9a Jasmitha 2534 History HHW

The French Revolution
Holiday Homework
Jesmitha Pathi
9th A
The French Revolution
In 1789, in the wake of early morning, the city of
Paris was in a state of alarm. Rumours spread that the
King would open fire upon the citizens. People
started gathering and they started breaking a number
of government buildings in search of arms. The
commander of the Bastille was killed in the armed
fight and the prisoners were released. People hated
the Bastille as it stood for the despotic power of the
king. People protested against the high price of
bread. A new chain of events began which led to the
execution of the King in France.
French Society During the Late Eighteenth
Century
Louis XVI, in 1774, ascended the throne of France. Financial France was
drained because of the war. France, Under Louis XVI, helped the thirteen
American colonies to gain their independence from Britain. Taxes were
increased to meet regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an
army, the court, running government offices or universities. The country
of France was divided into three estates in the eighteenth century. The
feudal system was part of the society estates dated back to the middle
ages. 90 percent of the population was dominated by peasants but only a
small number of them owned the land they cultivated. 60 percent was
owned by nobles, the Church and other richer members of the third
estate. The clergy and the nobility, members of the first two estates
enjoyed certain privileges by birth. These groups of members were
exempted from paying taxes and enjoyed feudal privileges. All members
of the third estate had to pay taxes to the state which included a direct tax,
called taille, and a number of indirect taxes which were levied on articles
of everyday consumption like salt or tobacco.
The Struggle to Survive
Increase in population led to a rapid increase for food grains. Production of grains could not keep pace
with the demand due to which the price of bread rose rapidly. Due to low wages paid to the labourers the
gap between the poor and the rich widened. Things became worse whenever drought or hail reduced the
harvest.
A Growing Middle Class Envisages an End to

Privileges
Peasants used to participate in revolts against taxes and food scarcity. Group of the third estate had become
prosperous and had access to education and new ideas. In the eighteenth century, new social groups emerged,
termed the middle class, who earned their wealth through expanding overseas trade and by manufacturing
woollen and silk textiles that were either exported or bought by the richer members of society. The third estate
included professions such as lawyers or administrative officials. A person’s social position was dependent on
their merit.
All these groups were educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth. Rather, a
person’s social position must depend on his merit. A new form of government was proposed by Rousseau
based on a social contract between people and their representatives.
Similarly, Montesquieu proposed a division of power within the government between the legislative, the
executive and the judiciary. In the USA, this model of government was put into force. Louis Louis XVI
planned to impose further taxes to meet the expenses.
The Outbreak of the Revolution
In France, the monarch didn’t have the power to impose taxes. They had to call a meeting of the
Estates-General, a political body to which the three estates sent their representatives, to pass
proposals for new taxes. Louis XVI, on 5 May 1789, called an assembly to pass proposals for
new taxes. Representatives from the first and second estates were present and the third estate was
represented by its prosperous and educated members. According to the principle each estate had
one vote. But, representatives from the third estate demanded each member would have one vote.
The demand was rejected so members of the third estate walked out to protest. They swore not to
disperse till a constitution drafted for France that would limit the powers of the monarch.
Due to the severe winter, bread price rose and people had to spend hours in long queues. Rumours
spread that the lords of the manor hired bands of brigands to destroy the ripe crops. In fear,
peasants started looting hoarded grain and burnt down documents containing records of manorial
dues. Nobles fled from their homes. Louis XVI accorded recognition to the National Assembly
and accepted the principle that his powers would from now on be checked by a constitution. The
Assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes on 4 August
1789. Tithes were abolished and lands owned by the Church were confiscated.
France Becomes a Constitutional
Monarchy
In 1791, The National Assembly completed the draft of the
constitution and its main object was to limit the powers of the
monarch. These powers were now separated and assigned to
different institutions – the legislature, executive and judiciary.
France became a constitutional monarchy.
Citizens voted for a group of electors, who in turn chose the
Assembly, but unfortunately, not every citizen had the right to vote.
Men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of
a labourer’s wage were entitled to vote. The Constitution began with
a Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. Rights such as the
right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before
law, were established as ‘natural and inalienable’ rights, that is, they
belonged to each human being by birth and could not be taken away.
France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a
Republic
In April 1792, the National Assembly voted for a war against Prussia and Austria. Marseillaise
became the national anthem of France. While men were away fighting at the war, women took
care of their families. Large sections of the population demanded 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 were formed and among them, Jacobins became the most successful club.
Members of the Jacobin club included small shopkeepers, artisans such as shoemakers, pastry
cooks, watch-makers, printers, as well as servants and daily-wage workers. Jacobin members
started wearing long striped trousers similar to those worn by dockworkers. These Jacobins were
called the sans-culottes, literally meaning ‘those without knee breeches’. On August 10 1792,
Jacobins stormed the Palace of the Tuileries and held the king hostage for several hours.
Elections were held and all men of 21 years and above got the right to vote. Monarchy was
abolished on 21 September 1792 and France was declared a republic. Louis XVI was sentenced
to death by a court on the charge of treason.
The Reign of Terror
The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the Reign of Terror. People whom Robespierre
saw enemies of the republic were arrested, imprisoned and then tried by a revolutionary
tribunal. If they were declared guilty by the court then they were guillotined. The guillotine is
a device consisting of two poles and a blade with which a person is beheaded, named after Dr
Guillotin. Laws were issued to place a maximum ceiling on wages and prices. Meat and
bread were rationed. Expensive white flour was forbidden to use. Equality was practised
through forms of speech and address. All French men and women were addressed as Citoyen
and Citoyenne (Citizen). In July 1794, he was convicted by a court arrested and the next day
sent to the guillotine
A Directory Rules France

Fall of the Jacobin government allowed the wealthier middle classes to seize power. According to the
new constitution, non-propertied sections of society denied voting. It provided for two elected
legislative councils. The government appointed a Directory, consisting of executives made up of five
members. Political instability paved the way
for a military dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte
Did Women have a Revolution?
Women were active participants from the beginning which brought
important changes in the country France. Women from the third estate had
to work for a living and they didn’t have access to education or job training.
Daughters of nobles of the third estate were allowed to study at a convent.
Working women also had to care for their families. Compared to men, their
wages were lower. Women also started their political clubs and newspapers.
The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women was one of the most
famous women’s clubs. They demanded equal political rights as men, the
right to vote and to hold political office. The revolutionary government
introduced laws to improve the lives of women. Schooling became
compulsory, divorce made legal and
they could run small businesses. During the Reign of Terror, the government
closed women’s clubs banning their political activities. After much struggle,
women in France in 1946 won the right to vote.
The Abolition of Slavery
Jacobin regime’s most revolutionary social reform was the abolition of slavery in
the French colonies. In the seventeenth century, slavery trade began. Slaves were
brought from local chieftains, branded and shackled and were packed tightly into
ships for the three-month-long voyage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Slave
labour met the growing demand in European markets for sugar, coffee, and indigo.
Throughout the eighteenth century, there was little criticism of slavery in France.
In 1794, the Convention legislated to free all slaves in the French overseas
possessions. Napoleon introduced slavery after ten years. In 1848, slavery was
abolished in French colonies.
The Revolution and Everyday Life

France during 1789 saw changes in the lives of men, women and children. Abolition
of censorship happened in the summer of 1789. Declaration of the Rights of Man
and Citizen proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be a natural right.
Freedom of press meant opposing views of events could be expressed. Plays, songs
and festive processions attracted large numbers of people.

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The French Revolution

A Growing Middle Class Envisages an End to

A Directory Rules France

The Revolution and Everyday Life

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