Ix 9.4.13

FRENCH REVOLUTION

MAJOR TOPICS Story related with Bastille Prison- 1789 July 14 Causes for the outbreak of the French

Revolution1. Political Causes

a. Absolute Monarchyb. Financial Crisis due to warsc. Interference of Queen in

administrationd. Corrupt and Cruel Administration

2. Social Causes (Social condition in 18th century)

a. Inequality in Societyb. Privileges based on birth

3. Economical causesa. Financial Crisisb. High Taxc. Subsistence Crisis

4. Rise of Middleclass People5. Role of Philosophers

a. Rousseaub. Voltairec. Montesquieud. John Lock

Short Notes- Absolute Monarchy and Constitutional Monarchy, Livre, Clergy, Tithe, Taille, Subsistence Crisis

The Outbreak of the Revolution1. major events2. National Assembly3. Tennis Court Oath4. Time Line

France- from A.M to C.M The Declaration of Rights of Man and

Citizens Political Symbols France from Constitutional Monarchy to

Republic1. Reign of Terror2. A Directory rules in France

The Role of Woman in French Revolution

Impacts of the French Revolution1. Abolition of Slavery2. Contribution to the World

Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte

Short Notes

CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

The French Revolution had broke out in the year 1789. Various factors contributed for the outbreak of

the French revolution like1. Political Causes2. Social causes3. Economical causes4. Rise of Middle Class People5. Role of Philosophers.

Political Causes (a) Absolute Monarchy In absolute Monarchy king is the supreme

power In 1774, King Louis XVI from bourbon

dynasty ascended the throne of France at the age of 20.

His regime was inefficient and unpopular He believed in the Divine Rights of King It means the right to rule comes from God

and Kings are answerable to God Only. The will of King was the Law of the Land

(b) Financial Crisis due to the wars. France had engaged lot of wars in long

period of time. Under Louis XVI France assisted the

American colonies in their war against Britain.

France had provided the Americans Naval Forces and Soldiers.

As a result the treasury became empty after this wars.

(C ) Queen’s Interference in administration Louis XVI has married Queen Mary

Antoinette an Austrian princes. She led a luxurious life without knowing the

miserable conditions of the poor people. The public money lavishly spent by the queen The queen interfered in state appointments in

order to promote her favorites.

(d)Cruel and Corrupt Administration The prisoners were treated with extreme

severity Many of the prisoners died because of

tortures. Breaking the bones was the common

punishments Nobles were appointed as judges and they

imposed heavy fines

Social Causes (Social Condition in 18th century)

(a ) Inequality in Society The French society had mainly divided

into three Estates CLERGY (First Estate)

NOBILITY (Second Estate)

Third Estate1. Big Business men, merchants, Judges and Lawyers2. Peasants and Artisans3. Small Peasants, landless labour, Servants

First Estate: Clergy It included the Archbishops, Bishops and

Priests. They enjoyed many privileges They were exempted from taxes One fifth of the land was owned by the

church

Second Estate: Noble Class They enjoyed all important positions in the

French administration. They led very luxury life and they were

exempted from taxes They enjoyed feudal privileges and they were

collected dues from peasants.

Third Estate : Underprivileged Section Three different categories of people. The largest section of the Third Estate

consisted of the peasants almost 90 percent of the population.

The burden of the tax fell chiefly on the Third estate

They cultivated the land owned by Churches, Nobles and Richer section in the third estate.

Arch Bishop

Bishops

Noble Class people

Third Estates

(b) Privileges Based on Birth• The first two estates enjoyed lot of

privileges in the society.• They were exempted from the tax system• The burden of the taxes carried by the

third estates especially peasants.• They were forced to work in the houses

and fields of the noble class, army and construction of the roads etc…

Economic Causes( a) Financial Crisis As a result of the long years of the war had

drained the financial resources of France. Lenders who gave the state credit, now

began to charge 10 per cent interest on loans.

These factors led a huge financial crisis in France

(b) High tax System For to overcome the financial crisis and

meet the expenses like- maintaining court, maintain army and running government office and university the state decided to increase the tax system.

The churches had collected the taxes from the peasants called- Tithes

All the members of the third estate had to pay the tax to the state.

These included two types of tax- Direct and Indirect tax

The Direct tax, called- Taille The indirect tax imposed for the use of salt

and tobacco. The burden of the tax system mainly carried

by the peasant community

(C ) Subsistence Crisis The population of France increased from

1715 to 1789 (23 million to 28million) It increased the demand of the food grains As a result of the bad harvest the prices of

the bread also increased. But the labourers in the workshops has got

very less and fixed wages. The gap between the rich and poor had

increased. All these factors led a subsistence crisis in

France