CENTENARY SECONDARY SCHOOL

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

GRADE 10 HISTORY
TERM TWO: WORKSHEET TWO

TOPIC 3: THE FRENCH REVOLUTION FROM 1789

The French Revolution marks an important chapter in the birth of the modern
world. The revolution brought about the collapse of the ancien regime (old
order) and replaced it with a government based on democratic principles.

OVERVIEW OF TOPIC:
1. Conditions that led to the outbreak of revolution in France before
1789:
1.1. Political system in France.
1.2. Social system in France.
1.3. Economic crisis in France.
1.4. Influences of philosophers.
2. Course of the French Revolution from 1789
2.1. The meeting of the Estates General and the Tennis Court Oath.
2.2. The Storming of the Bastille
2.3. Revolt in the countryside
2.4. The National Assembly and the Declaration of the Rights of Man
and the Citizen
2.5. The March to Versailles
2.6. The fight, arrest, and execution of the King
2.7. The Reign of Terror
3. Consequences and impact of the French Revolution in human
history.
What is a ‘revolution’?
The word revolution basically means a complete turnaround of one way of
doing things to another way of doing things. In the study of history, it is meant
to describe an aggressive overthrow of a government structure or a massive
sudden change in societal values.

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A revolution usually occurs when the masses (or large portions of the
population) have been oppressed. To resist the oppression, the masses can
use their large numbers to their advantage to overwhelm and overthrow
oppressive leadership.
Before 1789, the mass of the French population lived under a social system
that oppressed most of the population and gave privilege to a small part of
the French population. In our study of the French Revolution, we will first
explore the conditions in France before 1789 that eventually led to the
outbreak of a violent revolution.

MEMORANDUM FOR DEFINITIONS:

Using internet sources, like Wikipedia, Google search and/ or any online
dictionary, find the meaning of the following terms:
1) Absolute monarchy: This is a political system where all powers are
vested (put) in one authority or person.
2) Ancien Regime: The old order or the government that existed in France
before the Revolution.
3) Bourgeoise: The middle class.
4) Sans Culottes: the workers or common people of the lower classes.
5) Lettres de Cachet: The right of French Kings to arrest and imprison
people without a fair trial.
6) Philosophy: the study of the nature of knowledge, truth, and reality.
7) Atheism: a belief system in which there is no god.
8) Religious fanaticism: obsessive enthusiasm related to one’s own
religion.
9) Inalienable rights: rights that cannot be taken away from a person or
given to another person. E.g. the right to life is an inalienable right.
10) Tyranny: control of a government by violent or oppressive means.

1. CONDITIONS IN FRANCE BEFORE 1789 THAT LED TO REVOLUTION

While there are various factors that led to the outbreak of revolution in France
by 1789, we will focus on these key areas:

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 Causes of the French Revolution
Political Social Influence of
Economic Philosophers:
Causes: Causes:
System:
How did How did the What role did
How did the philopsophies
absolute social structure
economic crisis play in the
rulership lead in France
in France lead French
to an overthrow contribute to
to the outbreak Revolution?
of French the outbreak of
of revolution?
government? revolution?

1.1. Political Causes of the French Revolution:

KEY QUESTION: HOW DID THE FAILURE OF THE FRENCH MONARCHY LEAD TO
THE OUTBREAK OF REVOLUTION IN FRANCE BY 1789?

In 1774, at the age of 20 years old, Louis XVI (16th) became the King of
France. King Louis XVI had married Marie-Antoinette, an Austrian princess,
when she was 15 years old in 1770. When Louis XVI came into power,
society began to see the flaws (weaknesses) in the French monarchy:
- Misuse of power.
- Inability to rule efficiently.
Louis XVI believed that God had given him power to rule. In other words, he
ruled by Divine Rights of Kings. His subjects had to obey him without
question. He claimed absolute power.
There were signs that there was much opposition to him. In April 1789, after
rumours of wage cuts, a crowd of hundreds armed with sticks, began a riot.
The royal family (King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette) contributed to the
downfall of the French monarchy in the following ways:
- King Louis XVI came into power when French society was already in a
state of decay.
- The King was a weak ruler because of lethargy (laziness) and
indecisiveness (unable to make firm decisions). He was dominated by
his wife, who was seen as a foreigner by French society.

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 - Both the King and Queen used state finances on entertainment,
shopping, alcohol, jewellery, hunting and horse riding.
- The nobility began demanding more power. The Queen openly sided
with the nobility.
- The king promoted the hated practice of lettres de cachet.

SOURCE 1A: Paintings of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI depicting extravagant
clothing and jewellery.

[Source: https://curtis9history.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/king-louis-and-marie-antoinette/]

SOURCE 1B: The following extract is taken from French historians studying the lettres de
cachet (letters of seal or stamp):

The letters of seal are closed letters, signed by the King, signed by a secretary of state
who is almost always from the King's house. They are used for special purposes, to
summon a judicial body, to order a ceremony but, more often than not, they contain an
individual order of exile, imprisonment or internment.

A letter de cachet signed by Louis XVI illustrating this practice (Carnavalet Museum in
Paris, published in Paquet et Boigelot, "The Modern Period and the Beginnings of
Contemporary Times", History and Humanities, Casterman, 1973)

"Mr. de Jumilhac, my intention being that the name Hugonet be taken to my castle in the
Bastille, I write this letter to tell you that you have to receive him there when he is brought
there and to keep it there and hold it until further notice from me. Written at Versailles,
January 13, 1765, Louis"

[Source: https://perso.helmo.be/jamin/euxaussi/justice/cachets.html]

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 ACTIVITY 1:
Use the notes and the sources to answer the following questions.

1.1. Consult Source 1A:

1.1.1. Define the following terms:
a) Absolute power [1x2] (2)
b) Letters de Cachet [1x2] (2)

1.1.2. Using the source, describe the clothing used by both members of
the royal family. [1x2] (2)
1.1.3. Using your own knowledge, discuss two ways in which the
lifestyle of the royal family contributed to downfall of the French
monarchy. [2x2] (4)
1.1.4. Provide one reason why this source may be considered as a
primary source of historical information. [1x2] (2)

1.2. Read Source 1B:

1.2.1. According to the source, list three reasons for using the lettres de
cachet. [3x1] (3)
1.2.2. Using the source, state where was Hugonet supposed to be
taken. [1x1] (1)
1.2.3. State the date this letter was written. [1x1] (1)
1.2.4. According to the source, discuss whether Hugonet:
a) had any say in where he was being taken to, [1x2] (2)
b) knew why he was being taken there. [1x2] (2)

1.3. Using the source, the notes and your own knowledge, write a paragraph
of eight (8) lines, or eighty (80) words, in which discuss how the failures
of the French monarchy contributed to the outbreak of revolts in France
from 1789. (8)

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1.2. Social Causes of the French Revolution:
KEY QUESTION: HOW DID THE STRUCTURE OF FRENCH SOCIETY CONTRIBUTE
TO THE OUTBREAK OF REVOLUTION IN FRANCE BY 1789?

The Estate System in France before 1789:

French Society had been divided into 3 estates for centuries:
First Estate : The Clergy
Second Estate : The Nobility
Third Estate : The Commoners (everyone else in France)

SOURCE 2A: The following diagram shows how French society was divided during the
ancien regime:

[Source: https://za.pinterest.com/pin/15692298680913872/]

The First Estate was the clergy, which included priests and other people
who ran both the Catholic church and some aspects of the country. In
addition to keeping registers of births, deaths and marriages, the clergy also
had the power to levy a 10% tax known as the tithe. They made up 1% of the
population and owned 10% to 15% of the land in France.

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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 privileges, such
as the wearing a sword and hunting. Like the clergy, they also collected taxes
from the Third Estate. In addition, they also collected rent and feudal taxes
from peasants.
Nobles made up 2% to 4% of the population and owned 20% of the land in
France. There were two types of Nobles: Nobles of the Sword who were
noble by birth and Nobles of the Robe who bought their way into becoming a
noble. The Nobles refusal to pay taxes and demand for more power and
privilege was a major cause of the revolution.
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 4% of the total population of France, the Third Estate was 96%, and had
none of the rights and privileges of the other two estates.

BOURGEOISIE PEASANTS SANS COULETTE

(MIDDLE CLASS) (WORKERS)
8% of the population 90% of the population
Owned 20% of the land Lived in rural France Lived in urban areas
Well educated and rich Lived in intense poverty Were poor because they
worked in low-paying jobs
Disappointed that they Paid *gabelle and *taille Due to poverty and
had no say in the running to the state. unemployment, workers
of the country. were prone to acts of
violence.
Wanted a constitution Paid feudal dues to the They were the most
that would limit the King’s nobles. politicised group
power. (politically aware).
Performed unpaid labour
They also wanted jobs to (work) for the state.
be open to men based on
talent ad merit, not
because of birth and
privilege.

Historians believe that one of the reasons the French Revolution came about
was the dissatisfaction of members of the Third Estate, who wanted a more
equal distribution of wealth and power.
*Gabelle was a salt tax.
*Taille was a tax on common people by the King and overlords.

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 SOURCE 2B: During the 1780’s, many artists began expressing their views on the estate
system using political cartoons. The following cartoon is a primary source
of historical information. Many artists would draw each estate differently.
For example, the clergy usually were drawn with a dark long robe and a
chain with a cross while the nobles were usually drawn carrying a sword.
The ‘commoners’ were usually drawn with torn or old clothes.

[Source: http://mrcozart.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/frrev3estates00257795.jpg?w=604]

SOURCE 2C: The following extract are the words of Abbe Sieyes, a leading figure in the
Revolution, and outlines the aspirations (hopes and desires) of the Third
Estate:

Who would dare to say that the third estate has not within itself all that is necessary to
constitute a complete nation? It is the strong and robust man whose one arm remains
enchained. If the privileged order were abolished, the nation would not be something
less, but something more.

Thus, what is the third estate? Everything; but an everything shackled and oppressed.
What would it be without the privileged order? Everything; but an everything free and
flourishing.

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 Nothing can progress without it; everything would proceed infinitely better without the
others. It is not sufficient to have demonstrated that the privileged classes, far from
being useful to the nation, can only…injure it; it is necessary, moreover, to prove that
the nobility does not belong to the social organization at all; that, indeed, it may be a
burden upon the nation,

The third estate, then, comprises everything appertaining to the nation; and whatever is
not the third estate may not be regarded as being of the nation.

What is the third estate? Everything!

[Source: Sieyes, A. ‘What is the Third Estate?’ From the Political French pamphlet, January 1789.]

ACTIVITY 2:
Use the notes and the sources to answer the following questions.

2.1. Refer Source 2A:

2.1.1. Define the following term:
a) Ancien Regime [1x2] (2)
2.1.2. According to the source, where did the clergy work? [1x1] (1)
2.1.3. List 3 jobs the commoners did. [3x1] (3)
2.1.4. Using the source, notes, and your own knowledge, explain the
differences between the ‘nobles of the sword’ and ‘nobles of the
robe’. [2x2] (4)

2.2. Study Source 2B:

2.2.1. Using the source, identify the estate and the people who belonged
to the estate for letters:
a) A [2x1] (2)
b) B [2x1] (2)
c) C [2x1] (2)
2.2.2. Using the source and your own knowledge, describe how you
identified each estate in question 2.2.1 above. [2x2] (4)
2.2.3. Explain how the body language of estates A and B indicates that
they are shocked or alarmed. [2x2] (4)
2.2.4. Using the source and your own knowledge, provide on reason
why these estates may be shocked or alarmed. [1x2] (2)
2.2.5. Estates B and A are standing on a stone. Below this stone is
Estate C. What do you think the stone represents? [1x2] (2)

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2.3. Read Source 2C:
2.3.1. According to the source, name the estate the author believed was
‘everything’? [1x1] (1)
2.3.2. Quote a line from the source which shows that this estate
discriminated. [1x2] (2)
2.3.3. According to the author, how would the nation become ‘something
more’? [1x2] (2)
2.3.4. Which estate is the author referring to when he says ‘privileged
classes’? [1x1] (1)
2.3.5. Discuss two ways in which the ‘privileged classes’ benefitted from
the estate you identified in 2.3.1 above. [2x2] (4)

2.4. Using the sources, your notes and your own knowledge, write a
paragraph of eight (8) lines, or eighty (80) words in which you discuss
how the social conditions in France before 1789 led to the outbreak of
revolution. (8)

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