The French revolution taught us

the rights of man.

-Thomas Sankara
What is Revolution ?

In the fields of history and

political science, a
revolution is a radical
change in the established
order, usually the
established government
and social institutions.
French Revolution
• On the morning of Bastille Day, 1789, the
city of Paris was in a state of emergency.
• The king had commanded the army to
manoeuvre into the city. Men and women
both decided to form people’s militia and
broke into several government buildings in
search of arms.
• The Bastille's commander was killed
• Prisoners were released.
• This led to a chain of events that ultimately
led to the execution of the king in France.
The French Revolution is a landmark in the history of Europe and the world.

The revolution put an end to monarchical system in France.

Louis XVI
●King of the France : Louis XVI

●Dynasty- Bourbon family

●Ascended the throne of France in 1774

●At the age of 20 he married to Austria

Princess Marie Antoinette.

●When Louis XVI ascended the throne,

France was going through a financial
turmoil .
Factors led to the French Revolution
American Revolution - France, under Louis XVI, had helped the 13 American colonies to gain
their independence from Britain.

A Society of Estates - Before the revolution in France, a time known as the Ancien Regime, society
was divided into three distinct classes, known as the Three Estates.

The First Estate was the clergy, who were people, including priests,who ran both the Catholic
church and some aspects of the country.In addition to keeping registers of births, deaths and
marriages, theclergy also had the power to levy a 10% tax known as the tithe.
The Second Estate consisted of the nobility of France, including
members of the royal family, except for the King. Members of the
Second Estate did not have to pay any taxes. They were also
awarded special priviliges, such as the wearing a sword and hunting.
Like the clergy, they also collected taxes from the Third Estate.

The Third Estate was made up of everyone else, from peasant

farmers to the bourgeoisie – the wealthy business class. While the
Second Estate was only 1% of the total population of France, the
Third Estate was 96%, and had none of the rights and priviliges of
the other two estates.

Subsistence Crisis An extreme situation where the basic means of

livelihood are endangered.France’s population increased from about
23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. Resulting in a rapid increase
in demand for foodgrains.
Emergence of Middle Age - The eighteenth century witnessed the
emergence of the middle class in France who were the change-makers from
the third estate. They earned their wealth through an overseas trade and by
manufacturing goods such as woollen and silk textiles that were further
exported or bought by the rich class. They were mainly traders and
manufacturers.

Ideas of Philosophers

John Locke

Two Treatises of Government

Rejected doctrine of the divine & absolute
Right of the monarch.
Rousseau - Carried the idea forward, proposing a form of government
based on a Social Contract between people & their
representatives.
Montesquieu -The Spirit of the Laws proposed a division of power
within the government between the legislative, the
executive and the judiciary.
• Severe Winter - In the bitterly cold winter of 1788/89, heavy snowfall
blocked roads, major rivers froze over and much commerce came to a
standstill. When the spring thaw came, it flooded thousands of hectares
of farming lands.
• Industrial Revolution - Both the revolution take place parallel to
each other due to which new invention as well people started getting
literate . Era of industrial revolution as well plays a very significant role .
• No Accountability or Responsibility of Lords towards third
estate - In the time of severe winter or financial turmoil lords were
busy in hosting party in their manor without any accountability .
• High Imposition of taxes - Due to the financial turmoil king
imposed high imposition of taxes towards the third estate people .
• Laborers' wages were fixed, but it did not keep pace with the rising
prices.
• The burden of financing activities of the state through taxes was
borne by the third estate alone
Condition of the Third Estate
Out break of the revolution

● Louis XVI had to increase the tax financial status of France during
that time.
● In France of the Old Regime the monarch did not have the power to
impose taxes according to his will alone.
● Rather he had to call a meeting of the Estates General which would then
pass his proposals for new taxes.
● The Estates General was a political body to which the three estates sent
their representatives respectively.
● The monarch alone could decide when to call a meeting of this body.
● The last time it was done was in 1614.
● Louis XVI had to increase taxes because of the financial status of France
during that time.
- Thousands of volunteers thronged from the provinces to join the army .
- They saw this war as a war of the people against kings and aristocracies all over Europe.

JACOBIN CLUBS

Political clubs became an important rallying point for people who wished to discuss government
policies and
plan their own forms of action.
Most successful club was JACOBIN CLUB (got its name from the former convent of St Jacob in Paris)
On 10 August, 1792- the Jacobins attacked the Palace of Tuileries with large number of Parisians.
● Killed the king’s guard, and held king as hostage.
● Later, Assembly voted to imprison the royal family.
● Elections were held, and voting rights were
granted to all men of 21 years of age and above,
regardless of wealth.
● The newly elected assembly was called the CONVENTION.