1. 18th century French society was deeply divided along lines of social class, with the clergy and nobility making up the privileged first and second estates paying no taxes, while the commoners of the third estate faced heavy taxation to support the extravagant lifestyles of the upper classes. 2. Growing economic troubles, poor harvests, and the influence of Enlightenment philosophers challenging the status quo led to unrest among the third estate and middle class. 3. When King Louis XVI called the Estates General in 1789 to deal with a financial crisis, the third estate took the opportunity to demand sweeping reforms, declaring itself a national assembly intent on drafting a constitution and ending absolute monarchy. This triggered the

1. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
STARTED ON 14TH JULY , 1789.
French Society During the Late Eighteenth Century
The Outbreak of the Revolution
France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic
DidWomen have a Revolution?
The Abolition of Slavery
The Revolution and Everyday Life
Ms. Khushboo Verma

2. INTRODUCTION
• The French Revolution had been building up for
many years.
• The peasants worked from dawn to dusk on
land.
• Taxes were very high because of wars that
France had fought in 17th and 18th centuries and
because of the extravagance of Louis XIV and
Louis XV.
• The idea of Equality, Fraternity and Liberty
Ms. Khushboo Verma

4. Rise of Middle class and privileges by birth
Social Disparity and concentration of powers among the privileged
Subsistence Crisis
War and Economic crises
Immediate Cause
Influence OfThe Philosophers AndWriters
Causes of French Revolution
Ms. Khushboo Verma

5. 1)WARS AND ECONOMIC CRISIS:
• Under Louis XVI, France helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their
independence from the common enemy, Britain.
• The war added a debt that had risen to more than 2billion livres.
• Lenders began to charge 10 per cent interest on loans.
• The cost of maintaining an extravagant court at the immense palace ofVersailles.
• To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court,
running government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase
taxes.
Ms. Khushboo Verma

6. FIRST
ESTATE
Clergymen &
church-fathers
No taxes and
had all privileges
SECOND
ESTATE
Landlords,
aristocrats and
men of noble
birth
Had privileges
THIRD
ESTATE
Common
masses
Paid all the
taxes
SOCIAL DISPARITY
Ms. Khushboo Verma

7. TAILLE
TITHE
TAXES
PAID BY
3RD
ESTATE
Tithe: Levied by the church
comprising 1/10 of agricultural produce
Taille: paid directly to
state
Ms. Khushboo Verma

8. 1. 18th century French society was divided into
(a) Castes
(b) Four Estates
(c)Three Estates
(d)Two Estates.
2. Which of the following constituted the privileged class?
(a) Clergy and peasants
(b) Peasants and nobility
(c) First andThird Estate
(d) Clergy and nobility.
3. The most important of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and nobility
(a) Right to collect dues
(b) Ownership of land
(c) Participate in wars
(d) Exemption from taxes to the state
4. Who was the King of France at the time of the Revolution?
(a) Louis XIV
(b) Louis XVI
(c) Marie Antoinette
(d) Nicholas II

9. 4. On which of the following day did ‘Storming of the Bastille’ occur?
5. What did Bastille symbolize?
6. Define tithe and taille.
7. _______________ is usually used to describe the society and institutions of France before 1789.
8. What were the causes for empty treasury of France under Louis XVI? Asses any three causes.
9. Describe the French division of society.
•

10. SUBSISTENCE CRISIS :
•Rapid price rise of staple diet i.e., bread
•Problem: Most workers were getting fixed wages.
•Widened the gap between rich and poor
•Drought or hail worsened the situation.
DUETO LOW
PRODUCTION, SUPPLY OF
GRAINS
PRICES RISE
POPULATION (23 MILLION
TO 28 MILLION IN 1789)
DEMAND OF FOOD
GRAINS
Ms. Khushboo Verma

11. Ms. Khushboo Verma

12. Ms. Khushboo Verma

13. THE RISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS:
* emergence of social group termed as Middle class.
* It was the educated class of businessmen, traders, bankers, lawyers, etc.
*earned education through the wealth they earned from the export
* believe that no group in society should be privileged by birth.
* They came with the slogan of liberty, equality and fraternity.
* They freedom from feudal system.
Ms. Khushboo Verma

14. INFLUENCE OFTHE PHILOSOPHERS &WRITERS:
PHILOSOPHER BOOKS IDEA
CHARLES MONTESQUIEU THE SPIRIT OF LAWS criticized autocracy and praised
the democratic republic.
JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU THE SOCIAL CONTRACT Proposed form of government
based on a social contract
between people
and their representatives.
JOHN LOCKE TWOTREATISES OF
GOVERNMENT
refused the absolute power of
monarch.
FRANCISVOLTAIRE ------- condemned the Church which
support the privileged class.
Ms. Khushboo Verma

15. How a Subsistence Crisis Happens?
Ms. Khushboo Verma

16. IMMEDIATE CAUSE
• 5th may 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of estate general to pass
proposals for new taxes.
• Third estate protested against the proposal for new taxes.
• This proved to be a immediate cause of French revolution.
Ms. Khushboo Verma

17. COURSE OFTHE REVOLUTION
• In 1789 the French govt. was in financial crisis that’s why Louis XVI called a meeting
of ESTATES GENERAL to impose new taxes.
• TheThird Estate was in majority and they demanded that the decision should be
taken by them but other 2 Estates were against this.
• TheThird Estate walked out of the Assembly.They were under the leadership of
Mirabeau and Abbe and declared themselves as National Assembly.
• They wanted to draft a constitution which would limit the powers of monarch.
• The king declared this invalid but this led to protest and fall of Bastille.

18. 4.Which of the following believed social position
must depend on merit?
(a) Middle class
(b) Nobility
(c)Workers
(d) Peasants
5. Society based on freedom, equal laws and
opportunities was advocated by
(a) Middle class and people of theThird Estate
(b) Clergy and nobility
(c) Philosophers such as John Locke and Rousseau
(d) Englishmen Georges Danton and ArthurYoung
6. Which of the following refuted the doctrine of
divine and absolute right?
(a) John Locke
(b) Rousseau
(c) Montesquieu
(d)Voltaire
1. Who advocated government
based on Social Contract?
(a) Darwin
(b) Spencer
(c) Rousseau
(d) Montesquieu
2.Division of power within the
government was put forth in
(a) 'TwoTreaties of Government'
(b) 'The Spirit of the Laws'
(c) 'Le Moniteur Universal'
(d) 'The Social Contract‘
3.Political body of France
(a) Duma
(b) Reichstag
(c) Lok Sabha
(d) Estates General

19. 7.Voting in the EstatesGeneral was conducted on the principle of
(a) Each member one vote
(b) Male adult franchise
(c) Universal adult franchise
(d) EstatesGeneral
8.The EstatesGeneral was last convened in
(a) 1604
(b) 1614
(c) 1416
(d) 1641
9.Where did theThird Estate form and announce the NationalAssembly?
(a) IndoorTennisCourt
(b) Hall of Mirrors
(c) Firoz Shah Ground
(d)Winter Palace
1o. Members of theThird Estate were led by
(a) Louis XVI and Marie Antionette
(b) Lenin and Kerensky
(c) Mirabeau and Abbe Sieyes
(d) Rousseau andVoltaire

21. OUTBREAK OFTHE REVOLUTION IN FRANCE
THE INCIDENTS LEADING TOTHE OUTBREAK
OFTHE REVOLUTIONS WERE:
Meeting of
the estate
general
Demand for
the
UNIVERSAL
ADULT
FRANCHISE
Meeting of
the newly
formed
National
Revolt by
peasants
Fall of
Bastille
prison
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22. FRANCE: A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
 The National assembly
drafted a constitution in 1791
with limited monarchy
 According to this National
Assembly and king would
work together to govern.
 The people got divided into
active and passive.
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23. (A republic is a form of
government where
the people elect the
government
including the head
of the government)
Even after signing the constitution
Louis XVI entered in the secret
negotiations with king of Prussia
Declaration of war by National Assembly against
Prussia and Austria
As the political rights only given to the rich
section of the society, population wanted
to continue the revolution
Political clubs were formed to
discuss government policies and
plans.
Stormed the palace ofTuileries, held the king
himself as hostage.
The newly elected
assembly was called
Convention.
France abolishes monarchy and
become Republic
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24. JACOBINS ANDTHE NEW GOVT.
• Political clubs became an important rallying point for people who wished to
discuss govt. policies & plan their own forms of action eg:The Jacobin Club.
• It was formed inVersailles during the Estates- General of 1789.
• Maxmilien and Abbe were the important leaders.
• The members of the Jacobin club belonged to the less prosperous sections.
• Members of this club decided to wear long striped trousers as worn by dock
workers.
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25. • This was a way to set themselves away from fashionable society,
especially nobles, who wear knee breeches.
• The Jacobins came to be known as sans culottes- those without the
Knee Breeches
• Sans culottes wanted to remove aristocracy and monarchy.
• Sans culottes started wearing red cap symbolizes liberty. Women
were not allowed to do so.
• In the summer of 1792 the Jacobins planned an insurrection with the
help of Parisians.
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26. • Later the Assembly voted to imprison the royal family and Elections were
held.
• Now all men of 21 years got the right to vote without any discrimination.
• End of monarchy: Louis XVI was sentenced to death by a court on the
charge of treason.
• Establishment of republic:
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27. BLUE-WHITE-RED
THE NATIONAL COLOURS OFTHE
FRANCE
BROKEN CHAIN
THE ACT OF BECOMING FREE
A BUNDLE OF RODS AND FASCES
STRENGTH LIES IN UNITY
THE EYE WITHINTHETRIANGLE
RADIATING LIGHT
THE RAYS OFTHE SUN WILL DRIVE AWAY
THE CLOUDS OF IGNORANCE
THE LAWTABLET
ALL ARE ONE BEFORETHE LAW
RED PHRYGIAN CAP
BECOMING FREE
SCEPTRE
SNAKE BITING HISTAIL
TO FORM A RING
SYMBOL OF ETERNITY
THEWINGED WOMEN
PERSONIFICATION OF
THE LAW.
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28. 1.Which of the following was the main objective of the
Constitution of 1791?
(a)To limit the powers of the king alone
(b) Do away with feudal privileges
(c) Give equal rights to women
(d) Establish a constitutional monarchy
.A broken chain symbolized
(a) Chains used to fetter slaves
(b) Strength lies in unity
(c) Royal power
(d) Act of becoming free
3.The winged woman personified
(а) National colours of France
(b) Act of becoming free
(c) Personification of Law
(d) Rays of the Sun will drive away the clouds of ignorance
4.Bundle of rods or fasces symbolized
(a) Royal power
(b) Equality before law
(c) Law is the same for all
(d) Strength lies in unity
5.Which of the following symbolized Eternity?
(a) Scepter
(b) Eye within a triangle radiating light
(c)The LawTablet
(d) Snake biting its tail to form a ring
6.Which of the following were the national colours of France
during the?
(a) Blue-green-yellow
(b) Red-green-blue
(c) Blue-white-red
(d)Yellow-red-white
National Anthem of France
(a)Vande Matram
(b) Roget de L Isle
(c) Le Moniteur Universal
(d) Marseilles
Members of the Jacobin Club were known as
(a) Conservatives
(b) Revolutionaries
(c)Terrorists
(d) San-culottes
France on 21st September, 1792 was declared a
(a) Socialist State
(b) Democracy
(c) Communist State
(d) Republic
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29. REIGN OFTERROR
Maximilien Robespierre
• The period from 1793-94 is called the Reign of
terror.
• All those whom he, Maximilien, saw as being
enemies of the republic, and members who did
not agree with his methods were arrested.
• If the court found them guilty then they were
guillotined.
• Peasants were forced to transport their grains to
cities and to sell that at prices fixed by the govt.
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30. LAWS REIGN OFTEROR
INTRODUCTION OF LAWS
• The use of white flour was forbidden ; a loaf of whole wheat bread were used.
• Equality was sought to practice.
• Churches were shut down & their buildings got converted into offices or
barracks.
• His policies was so relentlessly that his supporters became against him.
• On July 28, 1794 he died on the guillotine.
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31. ABOLITION OF SLAVERY IN FRANCE
• The colonies in the Caribbean ñ Martinique, Guadeloupe and San Domingo ñ were
important suppliers of commodities such as tobacco, indigo, sugar and coffee.
• A shortage of labour on the plantations. So this was met by a triangular slave
trade between Europe,Africa and the Americas.
• Ports of Bordeaux or Nantes
• The slaves were packed tightly into ships to the Caribbean.
• The exploitation of slave labour made it possible to meet the growing demand in
European markets for sugar, coffee, and indigo.
• The National Assembly held long debates But it did not pass any laws, fearing
opposition from businessmen whose incomes depended on the slave trade.
• Convention which in 1794 legislated to free all slaves in the French overseas
possessions.
• Finally abolished in French colonies in 1848.
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32. END OF REVOLUTION
• The reign of terror ended with Maxmilien’s death.
• The conservatives gained control and replaced the constitution of 1793 with
1795 and govt. came to be known as Directory.
• The directors often clashed with each other & this paved way to rise of
military dictator Napoleon Bonaparte.
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33. CONDITION OFWOMEN
BEFORETHE REVOLUTION AFTERTHE REVOLUTION
Most women didn’t have an access to education. Marriage was made intoA contract under civil law.
Women of third estate had to work for living like they
sold flowers, fruits & vegetables, worked as laundresses
and domestic servants.
Schooling for girls was made compulsory.
Working women also took care of their families. Women’s struggle for political rights.
Their wages were less then men. Many prominent women were arrested
In order to discuss and voice their interest, they started
their own club.
It was finally in 1946 women got right to vote.
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34. EFFECTS OF FRENCH REVOLUTION
• Abolition of slavery.Though it was reintroduced by Napoleon but finally it got
abolished in 1848.
• Revoked the idea of freedom
• End of arbitrary and despotic rule of monarchy.
• People became the source of power.
• Ideas of liberty, equality & fraternity
• Social reformers and freedom fighters like RRM Roy,Tipu sultan was inspired by
ideas.
• It gave the term “nation’’ new meaning that it is not a territory but the people of
the country.The king of other countries started the welfare of people.
• Trade improved and now people can choose their occupation.
• Censorship was removed.
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35. RISE OF NAPOLEON
• He became the Emperor of France in 1804.
• He wanted to modernize France by establishing industries.
• He promoted trade by building roads & canals.
• He conquer neighbouring European countries.
• He established friendly relation with the Pope.
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36. • He introduced many laws like protection of property and uniform system of
weight and measures.
• A new constitution was framed- 4 legislative bodies and 3 executive bodies.
• Many saw him as a liberator but soon he came to be viewed as invading
force and was defeated at waterloo in 1815.
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37. CHECK POINT O4
Which of the following was a factor in the rise of Napoleon?
(a) Fall of the Jacobin government
(b) Robespiere’s Reign ofTerror
(c) Political instability of the Directory
(d) Nationalist forces
French legacy to the world
(a) Democracy
(b) Socialism and nationalism
(c) Republicanism
(d) Liberty, Freedom and Equality
In the context of France the volunteers from Marseilles sang the Marseillaise, a patriotic song when they marched into Paris. Who composed this
song?
(a) Maximilian Robespierre
(b) MarieAntoinette
(c) Roget de L’Isle
(d) Mirabeau
What did the Red Cap worn by Sans Culottes in France symbolize?
(a) Liberty
(b) Brotherhood
(c) Love
(d) Equality
Which of the following refers to the political body representing the three estates of pre-revolutionary France?
(a) Parliament of France
(b) NationalAssembly
(c) Estates General
(d) Estates Committee
The word ‘Guillotine’ during French Revolution era refers to
(a) Beheading a person
(b)Awarding a person
(c)Taxing a person

38. ASSIGNMENT
1. Describe the legacy of the French Revolution for the peoples of the world during the nineteenth and
twentieth centuries.
2. Draw up a list of democratic rights we enjoy today whose origins could be traced to the French
Revolution.
3. Would you agree with the view that the message of universal rights was beset with contradictions?
Explain.
4. Who was Robespierre?Why his reign referred as ‘Reign ofTerror’.
5. How did a directory rule the France?
6. Describe causes for the of Jacobin government in France.
7. How would you explain the rise of Napoleon?
8. Who formed Jacobin Club?What measures had he taken to remove discrimination in the French
society and form a French republic?
9. Write a brief note on slavery in France.