The French Revolution (1789-1799) was one of the most significant events in modern world history. It began due to the despotic rule of the Bourbon dynasty, especially under Louis XVI, economic crisis, social inequality, and the influence of Enlightenment thinkers. The revolution started with the Tennis Court Oath and the fall of the Bastille on July 14, 1789. It led to the abolition of feudalism, the establishment of democratic principles, and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. The revolution's ideals of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" influenced independence movements worldwide.
Question-Answer Study Material
1. Political Causes
Q1: What was the political situation in France before the revolution?
A: France was ruled by the despotic Bourbon dynasty. The rulers believed in the Divine Right Theory, which stated that kings derive their authority from God and are accountable only to God, not to the people. The Estates General (French parliament) had not been summoned since 1614. Louis XIV famously declared "I am the State," showing the absolute nature of monarchy.
Q2: What is the Divine Right Theory?
A: According to the Divine Right Theory, the king is God's representative on earth. The king derives his authority directly from God, making him accountable only to God and not to the people. This theory was used to justify despotic rule and absolute monarchy.
Q3: Why did the rulers of France become unpopular?
A: The French rulers became unpopular due to:
- Corruption and extravagance of Louis XV and Louis XVI
- Continuous expensive wars
- Imposition of new taxes on subjects
- Queen Marie Antoinette's interference in government affairs
- Lack of attention to governance and people's welfare
2. Social Structure
Q4: How was French society divided in the 18th century?
A: French society was divided into three estates:
- First Estate (Clergy): Catholic Church priests who owned large lands, were exempt from taxes, and collected tithe (1/10th of produce) from peasants
- Second Estate (Nobles): Landowners who held high government and army positions, lived luxuriously, and collected various taxes from people
- Third Estate (Commons): Comprised the majority including middle class, workers, and peasants who bore the burden of all taxes and unpaid services
Q5: What was the popular saying about the French social system?
A: "Nobles fight, Priests pray, and the Commons pay" - This saying reflected how the first two estates enjoyed privileges while the third estate bore all the financial burden.
Q6: How did the nobles exploit the common people?
A: The nobles exploited common people through various taxes and services:
- Corvée: Forced unpaid labor for 3-4 days annually
- Banalité: Monopoly tax on wine-making and compulsory use of landlord's facilities
- Banvin: Monopoly tax on wine production
- Péage: Toll on bridges and roads
- Terrage: Special harvest tax from peasants
Q7: What led to the rise of the middle class?
A: The middle class emerged due to:
- Progress in agricultural and industrial sectors
- Growth of new cities and employment opportunities
- Expansion of domestic and colonial trade
- Rise of professionals like doctors, lawyers, and bankers
Q8: Why was the middle class discontented? A: Despite their economic and educational advancement, the middle class:
- Had to pay heavy taxes like the common people
- Were denied appropriate status and power in administration and army
- Faced inequality in taxation compared to the privileged estates
3. Economic Crisis
Q9: What caused the economic crisis in France? A: The economic crisis was caused by:
- Severe agricultural crisis in the 1770s leading to decreased production
- 60% increase in cereal prices (1730-1789) while wages increased only 22%
- Trade agreement with Britain flooding French markets with British goods
- Unemployment of native artisans
- Heavy government borrowing and debt
Q10: What was the Gabelle tax? A: Gabelle was a tax imposed on all products from the 13th century. From the 15th century onwards, it was levied only on salt. It was a very unpopular tax among the common people.
4. Intellectual Influences
Q11: How did French philosophers influence the revolution? A: French philosophers inspired people to react against injustice through their ideas:
Q12: What were Voltaire's contributions? A: Voltaire was a philosopher, historian, and satirist who constantly criticized the clergy through his writings. Though not an atheist, his criticism of religious authorities led to his expulsion from France.
Q13: What were Rousseau's key ideas? A: Rousseau's important ideas included:
- "Man is born free, but everywhere he is in chains"
- The Social Contract theory - people created kings for their welfare, but kings violated their responsibilities
- "Good laws create good citizens"
- Opposition to existing power structures based on naturalism
Q14: What did Montesquieu propose? A: Montesquieu advocated:
- Limited monarchy instead of absolute rule
- Separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches
- His work "The Spirit of Laws" analyzed principles of government and constitutional evolution
Q15: Who were the Physiocrats? A: Physiocrats were economists who influenced French people. Key figures included:
- Turgot: Advisor to Louis XVI who planned economic improvements favoring the middle class, including agricultural encouragement and free trade
- Necker: Continued Turgot's reforms but faced opposition and was dismissed
5. The Revolution Begins
Q16: Why was the Estates General summoned? A: Louis XVI summoned the Estates General after 175 years to impose new taxes to overcome the severe economic crisis France was facing.
Q17: How was the Estates General organized? A: The Estates General was divided into three estates:
- First Estate (Clergy): 285 members (small percentage of population)
- Second Estate (Nobility): 308 members (about 140,000 people)
- Third Estate (Commons): 621 members (majority of population) The voting system was one vote per estate, giving advantage to the first two estates.
Q18: What was the Tennis Court Oath? A: On June 20, 1789, when the Third Estate assembly hall was closed by Louis XVI, representatives led by Jean-Sylvian Bailly, Abbé Sieyés, and Mirabeau met at a nearby tennis court. They took an oath not to leave until they drafted a constitution for France. This became known as the Tennis Court Oath.
Q19: What was the significance of the Fall of Bastille? A: On July 14, 1789, angry crowds stormed the Bastille fortress, symbol of Bourbon despotism. This event is considered the beginning of the French Revolution. It led to:
- Popular control of Paris
- Spread of violence to French countryside
- Louis XVI's approval of National Assembly laws
6. Role of Women
Q20: How did women participate in the French Revolution? A: Women played crucial roles:
- Thousands marched to Versailles palace carrying weapons
- Forced the royal family to move to Paris
- Made the king accept National Assembly decisions
Q21: Who were the prominent women leaders? A:
- Olympia de Gouche: Playwright and activist who wrote "Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen," demanding equal rights for women
- Madame Jeanne Rolland: Advocated for women's equality and achieved rights to property and divorce
7. Reforms and Changes
Q22: What were the key reforms of the National Assembly? A: Major reforms included:
- Abolition of slavery
- Removal of special powers of nobility
- Abolition of taxes to the Catholic Church
- Cancellation of additional taxes
- Implementation of unified constitution
- Issue of new paper currency called 'Assignat'
- Confiscation of church properties
- Complete religious tolerance
- Making clergy salaried government employees
Q23: What was the Declaration of Human Rights? A: The French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen declared:
- "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights"
- Natural rights include liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression
- Sovereignty resides in the nation
- Law can only prohibit actions harmful to society
8. Reign of Terror
Q24: What was the Reign of Terror? A: In 1792, the National Convention replaced the National Assembly and declared France a republic. The Jacobins seized control and formed the Committee of Public Safety. Led by Robespierre, Danton, Hébert, and Marat, they began a reign of terror:
- Thousands were branded traitors and imprisoned
- About 1,500 people were killed in the "September Massacre"
- The guillotine was used for executions
- Even revolutionary leaders were later guillotined
Q25: Who were the Jacobins and Girondists? A:
- Jacobins: Radical political group led by Robespierre, met at Jacobin Convent, had great influence on French politics
- Girondists: Moderate group from Gironde region, represented upper classes including landowners and merchants
9. Napoleon Bonaparte
Q26: How did Napoleon rise to power? A: Napoleon Bonaparte, a Brigadier General, overthrew the corrupt Directory system. He famously said, "I found the crown of France in the gutter. I picked it up with the tip of my sword and cleaned it, and placed it atop my own head." He established a system of three consuls with himself as First Consul, later declaring himself Emperor.
Q27: What were Napoleon's major reforms? A:
- Legal reforms: Napoleonic Code abolished feudal laws, ensured equality and religious freedom
- Religious reforms: Concordat with Pope restored Catholic Church freedom while granting freedom to other religions
- Educational reforms: Established government schools (lycee) and University of France system
- Economic reforms: Established Bank of France and unified currency system
- Military reforms: Reorganized army into battalions
Q28: What was Napoleon's Continental System? A: The Continental System was Napoleon's plan to destroy Britain economically by banning all French-controlled or allied countries from trading with Britain. This eventually led to his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
10. Congress of Vienna
Q29: What was the Congress of Vienna? A: After Napoleon's defeat in 1815, European countries met in Vienna, Austria, led by Austrian Chancellor Metternich. Major decisions included:
- Restoration of pre-revolution monarchies
- Restoration of Bourbon monarchy in France
- Recognition of Britain's naval supremacy
- Recognition of Russia's dominance in Eastern Europe
- Recognition of Austria's dominance in Central Europe
11. Consequences and Legacy
Q30: What were the major consequences of the French Revolution? A:
- Collapse of feudalism in France
- Rise of modern nationalism
- Foundation of democratic governance based on popular sovereignty
- Introduction of metric system
- Influence on independence movements in Asia and Africa
- Establishment of the concept that nations are defined by people, not monarchy
Q31: What symbols emerged from the revolution? A:
- Sans-culottes: Long trousers worn by workers as protest against nobility's breeches
- Phrygian cap: Red cap symbolizing freedom from slavery
- Tree of Liberty: Planted as symbol of freedom (even Tipu Sultan planted one in Srirangapatnam)
Q32: How did the revolution influence the world? A: The French Revolution's ideals of "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" inspired:
- Democratic movements worldwide
- National independence struggles in Asia and Africa
- Modern concepts of human rights and citizenship
- End of feudal systems in many countries
Important Terms to Remember
- Divine Right Theory
- Estates General
- Tennis Court Oath
- Bastille
- Sans-culottes
- Jacobins and Girondists
- Reign of Terror
- Guillotine
- Continental System
- Congress of Vienna
- Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
Key Dates
- 1614: Last summoning of Estates General before revolution
- June 17, 1789: Third Estate declares itself National Assembly
- June 20, 1789: Tennis Court Oath
- July 14, 1789: Fall of Bastille (Beginning of Revolution)
- 1792: France declared a republic
- 1793-1794: Reign of Terror
- 1815: Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo
- 1815: Congress of Vienna