Table of Contents

FRENCH REVOLUTION .................................................................... 2

Introduction:............................................................................................... 2
The Influence of the French Revolution:...................................................... 2
Causes of the French Revolution: ................................................................ 2
Political: .................................................................................................................... 2
Socio-economic: ........................................................................................................ 2
Influence of Philosophers: ......................................................................................... 3
Influence of the American Revolution: ....................................................................... 3
Immediate Cause of the Revolution: .......................................................................... 3
The Course of the Revolution: ..................................................................... 4
Significance of the French Revolution: ........................................................ 5
Important Role in the Success of Greek Independence: .............................................. 5
Feudal Prerogatives could not Flourish Again and the Church could not Revive its
Bygone Glory: ............................................................................................................ 5
French Revolution was a Fountain of all Modern Thoughts:........................................ 6
French Revolution Rejuvenated the Political, Social, Religious and Economic Systems
of France: .................................................................................................................. 6
French Revolution Put an End to the Old System: ....................................................... 6
Agricultural Reforms were Carried out with Great Enthusiasm: .................................. 7
Declaration of Human Rights: .................................................................................... 7
French Revolution Introduced Pivotal Principles—Liberty, Equality and Fraternity: .... 7
New Trends and Attitudes Generated by the French Revolution: ................................ 8
French Revolution Paved the Way for Socialism: ........................................................ 9
Conclusion: ................................................................................................. 9
 FRENCH REVOLUTION

Introduction:
1. A watershed event in modern European history, the French Revolution began
in 1789 and ended in the late 1790s with the ascent of Napoleon Bonaparte.
During this period, French citizens razed and redesigned their country’s
political landscape, uprooting centuries-old institutions such as absolute
monarchy and the feudal system.
2. Like the American Revolution before it, the French Revolution was
influenced by Enlightenment ideals, particularly the concepts of popular
sovereignty and inalienable rights. Although it failed to achieve all of its goals
and at times degenerated into a chaotic bloodbath, the movement played a
critical role in shaping modern nations by showing the world the power
inherent in the will of the people.

The Influence of the French Revolution:

1. The French Revolution of 1789 is an important landmark in the history of
Europe. It was the first great uprising of the people against the autocracy of
the ruler.
2. It generated ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity which crossed the
boundaries of France and influenced whole of Europe.
3. The revolution not only changed the political, social and economic life of the
people but also affected the entire course of world history.

Causes of the French Revolution:

Political:
1. In the 18th century, France was a feudal society under the authority of an
absolute monarchy. The Bourbon monarchs lived in splendor in the royal
palace of Versailles. The finances of France were in a deplorable condition.
2. The treasury was practically empty after the numerous wars that France was
involved in. King Louis XVI was incapable of guiding France through the
political and financial crises. Queen Marie Antoinette, an Austrian princess,
was blamed for squandering away public money. The administration was
corrupt and autocratic.

Socio-economic:
1. The social conditions of France were as distressing as its political organization.
French society was divided into three classes or estates. The privileged class
 comprising the clergy and the aristocracy formed the first estate and the
second estate respectively. These two estates enjoyed many privileges under
the government and did not have to bear the burden of taxation.
2. The nobility monopolized all important positions in the French
administration and lived a life of luxury. The third estate comprised the
common people. It consisted of middle-class people, peasants, artisans,
workers and agricultural laborers. Even the rich middle class, consisting of
merchants, factory owners etc., fell in this category. The entire burden of
taxation fell on the third estate. But these taxpayers had no political rights.
3. The condition of the artisans, peasants and workmen was miserable. The
peasants had to work for long hours and pay separate taxes to the Crown, to
the clergy and to the nobility. After paying all these taxes, they hardly had
enough money to feed themselves. The wealthy middle class had to pay heavy
taxes and resented the privileges enjoyed by the aristocrats and the higher
clergy i.e., the first two estates. The workers, the peasants and the middle
class who suffered under the social and economic system wanted to change
it.

Influence of Philosophers:
1. French philosophers like Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu inspired the
people with revolutionary ideas of liberty and equality. Montesquieu
rejected the theory of the Divine Right of Kings and urged for separation of
powers. Rousseau, in his book ‘Social Contract’, announced that sovereign
power lay in popular will.

Influence of the American Revolution:

1. The success of the Americans in their war for independence also encouraged
the French people to protest against their exploitation by the aristocracy, the
clergy and the state.

Immediate Cause of the Revolution:

1. The immediate factor which caused the outbreak of the Revolution was the
bankruptcy faced by the Government. The heavy expenditure on the army
during the Seven Years’ War had drained the finances of the country.
2. France had also helped the American colonies to gain independence from
Britain. This added to the already massive Government debt. In order to pay
for the cost of maintaining various Government offices, law courts,
universities, the army, etc., the state was forced to raise taxes.
3. Several able ministers proposed to tax the aristocracy. But the aristocrats
were not prepared to pay taxes. In desperation, Louis XVI convened the
Estates-General (the French Assembly) on May 5, 1789, so that it would grant
 him the required amount of money. In the past, voting in the Estates-General
had been conducted on the principle that each estate would have one vote.
4. The third estate now demanded that voting be conducted by the Estates-
General as a whole (with every member having one vote). There were 600
memers of the third estate and 300 each of the first and second estates.
When Louis XVI rejected the proposal of the third estate, they walked out of
the Estates-General. A few weeks later, the third estate declared themselves
to be the National Assembly. The decision of the National Assembly to draft
a new constitution for France signalled the end of absolute monarchy and
the beginning of democracy.

The Course of the Revolution:

1. Apart from the National Assembly, the common people of France, inspired by
the ideals of liberty and equality, had decided to revolt against injustice.
Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Paris on July 14, 1789, and
broke into the Bastille, the state prison. They entered the prison and released
the prisoners. The Bastille, the symbol of a despotic monarchy, was
destroyed.
2. The fall of the Bastille is an important landmark in the history of the French
Revolution. France observed 14th July 1789 as the Independence Day. On
August 12, 1789, the National Assembly adopted the “Declaration of the
Rights of Man”. It declared, “Men are born and remain free and are equal in
rights.” The drafting of the Constitution was completed by the end of 1791.
3. In 1792, the French monarchy was abolished and France became a republic
upholding the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity. A provisional
government was set up. In 1793, executive authority passed into the hands of
a radical political group called the Jacobins.
4. Their leader was Robespierre. He passed orders to execute thousands of
“enemies” of the Republic. During this ‘Reign of Terror’ thousands of
innocent Robespierre people were also guillotined on the suspicion of
treason. King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were also guillotined
(1793) as traitors.
5. The execution of Emperor Louis XVI and his Queen came as a rude shock to
the monarchical countries of Europe. The European powers formed a
coalition against France (1793). In France, after the death of Robespierre, the
moderate leaders gained ground. A Directory comprising five directors
exercised power (1795-1799). During this period France went through great
turmoil due to lack of efficient governance.
 6. The Directors depended on the military genius of Napoleon to fight the
European coalition and earn the confidence of the people. Finding himself
popular, Napoleon overthrew the Directory. In December 1804, Napoleon
declared, himself the “Emperor of the French”. The legal veil of
republicanism was dropped.

Significance of the French Revolution:

1. The French Revolution may be recognized as the most important event of
modern European life till 1914. In view of results, it may be contrasted with
the reformation of the 16th century and the crusades of the 17th century. It
destroyed the vestige of old system in the fields of the politics, economy,
social life and thoughts, diplomacy and war. The French Revolution
originated a new ideology in respect of politics and society and presented a
fresh, novel outlook towards life.
2. It kindled imagination and thoughts in the majority of people, cultivated
matchless enthusiasm in them and infused immense hopes in them. French
Revolution was not a local event. It influenced not only the French public but
left an indelible impression on Europe and the entire world. German
philosopher, Kante termed it as the ‘victory of wisdom’.

Important Role in the Success of Greek Independence:

1. French Revolution played an important role in the success of Greek
independence (1830), because the struggle for Greek independence derived
strength from the ideals of French Revolution. Napoleon played a significant
role in the unification of Italy.
2. The principle of liberty of French Revolution infused the spirit of unity among
the Italians. Napoleon paved the way for the unification of Germany by
making an end of the Holy Roman Empire. The vast effect of French
Revolution did not spare England also.

Feudal Prerogatives could not Flourish Again and the Church could not Revive
its Bygone Glory:
1. The first republic of France lasted a few years only and anyone may deduce
from it that revolution was a fiasco. Although France retrieved monarchy, it
sustained good objectives of the revolution. Feudal prerogatives could not
flourish again and the Church could not revive its bygone glory which it
 enjoyed during the old governing system. Government was run efficaciously
and the condition of farmers improved considerably.
2. Jurisdiction of law increased. Taxation was made more rational. In this way,
French Revolution planted the sapling of modern age in the graveyard of
medieval system.

French Revolution was a Fountain of all Modern Thoughts:

1. The French Revolution was a fountain of all modern thoughts. The revolution
laid the foundation of liberal democratic and progressive outlook of modern
life. It played a remarkable role in the making of modern age in Europe and
familiarized the common people with the spirit of freedom, equality and
democracy.

French Revolution Rejuvenated the Political, Social, Religious and Economic

Systems of France:
1. The French Revolution rejuvenated the political, social, religious and
economic systems of France. The French Revolution was not merely a national
event, nut its doctrines, liberty, equality and fraternity rent the entire
Europe. Hence it is said that French Revolution was the movement of
international importance.
2. It was the French Revolution which converted French history into the history
of Europe and the national hero of France, Napoleon got a golden chance of
becoming the hero of Europe. John Hall Stewart has described the immense
significance of revolution, as ‘the consequences of the French Revolution have
been so far reaching that in case of their satisfactory evaluation, they would
encompass the entire French history’ and that of Europe from 1789 onwards.
It was often said that, ‘When France catches cold, all Europe sneezes.

French Revolution Put an End to the Old System:

1. The French Revolution put an end to the old system. Before the Revolution,
feudal barons exploited farmers and middle-classes on account of their
prerogatives. French Revolution gave relief to common people by revoking
special rights of a few persons.
2. It was the great impact of French Revolution that the process of eliminating
the old system also started in other countries of Europe. Consequently, the
privileged classes could not retain their high prestige and the common people
got relief. But we should not ignore the fact that the aristocratic families still
 enjoyed dominance in the reorganized local government because of their
extensive experience of local administration.
3. In 1795, many expatriates came back to France. Napoleon selected his
perfects from those families whose members were appointed as regional
governors during the reign of Bourbon dynasty.
4. In the same way, the special rights of the Church were curtailed and the
income earned from the tithe came to an end. But in spite of the great efforts
made by the Jacobins to reduce the impact of Christianity, the influence of the
Church could not be washed out of the minds of common people.

Agricultural Reforms were Carried out with Great Enthusiasm:

1. After the Revolution, the agricultural reforms were carried out with great
enthusiasm. At the time of revolution, farmers snatched land from their lords,
officers and religious heads and cultivated it themselves. With the strength
generated by the revolution, France soon became a nation of prosperous
farmers.
2. French Revolution made an end of serfdom and tyranny related to it. Farmers
enjoyed such individual freedom that they had never dreamt of. The serfdom
had been eradicated in Spain, Italy and elsewhere. In 1848, serfdom came to
an end in Germany. Russia was compelled to free its serfs in 1861.

Declaration of Human Rights:

1. The ‘Declaration of Human Rights’ made by the National Convention put much
emphasis on the fact that ‘Absolute sovereignty’ is vested in the public and
law is the expression of the will of common people. It was stressed that the
country should be governed for the maximum welfare of the people.

French Revolution Introduced Pivotal Principles—Liberty, Equality and

Fraternity:
1. Not only of France but also for the history of entire human society, French
Revolution introduced certain pivotal principles which gained much
popularity. Those principles were—liberty, equality and fraternity. It was the
natural outcome of democratic concept that public liberty dawned for the first
time in France.
2. That liberty was interpreted as the protection of the right to property, to
religious freedom, as well as the freedom of movement and freedom of
speech and expression. Among the rules and governing systems that were
 enacted during the period of Revolution, public liberty was given a very
prominent position.
3. In consequence of Napoleon’s victories, the principle of public liberty was
introduced in countries like Italy, Holland etc. and the freedom of press was
established. In the ensuing period liberty became a universal practice. Efforts
were made to achieve not only individual freedom but political freedom also.
It was demanded by the common masses that legislative bodies having
minimum privileges should be elected. In that matter, England led the way
and France followed her.
4. The principle of equality is complementary to that of liberty. It was the
French Revolution which promulgated the principle that everybody is equal
before the law and it rejected the privileges based on wealth. It was accepted
in principle that appointments on government posts should be made on the
basis of qualification and proficiency. The right of education for every one
became valid.
5. The principle of fraternity was connected with patriotism. It involved the
thinking that citizens of a country are bound firmly with each other in order to
build a nation and the future of the nation is shaped by means of their
combined efforts.

New Trends and Attitudes Generated by the French Revolution:

1. Among new trends and attitudes generated by the French Revolution, the
spirit of nationality is the most prominent one. There should be a separate
state for those who are identical in religion, language, race, social practices
and historical traditions. This principle is a significant and prime contribution
of French Revolution.
2. The slogan ‘Hail the nation’ rent entire France. When the French republic was
overcast with danger, the slogan ‘Father-land is in danger’ infused the spirit
of nationality in people and inspired France to put a tough fight against the
enemies. With exceptional success, France fought against the combined
forces of those rulers who supported autocracy in entire Europe and the spirit
of nationality was the underlying reason for that performance.
3. Wherever Napoleon invaded, he used to say, ‘I am fighting a war to redeem
nations from the atrocities of despots’. The citizens of Spain and Portugal
drove Napoleon away since they were brimming over with the spirit of
nationality. The war in which Napoleon met the humiliation of defeat is called
the war of nations. Unification of the states of Germany and Italy and the
national movement of Balkan states were the exemplary incidents which
had been charged by the principles of nationality.
French Revolution Paved the Way for Socialism:
1. French Revolution paved the way for socialism. Revolutionaries craved for
political, economic and social equality. The idea of the sanctity of property
was shaken when the government seized the property of expatriates. End of
serfdom and feudalism, abolition of privileges assigned to the Church and
feudal barons, equality of law, no imprisonment for the debtors, dominance
of farmers over the Churchland all these dominant factors contributed to
prepare the background for socialism. Afflicted people of other countries were
treated like brothers by revolutionaries. Thus, they paved the way for Karl
Marx by raising the slogan of fraternity.

Conclusion:
The rulers of Europe turned reactionaries after the end of Revolution. After
Napoleon’s decline, the rulers of Europe took every decision on national and
international stage after contemplating the dangers of Revolution. The decisions
relating to Vienna Congress (1814) were taken after considering the facts that
revolution should not break out again and France should not become a powerful
nation.
Therefore, the history of Europe from 1815, to 1848, is known as an ‘Era of
Reaction’. On the whole, it may be concluded without dispute that France and
Europe underwent a great change after the end of French Revolution.