The French Revolution was a period of drastic political, social, and economic change between 1789-1799 in France. It began due to the country's bankruptcy under King Louis XVI's extravagant rule, as well as growing discontent among the third estate who faced heavy taxes. Philosophers like Voltaire and Rousseau encouraged the people to fight for their rights. This led to events like the meeting of the Estates General, the Tennis Court Oath, and the storming of the Bastille prison, which established the National Assembly and marked the start of the Revolution.

1. The French
Revolution
(Grade 10 History )
By LM Matsemela

2. What is Revolution
The term Revolution it is a latin word that
means “a turn around “
Revolution is an overthrow or replacement of
the existing government by the people it governs.

3. WHAT IS THE
FRENCH
REVOLUTION
The French revolution was a
period of a drastic social ,
economical and political
change that occurred in
France,between 1789-1809
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

5. Political cause
King Louis XVI was a total
monarchy ,everything that was
said by him was made a law.
He was the one that will appoint
who are the ministers ,people
that were chosen were those that
were loyal to him.
 All the decisions about the
country were all taken by him the
king.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

6. Social causes
France was divided into three estates which was
the first estate ,second estate and third estate.
At the top it was the king and his family
,followed by the first estate which was the clergy
(had all the privileges and did not pay any tax )
Second estate was the Nobles who were
landowners ,had all the privileges(paid no tax )
Third Estate was the peasants who worked for
the Nobles in the farms and had to pay heavy
taxes

7. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

8. Economic Causes
The king and his wife Marie Antoinette lived an
extravagant lifestyle with the states money
The king used the states money to renovate his
Versailles palace
The king supported America in their war for
independence financially

9. Cont of Economic Causes
The misuse of money by the king led to the country
being bankrupt and in debts
All those bad decisions of the king led to the rising
prices of food
Due to rising of food prices people did not afford
(peasants) ,this led to shortage of food

10. Ideas of Philosophers
Intellectuals or “philosophers” such as Voltaire ,Montesquieu and
Rousseau wrote articles questioning the dictatorship of the ruling
kings and the kings being treated as if their authority comes from
God and no one should be against their laws
they were against and opposed the abuse that ordinary people faced
from churches and the ancient regime
Their ideas encouraged the ordinary people to fight for their rights
and remove the absolute monarchies in power

11. Ideas of the
philosophers
 The picture on
the left shows
some of the
philosophers and
their ideas

12. Events of the French Revolution

14. The Estates General
meeting
◦ Louis XVI called an urgent parliament
meeting from all the three Estates ,to come
up with solutions and reforms of the crisis
the country is facing (bankruptcy )
◦ The problem started when they had to
vote ,it was said that they will vote by
Estates and this meant that the two estate 1
and 2 will have more votes .
◦ Representatives of the third estate
refused this and led to them now
Establishing the National Assembly
(fighting for the rights of ordinary people)

15. The Tennis Court Oath
in May 1789 after the meeting there was a second meeting but unfortunately when the
third estate representatives got there the doors of the hall were locked
Peasants decided to stand outside the and gathered on the tennis court of Versailles
They demanded that they will not leave until the king signed and agreed that
constitution should be drafted
The king finally gave in and signed an oath which was called The Tennis Oath

16. Bastille Palace Protest
July 1789 peasants protested to Bastille due to the high taxes and shortage of
food
There was also a rumour that the king has planned arrest the new members of
the National Assembly ,this instilled fear into the people and they decided to
demonstrate to Bastille
Many people lost their lives as a result of this protest

17. Role of women in France
Women also played their part in the revolution as they also
wanted to have right in the country
Before women were not allowed to work or even be
independent ,they depended more on men and had to be
submissive
Women took the initiative to march to Versailles and demand
bread (change)

18. The national Assembly
The national assembly was a revolutionary assembly which was formed to
represent the third estate (peasants) ,by August 1789 it removed all the feudalism
that was happening in France
National assembly then adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and
Citizens
The main aims of this adoption was Liberty (Freedom to every individual ,to do
what they want without harming others )
Equality (to have equal opportunity despite of ones race ,religion and class
Fraternity (to have a sense of brotherhood ,to support ,care and love one another
as a nation )

19. Youtube video of the events of the
French Revolution

20. References
https://www.slideshare.net/PreciousMoremi/the-french-revolutionps
https://www.slideshare.net/kveneziano/the-french-revolution-78149150
https://www.slideshare.net/Mr.J/the-french-revolution-2743065
https://www.slideshare.net/insightgirl/the-french-and-american-revolution
https://www.slideshare.net/duft123/the-french-revolution-237283733
https://youtu.be/RoCyeeiYkJo