The FRENCH REVOLUTION, Explained [AP Euro Review—Unit 5 Topic 4]

Summary

The French Revolution was a fight for political power and equality. It began with economic crises, unfair taxation, and a broken political system that excluded the majority. The Third Estate, representing the common people, declared itself the true government, leading to the storming of the Bastille in 1789. The revolution went through two main phases: the liberal phase, which sought freedom and equality, and the radical phase, marked by the Reign of Terror under Robespierre. Ultimately, the revolution overthrew the monarchy and set France on a path toward a republic, though the journey was fraught with violence and internal conflict.

Takeaways

• 😀 The French Revolution was driven by the common people of France seeking an equal seat at the table of power, symbolized by the head of King Louis XVI.
• 😀 Economic crises, including debt from Louis XIV's wars, placed a massive burden on common citizens who were taxed while the nobility and clergy were exempted.
• 😀 The Estates General, a representative body made up of the clergy, nobility, and commoners, had a voting system that favored the privileged 3% of the population over the 97% of commoners.
• 😀 The French Revolution began with bread shortages, which worsened the suffering of the lower classes, prompting them to seek radical change.
• 😀 The Third Estate, representing the common people, declared themselves the National Assembly, granting themselves the power over taxation and challenging the existing political structure.
• 😀 The Tennis Court Oath of June 1789 marked the National Assembly's commitment to drafting a new constitution, defying the king's authority.
• 😀 The Bastille was stormed in July 1789, symbolizing the people's rejection of royal tyranny and marking the beginning of the revolution in earnest.
• 😀 The first phase of the revolution, known as the liberal phase, included the drafting of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, abolishing hereditary privileges and promoting freedoms like speech and representative government.
• 😀 Women played a key role in the revolution, including the October March on Versailles, demanding bread and pressuring the king to accept the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
• 😀 The radical phase of the revolution, led by the Jacobins, saw the abolition of the monarchy and the execution of King Louis XVI, as well as the Reign of Terror, which led to thousands of executions by guillotine under Robespierre's leadership.

Q & A

What was the main reason for the French Revolution?

The main reason for the French Revolution was the demand of the common people for a more equal share of political power. They were tired of being burdened by taxes while having no influence over the political system, which was controlled by the nobility and clergy.

How did economic crises contribute to the French Revolution?

The French Revolution was fueled by economic crises, especially due to King Louis XIV's costly wars. These wars left France deep in debt, and while the common people bore the brunt of the taxes, the nobility and clergy were exempt, leading to widespread frustration and resentment.

What was the Estates General, and why was it a problem for the Third Estate?

The Estates General was a representative body consisting of three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and everyone else (the Third Estate). The problem for the Third Estate was that despite representing 97% of the population, each estate had one vote, and the clergy and nobility often voted together, excluding the Third Estate from meaningful influence.

What significant event marked the start of the French Revolution?

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, marked the start of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a symbol of royal tyranny, and its fall signaled that the revolution had officially begun.

What was the Tennis Court Oath, and why was it important?

The Tennis Court Oath was a pledge made by the members of the Third Estate in June 1789, after they were locked out of a meeting of the Estates General. They vowed not to leave until they had drafted a new constitution for France, signaling their determination to challenge the existing political system.

What was the role of the women in the French Revolution?

Women played a crucial role in the French Revolution. One of the most significant events was the October March on Versailles, where thousands of women, driven by food shortages, marched to the royal palace, demanding bread. They forced King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette to move to Paris.

What was the Reign of Terror, and who was in charge?

The Reign of Terror was a period during the French Revolution (1793-1794) marked by extreme political repression and executions. Led by the radical Jacobin Maximilien Robespierre, over 40,000 people were executed, many by guillotine, as suspected enemies of the revolution.

How did the French Revolution impact the monarchy?

The French Revolution ended the monarchy. King Louis XVI was executed in 1793, marking the end of centuries of monarchical rule in France. The monarchy was replaced with a republic, where power was supposed to lie with the people.

What role did the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen play in the revolution?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, passed in 1789, was a foundational document of the revolution. It guaranteed basic freedoms such as freedom of speech and equal representation under the law, and it was inspired by the American Revolution's ideas of liberty and rights.

What was the outcome of the Reign of Terror?

The Reign of Terror ended in 1794 with the execution of Robespierre. The period of intense political violence led to widespread disillusionment, and the revolution entered a more moderate phase afterward.