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The French Revolution
Lecture No-01
By-Muskan Sehgal ma'am
Topics to be covered
1. Introduction
2. French Society During the late Eighteenth Century
3. The struggle to survive
The French Revolution
The time was half past three, on the famous date of July 14, 1789. A
huge, bloodthirsty mob marched to the Bastille, searching for
gunpowder and prisoners that had been taken by the unpopular and
detested King, Louis XVI. The Bastille had been prepared for over a
week, anticipating about a hundred angry subjects and along the
thick rock walls of the gargantuan fortress and between the towers
were twelve more guns that were capable of launching 24-ounce case
shots at any who dared to attack. However, the enraged Paris
Commune was too defiant and too livid to submit to the starvation
and seeming injustice of their government. But nothing could have
prepared the defenders for what they met that now famous day.
Storming of Bastille
The Bastille was governed by a man named Marquis de Launay. At
three o'clock that afternoon, a huge group of French guards and angry
citizens tried to break into the fortress. There were over three
hundred people ready to give their lives to put an end to their
overtaxing and overbearing government.
Storming of Bastille
The Marquis de Launay said he
would surrender if his troops were
allowed to leave peacefully, but he
was simply rebuked. They wanted
de Launay on a noose or with his
head in a basket.
Question
When did the Storming of the Bastille take place?
A 4th August 1789
B 14th July 1789
C 5th May 1789
D 26th August 1789
Question
Why was the Bastille stormed by the people of Paris?
A It was the king’s palace
B It was a symbol of royal oppression and
stored ammunition
C It was a tax collection center
D It was the home of Marie Antoinette
Question
What did the fall of the Bastille symbolize?
A The end of the monarchy
B The beginning of the Reign of Terror
C The end of feudal privileges
D The fall of royal despotism and beginning
of the French Revolution
Question
How many prisoners were found in the Bastille when it was stormed?
A 7
B 100
C 700
D 50
Question
What national holiday in France commemorates the Storming of the Bastille?
A Bastille Day – 14 July
B Republic Day – 26 January
C Liberty Day – 21 September
D Constitution Day – 4 August
The French Revolution
De Launay sent a note to a mob leader named Hulin, claiming
that he had 20,000 pounds of gunpowder and if the besiegers
did not accept his offer, he would annihilate the entire fortress,
the garrison, and everyone in it! Yet, they still refused. The
bridges were finally lowered on de Launay's command, and he
and his soldiers were captured by the crowds and dragged
through the filthy streets of Paris .
The French Revolution
The mob paraded through the streets, showing off their captives,
and crudely cutting off many heads. Upon learning that the Bastille
had been taken, King Louis XVI, who was residing at Versailles, was
reported to have asked an informer: "Is this a revolt?" and La
Rochefoucauld-Liancourt said, "No, Sire, it is a revolution."
How and why did this happen ?
French Society During the Late
Eighteenth Century
When Louis XVI ascended the
throne in 1774, faced a severe
financial crisis. The help extended
to American colonies in their war
of Independence against British
had added more than a Billion
livres to a debt that had already
risen to more than 2 Billion livres.
To meet its regular expenses, the Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
state was forced to increase taxes.
French Society During the Late
Eighteenth Century
To meet its regular expenses the French
government had to increase taxes.
French society in the eighteenth century was
divided into three estates, and only members
of the third estate paid taxes.
• Tithe : A tax levied by the church,
comprising one-tenth of the
agricultural produce.
• Taille : Tax to be paid directly to the
state
During the Old Regime the French
Society was divided into Three
Estates
First Estate consisted of Clergy,
Second Estate consisted of Nobles
Third Estate consisted of the rest of
the people.
Third Estate carrying the burden
of First & Second Estate
French Society During the Late
Eighteenth Century
First and Second Estate owned more
than 60% of the land, didn’t paid any
taxes, enjoyed privileges by birth,
nobles enjoyed feudal privileges,
Church extracted separate taxes like
Tithes. State extracted a direct tax
called Taille and a number of indirect
taxes. Members of Third Estate made
about 90% of the population, taxes
were borne by the Third Estate only.
Question
What privileges did the First and Second Estates enjoy?
A Right to vote
B Exemption from taxes
C Free education
D Right to rebel
Question
Which group was NOT part of the Third Estate?
A Lawyers and teachers
B Peasants
C Nobles
D Businessmen
Question
Which Estate paid all the taxes in pre-revolutionary France?
A 1st
B 2nd
C 3rd
D all
Question
Who belonged to the First Estate in 18th-century France?
A Clergy
B Nobles
C Common man
D none
Question
How was the French society divided during the 18th century?
A Feudal and Capitalist
B 3 estates
C 2 estates
D 1 estate
The Struggle to Survive
Population rise led to a rapid
increase in demand, production
could not keep pace with the
demand this led to the rise in
prices of the essential items.
The gap between poor and rich
widened.
Years of bad harvest led to
Subsistence Crisis.
Subsistence Crisis.
scarcity Rising The poorest
of grain food can no longer
Bad prices buy bread
Harvest
Disease
and
epidemic Weaker Food
bodies riots
Increased
number of
deaths
Question
What is meant by the term ‘subsistence crisis’?
A A financial crisis in royal families
B A situation where basic means of
livelihood are endangered
C A war-like situation in France
D A sudden collapse of the monarchy
Question
What was one of the major causes of the subsistence crisis in France
A Lack of weapons
B Crop failure due to bad weather
C Increase in royal taxes
D Ban on farming
Question
Which of the following groups was most affected by the subsistence cris
A Clergy
B Nobility
C Urban poor and peasants
D Royal family
Question
How did population growth contribute to the subsistence crisis?
A It reduced food supply
B It increased demand for food, but supply
did not keep up
C It reduced the tax burden
D It led to more nobles
Question
What happened to the price of bread during the subsistence crisis?
A It dropped drastically
B It remained stable
C It became extremely high
D It was made free by the king
Causes of Revolution
The population of France rose from about 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789.
• Increase in population
• Increase in demand of foodgrains
However, production was less compared to the demand
Reason : Bad harvest due to drought and severe winters
So the price of bread which was the staple diet of the majority rose rapidly
Workers were employed by the owners and they gave out
fixed wages.
This raised the gap between rich and poor even more.
Question
Which of the following was an economic cause of the French Revolution?
A High military spending
B Increase in export trade
C Rise in royal income
D Abundance of food
Question
Which Enlightenment idea contributed most to the French Revolution?
A Absolute monarchy is divine
B People have natural rights like liberty and
equality
C Kings should never be questioned
D War is the only solution
Question
Which of the following was a key political cause of the French Revolution?
A Weak leadership of Louis XVI
B Successful rule of Napoleon
C Spread of feudalism
D Rise of socialism
A Growing Middle Class Envisages an
End to Privileges
Revolts against increasing taxes and
food scarcity was left to groups within
the third estate who had become
prosperous and had access to
education and new ideas. Eighteenth
century saw the emergence of middle
class (Merchants, Manufacturers,
Lawyers or Administrative officials). John Locke
A Growing Middle Class Envisages an
End to Privileges
These were educated and believed that no
group should be privileged by birth, a
person’s social position must depend on
his merit, envisaged a society based on
freedom and equal law and opportunities
for all.
In his Two Treatises of Government John
Locke sought to refute the doctrine of the
divine and absolute right of the monarch. John Locke
A Growing Middle Class Envisages an
End to Privileges
Philosophers Books
John Locke Two Treatises of Government
J.J. Rousseau The Social Contract
Montesquieu The Spirit of the Laws
John Locke
In the Spirit of the Laws,
Montesquieu proposed a
division of power within
the government between
the legislative, the
executive and the judiciary.
The model of government
was put into force in the
USA, after the thirteen
colonies declared their Montesquieu
independence from Britain.
Rousseau carried the idea forward, proposing a
form of government based on a social contract
between people and their representatives.
The ideas of these philosophers were discussed
intensively in salons and coffee-houses and spread
among people through books and newspapers.
These were frequently read aloud in groups for the
benefit of those who could not read and write. The
news that Louis XVI planned to impose further
taxes to be able to meet the expenses of the state
generated anger and protest against the system of
privileges.
Jean Jacques Rousseau
These were frequently read
aloud in groups for the benefit
of those who could not read and
write. The news that Louis XVI
planned to impose further taxes
to be able to meet the expenses
of the state generated anger
and protest against the system
of privileges.
Homework
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