Prepared By Rachna Kaul

TGT SSci
 Overview
 French Society During the Late
Eighteenth Century

 The Outbreak of the Revolution

 France Abolishes Monarchy and

Becomes a Republic

 Did Women have a Revolution?

 The Abolition of Slavery

 The Revolution and Everyday Life

 France
Capital • Paris

President • Emmanuel Macron

Prime • Jean Castex

Minister
Capital • Paris

President • Emmanuel Macron

Prime Minister • Jean Castex

 Storming of the Bastille
‘The Storming of the Bastille took place in Paris, France on July 14,
1789. This violent attack on the government by the people of
France signaled the start of the French Revolution.

 What was the Bastille?

 Who stormed the Bastille?

 Why did they storm the Bastille?.

 FRENCH SOCIETY
(18th Century)

King of the France : Louis King XVI

❖ Dynasty - Bourbon family

❖ Ascended the throne of France in 1774

❖ At the age of 20 he married Austrian Princess

Marie Antoinette.

❖ The time that Louis XVI ascended the throne,

France was going through a financial turmoil.

 Reasons of Empty Treasury Livre – Unit of currency in
France, discontinued in 1794
Status •American Colonies (13)
•Increase debt of more than 2 billion
symbol war livres

Extravagan •Maintenance of palace

t Expenses Versailles
•Paid by third Estates

High Taxes
•To meet the regular expenses cost of maintaining an
army, the court, running government offices or
universities.

Lavish King and the Queen used to party instead of catering

to the situation
Lifestyle
 Feudal System (Old Regime) – Before 1789

Clergy- Ist Estate

•Group of persons invested with special functions in
the church.
•Exempted from taxes.
• Privileged by birth.

Nobility – IInd Estate

•High Ranking people and families of Court and Royal
Relations.
•They further enjoyed feudal privileges

Remaining – IIIrd Estate

•Compromised of 90% of total population of France.
•Had to pay taxes.
•Big businessmen, merchants, court officials, lawyers,
peasants and artisans, landless labor, servants, etc.
•The Third Estate comprised both rich and poor persons.
 Living Circumstances of IIIrd Estates

1. Peasants were obliged to render services to the lord.

2. The Church extracted its share of taxes called

tithes from the peasants

3. Third estate also had to pay taxes to the state.

These included a direct tax, called taille

4. A number of indirect taxes which were levied on

articles of everyday consumption like salt or tobacco.

4. The burden of financing activities of the state

through taxes was borne by the third estate alone.
 Increase n of

The Struggle to Survive

in Rapid grains
populatio increase could not
n(23M - for food keep pace
1715 to Due to grains. Due to with the
28M - low which the demand
1789) wages Things price of (Drought
paid to became bread / hail)
Gap the
betweenlabourers worse rose
the poor wheneverrapidly.
and the drought
rich or hail
widened. reduced
the
harvest.
 Subsistence Crisis
An extreme situation where the basic means of
livelihood/survival are endangered.
The Spider
and
the Fly
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 Ideas of Philosophers
John Locke- Two Treatises of
Government
He rejected doctrine of the divine & absolute
Right of the monarch.

Rousseau- Social Contract

Proposed 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 judiciary, the
legislative, and the executive..
 French Philosophers were
Spread of Ideas
so influential that the
American constitution
and its guarantee of
individual rights was an
important example for
political thinkers in
France.

The news that Louis

XVI planned to These ideas were
impose further taxes discussed
to be able to meet intensively: 1. Salons
the expenses of the 2.
state generated Coffee-houses
anger and protest 3. Books and
against the system newspapers
of privileges.
Louis XVI had to increase taxes because of the
THE OUTBREAK
financial status of France during that time.
OF THE
REVOLUTION
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

 POLITICAL CLUBS
5 May, 1789:Louis XVI called an assembly of the
Estates General

First & Second Estates sent 300 representatives

each & 600 representative from Third estates.

The third estate was represented by its more

prosperous and educated members.

They demanded that voting now be conducted

where each member would have one vote.

Proposal rejected by the King. Members of the third

estate walked out of the assembly in protest
 Tennis Court Oath
.

On 20 June theyTennis
assembled
CourtinOath:
the hall
Theyof won’t
an indoor
dispense
tennisuntil they draft a
court in the grounds
constitution
of Versailles.
for France
They to
declared
limit the powers of the
themselves a National
monarch.
Assembly

Peasants, artisans
Theand
representatives
women were of denied
the third
entryestate
to theviewed themselves
assembly. However,
as spokesmen
their grievances
for theand
whole
demands
French were
nation
listed in some 40,000 letters which the representatives
had brought with them
The Tennis Court Oath.
Preparatory sketch for a large
painting by Jacques-Louis David.
The painting was intended to be
hung in the National Assembly
National Assembly led by Mirabeau & Abbe Sieyes
Mirabeau
•Bought out a journal
• Delivered powerful
speeches to the crowds
assembled at Versailles.
Abbe Sieyes
•Wrote an influential
pamphlet called ‘What
is the Third Estate’?
 nal

Situation
Asse
mbly
was
busy

in the
at
Versai A
lles sever
drafti e

Countryside
ng a winte
consti r had
tution mean
, the t aOften
After
bad baker
spend
rest s
of harveing
Franc st;exploi
hours
e the tedin
the
pricelong
seeth
ed ofsituati
queu
with bread esonat
turm [Link]
the
hoard
baker
oil. ed
y,
suppli
crowd
ses.
of
angry
wom
en
storm
ed
into
the
shops
.
 Events during French Revolution
The king ordered
troops to move
into Paris

A large number of
On 14 July, the
nobles fled from
agitated crowd
their homes, many
stormed and
of them migrating
destroyed the
to neighbouring
Bastille.
countries.

In the countryside
Caught in a frenzy
rumours spread
of fear, peasants in
that the lords of
several districts
the manor had
seized hoes and
hired bands of
pitchforks and
brigands to destroy
attacked chateaux.
the ripe crops.
Freedom of the
press; opposing
views of events
could be
expressed.
The spread of the Great Fear.
The map shows how bands of peasants spread from
one point to another.
 Recognition of National Assembly
Louis XVI finally recognized National Assembly.

On 4 August 1789 decree passed abolishing the feudal system of

obligations and taxes. This was known as AUGUST DECREE.

Members of the clergy too were forced to give up their

privileges.

Tithes were abolished & lands owned by the Church were

confiscated.

As a result, the government acquired assets worth at least 2 billion

livres.
 France becomes a constitutional monarchy
1791- Draft of Constitution got completed
by National Assembly.

Objective- Limit the powers of the monarch.

The legislature, executive and judiciary.

Separation of power.

Constituti
Monarch Constituti onal
y on Monarch
y
Political System
to at least 3 days all women
of a labourer’s
wage
Types of Citizens

They had voting They had no

rights! Voting Rights. Passiv
Active e
Citize Citize
ns ns
The Constitution began with a Declaration of
the Rights of Man and Citizen.

Rights such as the:

1. Right to life
2. Freedom
of speech
3. Freedom of opinion
4. Equality before law were
established as ‘natural and inalienable’
rights.

It means that they belonged to each human

being by birth and could not be taken away.

It was the duty of the state to protect each

citizen’s natural rights
 Political Symbols
Broken Chain
•Chains were used to fetter slaves. A
broken chain symbolises the freedom
from slavery.

Bundle of Rods
•One rod can be easily broken, but not an
entire bundle. It symbolises that strength
lies in unity.

The eye within a triangle radiating light

•The all seeing eye stands for knowledge.
The rays of the sun will drive away the
clouds of ignorance. It depicts that
knowledge removes ignorance.
Sceptre
•It was a symbol of royal power.
It depicted the power of
autocracy.
Snake biting its tail to form a ring
•This type of ring has neither
beginning nor end. It is a symbol
of eternity.
Red Phrygian cap
•It as worn by a slave upon becoming
free. It symbolises the freedom
from bondage or slavery.
Blue White red
•These were the national colours
of France. The use of these
colour depicts nationalism.
Winged woman
•It is the personification of the
law. It symbolises the power of
law.
Law Tablet
•The law is the same for all and
all are equal before it. It
symbolises equality and justice.
 FRANCE ABOLISHES MONARCHY
 Louis XVI entered into a secret negotiations with the &
King of Prussia. BECOMES A REPUBLIC
 Before King could do anything the National assembly
voted in April 1792 to declare war against Prussia and
Austria.

Reaction among French People

 Thousands of volunteers joined the army.

 French people saw this war as a war of the poor

people against

 Kings and aristocrats all over Europe Volunteers sang

patriotic songs such as Marseillaise composed by
Roget de LíIsle.
National Anthem
of the
France
 The revolutionary wars brought losses and economic
difficulties to the people.

 While the men were away fighting at the front, women

were left to cope with the tasks of earning a living and
looking after their families.

 Large sections of the population were convinced that

the revolution had to be carried further, as the
Constitution of 1791 gave political rights only to the
richer sections of society.
 Political 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.

Women too, who had been active throughout

this period, formed their own clubs.
 Jacobin Clubs
Name : former convent St. Jacob in Paris

Leader : Maximilien Robespierre

Members : Less prosperous section of society - Small shopkeepers,

artisans such as shoemakers, pastry cooks, etc.

Dress Code : STRIPED TROUSERS & Red Cap symbolized Liberty

Known as Sans-culottes : ‘those
without knee breeches’!

To set themselves apart by fashionable sections of society

1792- Jacobins planned a rebellion with large number of Parisians

August 10- Stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, massacred the king’s guards &
held the king as hostage.
 Newly Elected Assembly - Convention

Voting Rights : To all the men of 21 years of age and above,

regardless of wealth, got the right to vote.

The newly elected assembly was called the convention.

Leader : Maxmillian Robespierre

21 September 1792 - Monarchy was abolished & France

declared as republic.

Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a court on the charges of treason. On 21

January 1793 he was executed publicly at the Place de la Concorde

The queen Marie Antoinette met with the same fate shortly after.
et
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it
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sid
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Reign of Terror
asf
n Guillotined - a device, invented in
b
ryF
d France, consisting of a sharp
ser
fta blade in a tall frame, used in the
eh
o
n past for killing criminals by
frec
re cutting off their heads
er
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 A maximum
ceiling on prices.

Churches were
Use of expensive shut down
flour was ban converted in
barracks &
offices

Polici
es
Equal
Meat & bread distribution of
were rationed meat and bread

Instead of using
monsieur (sir) &
madame all
french men &
women were
called citoyen &
citoyene
 End of Robespierre
Finally,
Robespierre
he was pursued
convictedhisbypolicies
a courtsoin relentlessly
July 1794, arrested
that even
and
hison
supporters
the nextbegan
day sent
to demand
to the Guillotine
moderation.
 e)The political
instability of the
Directory paved the
way for the rise of a
military dictator,
d)Directory was an Napoleon
executive made up of Bonaparte.
five members.
Directors often
clashed with the
legislative councils,
who then sought to
dismiss them.

Directory a)The reign of terror

ended in 1794, which
Rule - led to the wealthier
middle classes to
France seize the power

c)It denied right to

vote to non
propertied ( richer b). The Jacobin
class ) men to vote. government fell, and
a new constitution
was prepared by an
elected convention
providing for a
republican from a
government with a
legislature and an
executive body
called the Directory.
 DID WOMEN HAVE A REVOLUTION?
a)Most women of the third estate had to work
for a living such as selling of fruits , & flowers Sufferings of women
etc

b)They did not have a access to education or

job training.

c)Working women also had to take care for

their families;

d)their wages were lower than those of men.

e)Only daughters of nobles could study at

convent & their marriages were arranged.

f)In 1791, they were declared passive citizens.

 Political clubs by Women
To discuss and voice their interests
women started their own political
clubs and newspapers. About sixty
women’s clubs came up in different
French cities
The Society of Revolutionary and
Republican Women was the most
famous of them.

Main Demand : Right to Vote for

women as well.

But Constitution oÿ 1791 reduced

them to passive citizens.

They demanded the right to vote, to

be elected to the Assembly and to
hold political office.
 Revolutionary government
Divo
Introduced laws to improve
rceMar
wasriag the lives of women
mad e
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 Reign of Terror & Women

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 y in 1946
women in Movement for Voting Rights
e won the
t to vote. &
Equal Wages

The fight for

women's
suffrage
continued for
200 years.

Women across globe

carried out international
suffrage movement
during 19th & 20th
century.
New Zealand – Ist country to give Right to vote to women
Facts to Know
India – In 1950 women got Right to vote

Olympe de Gouges
 In 1791, she wrote a Declaration of the Rights of Woman and
Citizen

 Criticised Jacobin Government

 Tried by the National Convention, which charged her with

treason. Soon after this she was executed
 Abolition of Slavery
 The colonies in the Caribbean – Martinique,
Guadeloupe and San Domingo – were important
suppliers of commodities such as tobacco, indigo,
sugar and coffee.

 But Europeans were reluctant to work there. This

started Triangular Slave Trade.

Triangular Slave Trade

● Started in : 17th Century

● Between : Europe, Africa and America

● Objective : To meet the growing demand of

labour of European Plantation owners
From the ports of Bordeaux or Nantes to the African coast.

Branded & shackled. Slaves were packed tightly into ships for 3
months long voyage.

Then they were Sold to European plantation owners.

Exploitation of slave labour made it possible to meet the

growing demand in European markets

The National Assembly held debates upon whether the rights

of man should be extended to slaves or not.

But never passed any law, fearing opposition from

businessmen.

Finally the Convention freed all slaves in the French overseas

possession in 1794

Ten years later, Napoleon reintroduced slavery. Freedom was

misinterpreted as the right to enslave African Negroes in
pursuit of their economic interests.

Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848.

The emancipation of slaves.
This print of 1794 describes the emancipation of slaves.
The tricolor banner on top carries the slogan: The rights
of maní. The inscription below reads: The freedom of the
unfree. A French woman prepares to civilise the African
and American Indian slaves by giving them European
clothes to wear
 Revolution in Everyday life
The years following 1789 in France saw many such
changes in the lives of men, women and children.
The revolutionary governments took it upon
themselves to pass laws that would translate the
ideals of liberty and equality into everyday practice

Abolition of Declaration of
Censorship the Rights of
Man and
Citizen
Newspapers, pamphlets, books and printed pictures
described and discussed the events and changes
taking place in France.

Freedom of the press meant that opposing views

of events could be expressed. Each side sought to
convince the others of its position through the
medium of print.

Plays, songs and festive processions attracted large

numbers of people.
 Napoleon BONAPARTE(1799-1815)

Militarily
Assume , Destroye
d Napoleo d
absolute n proved democra
Ruled powers He to be an cy, but
France in 1799 crowned oppress administ
from by himself or for rative
1799 to becomin as the field
1815. g the emperor people more
First in 1804 of the rational
Consul conquer &
(Military ed efficient.
Dictator) territori
es.
Napoleon – As a Modernizer of Europe
Civil Code/Napoleonic Code (1804)

Established equality before law.

Abolished all privileges based
on birth
Granted the right to property to
French citizens.
Simplified administrative
divisions.
Removed restrictions on guilds
in towns.
Improved transport and
communication.
Abolished feudal system and
freed peasants from serfdom.
Initially, many
saw Napoleon
as a liberator
who would
bring freedom
for the
people.

But soon the

Napoleonic Napoleon crossing the Alps,
armies came painting by David.
to be viewed
everywhere as
an invading
force.

He was finally
defeated at
Waterloo in
1815.
 .

The ideas Colonised Tipu Sultan

of liberty peoples and
and reworked Rammohan
Soon the
democrati the idea of Roy are two
idea of freedom examples of
c rights
French from individuals
were the
Revolutio bondage who
most responded
n spread into their
important movement to the ideas
legacy of across
s to create coming
the French the globe. from
a sovereign
Revolution nation revolutiona
. state. ry France
 Expected Questions
•Explain the subsistence crisis in France.
French Society •Explain the composition of French Society
during 18th during 18th century
•Explain feudalism in France during old
Century regime.

•Mention the features of the constitution of 1791 of France.

The Outbreak •Why did King Louis XVI wanted to increase the taxes?
•Describe the circumstances that led to the outbreak of the
of the French Revolution.
•Give reasons for the walk out of the Third Estates from the

Revolution assembly of Estate General on 5th May ,[Link] steps were

taken after walk out ?

France abolishes •Why is the period of 1793-94 is referred to as

“The Reign of Terror” in France ? Explain.
constitutional •Who composed the national anthem of the
monarchy & France?
•Explain the role of Jacobins in French Revolution.
become Republic
Did Women •Why were women disappointed by the
Constitution of 1791 in France ? What laws did
have a the revolutionary government introduced to
improves the lives of the people?
Revolution

The •One of the most revolutionary social reform was

abolishment of slavery by convention . In the
Abolition of light of the statement explain the triangular slave
trade & how it abolished during Jacobins Regime.
Slavery
Revolution •Napoleon is known for bringing about reforms in
France . In the light of the statement explain why
in Everyday he considered moderniser of Europe.
•Explain the impact of French revolution on the life

life of the people of France?