CAMBRIDGE AS HISTORY: FRANCE REVOLUTION MODULE. AIMS AND PROBLEMS OF FRENCH POLITICIANS 1789-1791. Contains: king, nobles, church, problems in France, the enlightenment, causes of the revolution, French Revolution.

1. CAMBRIDGEAS
HISTORYREVISION
FRANCE17891917
1.1 AIMSANDPROBLEMSOF
FRENCHPOLITICIANS17891791

3. KING, NOBLES AND CHURCH
The monarchy: long reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV; Louis XVI became
king in 1774; few limitations to his power.
The nobility: enjoyed privileges (e.g. low taxes and political influence).
Peasants: no power or privileges; taxed heavily.
Church: Catholic Church supported the monarchy and opposed reform.

5. PROBLEMS IN FRANCE
Regional differences: different languages, culture and laws in north
and south; some towns/cities had traditional rights.
Financial problems: debt due to involvement in wars; attempts to raise
taxes of rich failed.
Economic structure: agricultural – poor harvests would lead to poverty
and starvation; king and nobles showed little understanding or
sympathy for the poor.

7. THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Definition: intellectual movement supporting new ideas about
government and political rights.
Impact: undermined the monarchy, nobility and Church.

9. CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION
Estates General: representatives from each class: First Estate = Church;
Second Estate = nobility; Third Estate = others (representatives largely
came from middle class rather than peasant majority).
Meeting 1789: Louis XVI summoned Estates General to discuss France’s
financial problems; First and Second Estates refused to accept higher
taxes.
National Assembly: representatives of Third Estate broke away from
Estates General and formed National Constituent Assembly.
Louis XVI’s reaction: saw National Assembly as a challenge to his
authority; prevented members gaining admission to meeting hall.
Tennis Court Oath, 20 June 1789: National Assembly met in tennis court;
swore oath not to disperse until a new constitution had been granted.

11. THE REVOLUTION
Storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789: crowds gathered in Paris in support
of National Assembly; Bastille stormed; peasants rioted; nobles fled abroad.
August Decrees: issued by National Assembly – granted rights to workers
and peasants.
Declaration of the Rights of Man August 1789: first step to constitution.
Opposition to the revolution: from king, nobles, Church, foreign
governments (afraid that revolution would spread); some members
working class (remained loyal to king and Church).
The Civil Constitution 1790: ended pope’s control over the Church in
France; pope condemned the revolution; French people split between
those for and against the revolution.
Flight to Varennes 20 June 1791: Louis XVI and his family fled from France;
arrested at Varennes; king executed 1793.