FRENCH REVOLUTION I. Causes of French Revolution a. Despotic rule of Louis XVI o 1774, Louis XVI, Bourbon Family king. o Married to Austrian princes Marie Antonette. o Long years of war drained financial reserves. o Added cost of maintaining extravagant court. o War added more than a billion livres which rose to 2 billion livres. o Lenders now charged 10% interest on loans. o French government spent more on interest payment. o Taxes increased to meet its regular expenses on cost of maintaining army, the court, running government offices or universities. o Only members of third states paid taxes. b. French Society o Peasants form 90% of the population. o 60% land was owned by nobles, the church and other richer members of third estate. o Members of first two estates clergy and nobility enjoyed privileges. o Were exempted from paying taxes. o Enjoyed feudal privileges by birth. o Church to collect taxes like tithes from the peasants. o Other taxes like direct tax called taille and a number of indirect taxes on salt or tobacco. o The burden of financing activities of the state were bore by the third estate alone. c. Rising prices o Population increased. o Increase demand for food grain. o Price of bread rose rapidly. o Wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices. o Gap between poor and rich widened. o Led to subsistence crisis. o An extreme situation where basic means of livelihood are endangered. d. Role of middle class o Peasants had participated in revolts against increasing taxes and food scarcity. o 18th century, emerged social group of middle class, earned their wealth from increased trade. o Manufactured goods like woolen and silk textiles, either exported or bought by rich members. o In addition to merchants there were professionals like lawyers or administrative officials. o They were educated and did not believe in social inequality. o Believe that a person’s social position depend on his merit. e. Inspiration of Philosophers o Their ideas envisaged a society based on freedom and equal laws and opportunities for all

o Put forward by philosophers: John Locke, Jacques Rousseau and Montesquieu. o Locke: Two treatises of government refute the doctrine of divine and absolute right of the monarch. o Rousseau: Proposed a form of government on the basis of social contract between people and their representative. o Montesquieu: proposed power sharing between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. o Ideas of these philosophers were discussed in salons, coffee houses and spread among people through books. II. The outbreak of the revolution: Incidents leading to revolution. a. Meeting of Estates General o Louis XVI had to increase taxes. o The Monarch did not have power to impose taxes. o He had to call a meeting of Estates General to pass proposals. o Estate General was a political body to which estates sent their representatives. b. Representation of National Assembly o 5th May 1789, Louis XVI called a meeting with Estates General. o In resplendent hall, Versailles. o First and second Estates – 300 members and Third Estate – 600 members. o Peasants, artisans and women were not allowed to enter. o Their grievances in about 40,000 letters reached them. c. Demand of Universal Adult Franchise o Each estate had one vote. o Third estate demanded vote of each member now. o A democratic principle. o King rejected proposal. o Members of third estate walked out in protest. d. Meet of National Assembly o Representative of Third Estate assembled in indoor tennis court. o Declared them National Assembly. o Drafted a constitution for France that would limit the powers of monarch. o Were led by Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes. o Mirabeau, from a noble family, brought out a journal, delivered powerful speeches. Abbe – wrote influential pamphlet – “What is the Third Estate’? e. Socio –Economic Condition of France o A severe winter – bad harvest led to rise in bread prices o Supplies hoarded and after spending hours in long queues crowd angry women stormed in shops. o King ordered troops to move into Paris. On 14th July agitated crowed stormed and destroyed the bastille. f. Peasants Revolt

o Rumours that feudal lords would send team to destroy crops. o Caught in fear, peasants with other tools attacked residence of landlords (Chateaux) o Looted, hoarded grains. o Burnt documents having records. o Nobles fled to neighbours states to save their lives. g. Recognition of National Assembly o Louis XVI finally gave recognition to National Assembly. o On 4th August 1789, assembly passed a decree abolishing feudal system. o Members of clergy too were forced to give up their privileges. o Tithes, abolished, lands taken by church was confiscated. h. France becomes a constitutional Monarchy o Draft of constitution completed in 1791. o Main objective : limit power of monarch. o Powers distributed among – legislature, executive and judiciary. o France became a constitutional monarchy. o Citizens voted for electors who chose assembly. o Men above 25 years, paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of labourer’s wage were given the status of active citizens. o Remaining men and all women were classed as passive citizens. o To qualify as elector, man has to belong to highest bracket of taxpayers. i. French Constitution o Constitution began with declaration of rights of man and citizens. o Rights guaranteed – right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law established as inalienable rights. o It was duty of the state to protect each citizen’s natural rights. III. France Abolishes Monarchy and becomes a republic a. War against Aristocracies o Louis XVI signed the constitution but entered into a secret negotiation with King of Prussia. o Rulers of other countries too supported Louis XVI of France. o National Assembly 1792 declared war against Prussia ad Austria. o Thousands of volunteers join the army. o They saw this war of people against aristocracies all over Europe. o Among patriotic songs they sang as ‘Marseillaise as they marched into Paris. o It is now the national anthem of France. b. Formation of Clubs. o Wars brought economic losses. o Men went out for wars women earned to look after families.

o People convinced to revolt to get political rights for poor classes also. o Political clubs became important rallying points to discuss government policies. o Most successful of these clubs was that of Jacobins. o Women too formed their own clubs. c. Role of Jacobin Club o Belonged to less prosperous people. o Included small shopkeepers, artisans servants and daily wage workers. o Leader : Maximillan Robespierre. o Jacobins decided to sear long striped trousers similar to those of dock workers. o To set themselves apart from nobles, who wore knee breeches. o These Jacobins came to be known as – ‘Sans – Culottes’ meaning those without knee breeches. o These men also wore a red cap symbolizing liberty. d. All citizens got the Right to vote. o On 10th August, Jacobins stormed the palace of Tuileries, massacred the King’s guards and held the king as hostage for several hours. o Later assembly voted to imprison the royal family. o Elections were held. o All men above 21 years of age regardless of wealth, got the right to vote. e. Declaration of France as Republic. o Newly elected assembly was called the convention. o 21st September 1792, abolished Monarchy, declared France a republic. o A government and its head elected by the people. o No hereditary monarchy. f. End of Monarchy o Louis XVI sentenced to death by a court on the charge of treason. o 21st Jan 1792, executed publically at palace de la Concorde. o Queen Marie Antoinette was also executed shortly. o Brought an end to monarchy. g. The Reign of terror. o Between 1793-94 – Reign of Terror. o Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment. o Enemies of republic; ex-nobles, clergy, embers of other political parties, member of his own party who didn’t agree with him. o Arrested, imprisoned and tried by revolutionary tribunal. o It court found them guilty they were guillotined. o Guillotine – a device consisting of two poles nad a blade with which a person is beheaded. o Placed maximum ceiling on wages nad prices. o Meat and bread rationed. o Use of more expensive white flour prohibited. o All citizens required to eat quality bread.

o Instead of traditional monsieur and Madame. All French men and women were called Citoyen and Citoyenne respectively. o Finally Robespierre was convicted by court in july 1794 and guillotined. h. Directory Rules France o Fall of Jacobin led the wealthier middle classes to seize power. o New Constitution – denied the right to vote to nonpropertied section of society. o There were two elected legislative councils. o Appointed a directory, an executive made up of five members. o Directors often clashed with the legislative councils. o Political instability gave rise to military dictator – Napoleon Bonaparte. IV. Women Revolution a. Sufferings of women o Active participants to bring change in French Society. o Wanted measures to improve their lives. o Most of the women had to work for living. o Worked as seamstresses, sold flowers, fruits, vegetables and employed as domestic servants. o Did not have access to education. o Only daughters of nobles could study at convent and their marriages were arranged. o Working women have to take care of families, cook, wash, look after children. o Wages were lower than men. b. Demands of women o Started own clubs formed. o Most famous: the society of revolutionary and republican women. o Women demanded right to vote. o 1791, constitution declared them as passive citizens. o Wanted representation in the politics. c. Laws for women o Schooling was made compulsory for all girls. o No longer forced them to marry against their will. o Divorce was made legal. o Women could train for jobs. o Could become artist or run small businesses. d. Political Rights of Women. o During Reign of Terror women’s clubs were closed. o Prominent women were arrested. o Women’s movements for voting rights and equal wages continued through the next 200 years. o International suffrage movement in late 19th and early 20th centuries. o Finally in 1946 women in France won the right to vote. V. The Abolition of Slavery o Most revolutionary social reforms of Jacobin regime abolition of slavery in French Colonies.

o Colonies in Caribbean: Marinique, Guadeloupe and San Domingo. o Important suppliers of tobacco, indigo, sugar and coffee. o Reluctance of workers to work in distant land. o Slave trade began in 17th Century. o French Merchants sailed to African coasts to buy slaves from local chieftains. o Branded and shackled slaves packed tightly into ships. o Sold to plantation owners. o Port cities owed their economic prosperity to flourishing slave trade. o Throughout 18th century, little criticism of slavery prevailed. o National assembly held long debates. o Finally in 1794 legislated to free all slaves. o However ten years later, Napoleon reintroduced slavery. o Slavery was finally abolished in French colonies in 1848. VI. The Revolution and Everyday Life a. Laws introduced by Branch legislature. o Important law: abolition of censorship. o Citizens proclaimed freedom of speech and expression to be a natural right. o Freedom of press also meant opposing views of events could be expressed. o Plays, songs and festive processions attracted large members. o The only way to convince people as only a handful of educated people could read. b. Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte o 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself emperor rival of France. o Conquered neighbouring European countries. o Napoleon – modernizer of Europe introduced laws such as protection of private property and uniform systems of weights and measures. o Napoleon: a liverator who would bring freedom for the people. o Was finally defeated at waterloo in 1815. o Ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French revolution.