1.

Historians have different explanations for the challenges facing the ancien régime in the years 1774–
89. ‘The tension between the three Estates was the main reason why the ancien régime faced
challenges in the years 1774–89.’Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue. (Total for
Question 1 = 25 marks)

From the beginning of Louis XVI’s reign in 1774 until the abolition of feudal rights in 1789, the Ancien Regime
structure in France faced many challenges. The Ancien Regime was the societal and political order in France
from the 15th century until the 18th century, in which an absolute monarch reigned over a Kingdom with a
class system of three estates which served as his subjects. The first estate consisted of the clergy who made
up around 0.5% of the population, ‘serving the souls of France’ despite being very corrupt with many bishops
and cardinals living lavish lifestyles compared to monks and local priests who were poorer than many
peasants. Most clergy positions were obtained through a system of venality, in which positions were
purchased for the sake of status and power even if the individual did not have work experience. Then, the
Second Estate consisted of nobility who made up 1% of the population, also living lavish lifestyles with the role
of serving and advising the King. They were often wealthy landowners, especially those families who were part
of ‘provincial dynasties’ who had peasants working the fields. Last of all, was the diverse yet underprivileged
third estate, which consisted of the wealthy and educated bourgeoisie, the day-labourers, and the peasants.
The third estate spends up to 88% of their income in order to survive, most of this being swallowed up by
numerous indirect and direct taxes. First, there was the taille which was the direct land tax and vingtieme
which was 5% of income. There were also taxes on salt, sugar, stamps, and customs duties. Furthermore,
peasants living under seigneurial agreements, in which they were legally bound to a seigneur and were given
land to work and live on, had to pay rent for chickens, equipment, and even a stud breeding fee. In contrast,
the first estate only had to pay the don gratuit to the monarchy which consisted of around 5% of the church's
income every six years while the second estate was excluded from most taxes or paid at a reduced rate.
Overall, the third estate was economically exploited in terms of labour and taxation, while the first and second
estate grew richer without the burden of taxation. This created a lot of hatred between the third and second
estate especially, however there was no direct action against the crown until 1789. Before that, there were
only bread riots, like the flour wars of 1775.

2. Historians differ in their judgments about the impact of the Thermidorian government in 1794. ‘The
Thermidorian government had a positive impact on France in 1794.’ Assess this view using your own
knowledge of the issue.

Coup of Thermidor led tom execution of Robespierre and his supporters, dismantled terror, freedom of
worship, however economic situation was very bad, decentralised and ensured there would be no more
dictatorship, repealed law of suspects

Para 1: Executed robespierre, everyone was happy

Para 2: Law of frimaire and prairial repealed
Para 3: decentralisation ensured there wouldn’t be another dictatorship
Para 4: However, there were significant economic issues which caused discontent miseries
Para 5: Freedom of worship
Para 6: Overall positive politically

Robespierre was executed on the 28th of July 1794, marking the end of the terror and the beginning of the
fight for political stability in France. Parisians were overjoyed at his execution, the celebrations and happiness
throughout Paris almost causing a frenzy. The Thermidorian government made promises to dismantle the
terror and ensure it never happened again, through extreme responses to all radicalism. In the beginning, the
Thermidorian government had large popular support as it began to dismantle the terror.

The Law of 22 Prairial was repealed in August 1794. The law ensured that every accused individual would
have to face the revolutionary tribunal for their trial, even though the trials were unfair and the acquittal rate
was only 20%. Furthermore, all citizens were obliged to report suspicious activity. Overall the victims of this
law were over a thousand nobles, clergy, and bourgeoisie. This law was one of the main tools of the terror
therefore abolishing it gained widespread popular support and also guaranteed fair trials for all. For the people
of France, this would reduce social tensions and the paranoia of the terror would be reduced. However, the
law of 22 Prairial also made the Convention members susceptible to being accused, arrested, and tried,
therefore abolishing this law meant the convention members could no longer be arrested for wrong-doing,
opposing the Thermidorian’s ideology of avoiding another dictatorship and the centralisation of power.
Nevertheless, the abolishment of this law still brought stability and relief to the lives of Parisian citizens.

Furthermore, the Thermidorian government also made significant efforts to reduce the centralisation built by
Robespierre. Despite the Thermidorian government being invincible in the authority of the law, power was still
given to the local governments in the provinces and abolished the Paris Commune. The 14 Law of Frimaire
gave the CPS greater control over the sections and extracted power from the local government. This removed
channels of sans-culotte activity and gave the government more power. The Thermidorian government instead
gave power back to the local governments, yet still maintained the restrictions on the sections since the sans-
culottes would scrutinise the government for the food shortages and economic problems. Nevertheless, the
decentralisation ensured that there wouldn’t be another dictatorship, especially decentralisation within the
leadership since the CPS and CGS had to change 25% of members each month and were given roles purely
concerning the war and not internal governance. However, the decentralisation of power was rather
insufficient, as local ministers were replaced with military commissions who failed to maintain law and order
throughout France especially in the Vendee region. But in Paris and other parts of France, all was relatively
peaceful in 1795.

From another perspective, the Thermidorian government inherited an already bad economic situation yet also
worsened it. In a return to enlightenment ideals, the thermidorian supported a free market economy as
opposed to the restrictions under Robespierre’s regime. The Law of General Maximum was abolished and the
issuing of assignats worsened, only retaining 34% of its original value. Assignats were paper bills used as
currency. This caused extreme inflation of prices and paired with the abolition of the General Maximum, it
became increasingly difficult to buy food. Furthermore, throughout the winter of 1795, it was unusually and
extremely cold, leading to mass starvation, suicide, and disastrous harvests. This was called the miserie, and
despite the climate conditions being outside the control of the convention it must still be noted that the crisis
could have been minimised if price controls were implemented. This led to widespread popular discontent
towards the end of 1794 and precluded uprisings the following year.

However, social stability was also provided by the declaration of freedom of worship on the 21st of September
1794. Even Though religious dress was banned, all were free to practise their own religion and France
officially became the first secular country in Europe. However, religious gatherings were often subject to the
surveillance of the authorities, especially Christian gatherings considering Christianity was the faith of many
royalists and of the Ancien Regime. However it still reduced the social divisions that Robespierre created by
enforcing the cult of the supreme being and the oppression of Christians.

In terms of politics and social stability, the thermidorian made great improvements in ensuring the events of the
terror would not happen again, ultimately achieving their goal of moderate policy and stability. Nevertheless,
from the perspective of the economy the thermidorian government laid the groundwork for future tensions due
to the food shortages, however this was not completely within their control due to the ongoing war. In 1794 the
social tensions in France were likely at their lowest since the beginning of the revolution as there were not
many uprisings or conflicts between royalists and republicans on a large scale due to the greater spirit of
tolerance, especially considering the Thermidorian returned to the original tenets of the revolution in terms of a
free market economy and an ideology of tolerance and freedom. Overall, the thermidorian government had a
positive impact on France in 1974.

3. Historians have different explanations for the onset of the revolution in the years 1780–89. ‘The failings
of Louis XVI and his ministers in the years after 1780 were the main reason for the onset of the
revolution in 1789.’ Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue
Historians differ in their judgements about the most significant event of 1789.
‘The storming of the Bastille was the most significant event of the revolution in the
year 1789.’
Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue.

(Total for Question 1 = 25 marks)

OR
2 Historians have different explanations for France becoming a republic.
‘The actions of the sans-culottes were mainly responsible for France becoming a
republic in 1792.’
Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue.

(Total for Question 2 = 25 marks)

EITHER
1 Historians differ in their judgements about the challenges facing the ancien régime in
the years 1774–89.
‘The main challenge facing the ancien régime, in the years 1774–89, came from the
Third Estate.’
Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue.

1. Historians have different explanations for the crisis in the French economy by 1789. ‘The taxation
system was the main reason why the French economy was in crisis by 1789.’ Assess this view using
your own knowledge of the issue. (Total for Question 1 = 25 marks)

2. Historians differ in their judgements about the main achievement of the National Assembly in the years
1789–91. ‘The main achievement of the National Assembly was the creation of a new constitution.’
Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue. (Total for Question 2 = 25 marks)

3. Historians differ in their judgements about the main feature of the Terror in France in the years 1793–
94. ‘Attacks on traditional religion were the main feature of the Terror in France in the years 1793–94.’
Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue. (Total for Question 3 = 25 marks)

4. Historians differ in their judgements about the challenges faced by the ancien régime in the years
1774–89. ‘The ancien régime was weakened more by the impact of the American Revolution than by
the ideas of the Enlightenment.’ Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue. (Total for
Question 1 = 25 marks)

5. Historians differ in their judgments about the main achievement of the National Assembly in the years
1789–91. ‘The main achievement of the National Assembly, in the years 1789–91, was the Declaration
of the Rights of Man.’ Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue. (Total for Question 2 =
25 marks)

6. Historians differ in their judgements about the main consequence of the Terror in the years 1793–94.
‘The main consequence of the Terror on France, in the years 1793–94, was the centralisation of
methods of control.’ Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue. (Total for Question 3 =
25 marks)

7. Historians differ in their judgements about the main driving force of the revolution in the years 1789–92.
‘The sans-culottes were the main driving force of the revolution in the years 1789–92’. Assess this view
using your own knowledge of the issue
8. Historians differ in their judgements about the main achievement of the National Assembly in the years
1789–91. ‘The main achievement of the National Assembly, in the years 1789–91, was political reform.’
Assess this view using your own knowledge of the issue.