What was French Revolution ?

What was French Revolution ?

Causes of the revolution :-

Political causes :-

Louis 14 (1643–1715)

Louis 15 (1715–1774)

Louis 16 (1774–1792)

well intentioned but could not bring bold reforms.
backtracked from decisions only.
his wife- Marie Antoinette was not a well advisor.
France helped in American war of independence but it was not beneficial for the France.

Social causes :-

France society was divided into 3 parts.

2. second estate -

3. third estate -

farmers, artisans, lawyers, traders, public officials, proletariat (working class) etcetera. [27 million population (approximate) , 95% of total population ].
poor condition of workers.

Economic causes :-

rising population.
enormous amount of debt due to wars, almost half of the total national budget went on repayment of debt.
rising food prices due to famines, floods etcetera.

Intellectual causes :-

age of enlightenment (1700–1800).
advent of science and philosophy.
influenced by John Locke theory.
Voltaire - freedom of speech and expression.
Montesquieu - separation of power between church and state.
intellectual started to questioned the king’s right to rule, his mandate from God, role of catholic church.

what was happening in France during revolution?

an ultimate parliament with representative from all estates.
motto - establish the financial stability.
delegates from first and second estate were three hundred per estate and six hundred from the third estate.
value of votes of these estate were not equal so deadlock had created over voting rights.
third estate declared itself as a national assembly.
Louis 16 locked out the national assembly from main hall and they take the “tennis court oath” not to disband until a constitution is in place.

peasants revolted against their feudal lords and also looted food items and raw materials.
people were rioting against king in Paris.
breakdown of law and order ; feeling of nationalism creates.
Louis 16 ordered to military to maintain the law and order situation.
storming of the Bastille (14 July 1789).

fort used as prison.
symbol of royal persecution.
rioters looted the prison and got weapons.
national assembly ordered abolition of feudalism and levied equal taxes for all.
many nobles migrated to neighboring nations in Europe.
ABSOLUTE MONARCHY turns into CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen :- concept of liberty, equality and fraternity were enshrined in this declaration and women were treated like passive citizens.

Women march on Versailles :- Women protested against royal families due to harsh economic conditions and food shortage.

political groups emerged in 1790 and constitution was written down. And many clubs were also formed like Jacobin (radical revolutionary and composed of people from mainly poor class, and their leader was Maximilien De Robespierre), Girondin (liberal), society of revolutionary republican women.
king Louis 16 endeavored to escape to Austria from France but was not succeed.
this led to demands for “Republic” from Jacobin.
the constitute assembly was in favor of constitutional monarchy.

2. Legislative Assembly (1791–92)

new constitution was formed.
king restored as head of state.
system machinery failed within a year because of different different ideas of groups like Jacobin and Girondin.
radicals attacked on king and his family at Paris in august 1792.
monarchy suspended.
legislative assembly also suspended itself.
king Louis sentenced death.

“The war of first coalition” between France and other countries ( Britain, Dutch, Spain, Austria, Prussia) after Louis’s execution.
The Guillotine - a machine with a heavy blade that was used to cut off the heads of people who had been sentenced to death.
La Marseillaise - French Revolution anthem which is written by Rouget De Lisle.

3. National Convention (1792–95):-

phase of “constitutional monarchy to republic”.
third govt of revolution elected by extending suffrage.
monarchy abolished, true republic.
“Committee of public safety” formed which took all control on major decisions. And it is influenced by Jacobin.
“The Reign of Terror” (June 1793 - July 1794) :- 16000 enemies of revolution guillotined, Marie Antoinette executed, churches destroyed and closed down, slavery abolished, Jacobin were banned and Robespierre himself guillotined.