April, 1792 to declare war
a uniform system of weights and measures property by National Assembly voted
the decimal system. provided against
Prussia and Austria.
21st Sep, 1792
Many people saw Napoleon as a liberator who would Monarchy abolished and France declared a
bring freedom for the people. But soon his army came republic.
21st Jan, 1793
Louis XVI executed.
to be viewed as an 1793 1794
everywhere invading force. All slaves in French overseas
Finally, Napoleon was defeated at the Waterloo in an but decision overturned
possessions freed,
by Napoleon ten years
1815. Even after his defeat, ideas of Napoleon on liberty later.
Sep 1793-July 1794
and modern laws continued in other parts of Europe. July 1794
Reign of Terror.
1804
Robespierre arrested and executed.
The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor
( important legacy of the French Revolution which spread of France.
1815
all
over Europe. This led to abolition of feudal
systems 1848 Napoleon finally defeated at Waterloo.
and freedom of colonised nations. 1946 Slavery finally abolished in French colonies.
Women in France won the
right to vote.

14 Negroes A tem used for the indigenous people of Africa living South of the Sahara. It
is a
derogatory term not in common use any onge
 The French Revolution

SUMMARY
When Louis XVI
became king of France in
1774, the French treasury was
T93
Ang was torced to increase
interest for the debt.
the taxes to meet
the regular expense of the empty.
court, maintenance of the army and pay ment ot
During the 18th century, French
constituted the third estate. society was divided into three estates: the
Only the third estate paid all the taxes. clergy. the
nobility and the rest of the population
Rapid expansion of French
society led to the subsistence crisis
A growing where the basic means of livelihood are
middle ciass, endangered
nobility and the clergy. consisting traders, manufacturer, lawyers, administrators etc, wanted to end the privileges of the
of

The ideas of great

philosophers like John Locke, Rousseau, Montesquieu influenced the French
O n 20th June, third estate people.
deciared themselves as a National
The people revolted due to assembly. Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes were leading it
price rise and attacked, Bastille on
14th July 1789.
France became aconstitutional monarchy with the National
began with a declaration of the Assembly drafting anew constitution in 1791. This constitutiou
rights of man and citizen.
I n August 1792, the jacobins who were less
prosperous section of society took over the government and declared France a
republic executing the king in January 1793.
A Reign of Terror' followed from September 1793 to July 1794, under the leadership of Maximilien Robespierre during
which large scale executions took place.
After the overthrow of the Jacobins, a Directory ruled France, but was unstable.
The significant participation of women in the revolution brought about many changes in French society. leading to many
lews being passed to improve their lives. In 1946, French women won the Right to vote.
Slavery was abolished in French colonies during 1794. Napoleon became the omperor in 1804 and iutroduced many new

laws.
Napoleon's reform measures impacted a large number of European nations, leading to abolition of feudal systems.
The ideas ofliberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy French Revolution.
of