Tennis Court Oath<\/strong><\/td>\r\n| \r\n - Walkout:<\/strong>\u00a0When Louis XVI rejected the Third Estate's demand for voting reform, the representatives of the Third Estate walked out of the assembly in protest.<\/p>\r\n- Tennis court oath:\u00a0<\/strong>On 20 June 1789, they convened in the indoor tennis court at Versailles and declared themselves the\u00a0National Assembly<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n- The National Assembly swore not to disperse until a\u00a0constitution\u00a0<\/strong>was drafted to limit the powers of the monarch.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\nStorming of the Bastille<\/strong><\/td>\r\n| \r\n - A severe winter\u00a0<\/strong>resulted in a bad harvest, leading to rising bread prices, hoarding, and exploitation by bakers.<\/p>\r\n- Angry women<\/strong>\u00a0formed crowds and stormed into shops after enduring long queues at bakeries. Louis XVI deployed troops to Paris, further heightening tensions.<\/p>\r\n- On 14 July 1789<\/strong>, an agitated crowd stormed and destroyed the Bastille, a symbol of royal authority and oppression. This day is being celebrated as the\u00a0Bastille Day<\/strong>\u00a0or\u00a0Independence Day of France<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\nNational Assembly<\/strong><\/td>\r\n| \r\n - Peasant uprisings:<\/strong>\u00a0Rumours spread in the countryside that lords of the manor had hired brigands to destroy crops, causing peasants to attack\u00a0chateaux (castles)<\/strong>\u00a0and seize hoarded grain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- Many nobles fled their homes and migrated to neighbouring countries in fear.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
- Recognition of the National Assembly:\u00a0<\/strong>Faced with the revolt of his subjects, Louis XVI recognised the National Assembly and accepted the need for a\u00a0constitution to limit his powers<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n-\u00a0Reforms:\u00a0<\/strong>On 4 August 1789, the Assembly passed a decree\u00a0abolishing the feudal system<\/strong>, including obligations and taxes.<\/p>\r\n- Clergy:\u00a0<\/strong>The clergy were also forced to\u00a0relinquish their privileges<\/strong>, and\u00a0church lands were confiscated<\/strong>, providing the government with significant assets worth at least 2 billion livres (French currency).<\/p>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\nConstitution making<\/strong><\/td>\r\n| \r\n - The National Assembly drafted the\u00a0constitution in 1791<\/strong>, by which France became a constitutional monarchy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- The objective of the Constitution:<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
- The main objective was to\u00a0limit the powers of the monarch\u00a0<\/strong>and establish a system of governance that separated and\u00a0distributed powers\u00a0<\/strong>among different institutions.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Separation of powers:\u00a0<\/strong>The Constitution assigned powers to\u00a0different institutions<\/strong>, namely the legislature, executive, and judiciary. This separation ensured a system of checks and balances, preventing any one entity from having excessive control.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Legislative power:\u00a0<\/strong>The Constitution vested the power to make laws in the National Assembly, which was\u00a0indirectly elected<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- National Assembly:\u00a0<\/strong>Citizens voted for a group of electors, who then selected members of the Assembly.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Limited suffrage:\u00a0<\/strong>Men\u00a0over 25\u00a0<\/strong>who paid taxes equal to at least three days' worth of labourer's wages were deemed to be\u00a0active citizens<\/strong>\u00a0and were therefore eligible to vote.<\/li>\r\n\t
- The rest of the men and all women were classified as\u00a0passive citizens<\/strong>, meaning they did not possess voting rights.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n
Major Events after the French Revolution<\/h2>\r\nThe French Revolution witnessed a series of major events that transformed France and had far-reaching consequences, including the formation of\u00a0state constitutions<\/strong>,\u00a0political party development,<\/strong>\u00a0the\u00a0rise of Napoleon<\/strong>, and the\u00a0spread of revolutionary ideals<\/strong>\u00a0across the nation.<\/p>\r\nRevolutionary Wars<\/h3>\r\nDespite signing the Constitution, Louis XVI engaged in secret negotiations with the King of Prussia. The rulers of neighbouring countries were concerned about the developments in France and made plans to send troops to suppress the events taking place since 1789.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\t- Declaration of War:\u00a0<\/strong>In April 1792, the National Assembly\u00a0voted to declare war<\/strong>\u00a0against Prussia and Austria.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Declaration of Volunteers:\u00a0<\/strong>Thousands of provincial volunteers enlisted in the army, viewing it as a popular war against European monarchies and aristocracies.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Impact of the wars:\u00a0<\/strong>The Revolutionary Wars resulted in losses and\u00a0economic hardships\u00a0<\/strong>for the population.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\t- Men were away fighting, leaving women to shoulder the responsibilities of earning a living and caring for their families.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Many people believed that the revolution needed to go further, as the\u00a0Constitution of 1791<\/strong>\u00a0granted political rights only to the wealthier sections of society.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Political Clubs<\/h3>\r\nThe first anniversary of the\u00a0fall of the Bastille<\/strong>\u00a0marked a moment of liberation and exaltation. There was a general feeling of unity and solidarity among the participants. It was seen as a significant step towards a more inclusive society.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- Discontent:\u00a0<\/strong>However, this sense of unity did not last long. The common people continued to suffer, and dissatisfaction grew among them.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Political clubs:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0Dissatisfied people started forming political clubs to discuss the problems they faced.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Jacobin Club:\u00a0<\/strong>One such club which attained popularity was the Jacobin Club in Paris. The members were from\u00a0poor sections\u00a0<\/strong>of society \u2013 small-scale business people, artisans, servants and wage labourers. Their leader was\u00a0Maximilian Robespierre<\/strong>, a French lawyer and statesman.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\t- A majority of the members of the Jacobin club wore long striped trousers as against the trousers with knee breeches usually worn by the noble class.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
- Cordelier Club:\u00a0<\/strong>Another lawyer, Danton, dominated the Cordelier Club.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
National Convention and Birth of the First French Republic<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\t- The Jacobins organised an uprising during the summer of 1792 in reaction to high prices and a lack of food. In August, they stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, overpowered the king's guards, and held the king hostage.<\/li>\r\n\t
- The Assembly subsequently voted to\u00a0imprison the royal family<\/strong>, and elections were held. The newly elected assembly, known as the Convention, abolished the monarchy in September 1792 and declared France a republic.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Louis XVI was sentenced to death<\/strong>\u00a0for treason and\u00a0publicly executed\u00a0<\/strong>on January 21, 1793, followed by the\u00a0execution of Queen Marie Antoinette<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
The Reign of Terror<\/h3>\r\nThe period from 1793 to 1794 is known as the Reign of Terror, characterised by severe control and punishment under the leadership of\u00a0Maximilien Robespierre<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- Robespierre targeted people he believed to be republican enemies, such as clergy, ex-nobles, people in other political parties, and even his own party's dissidents.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Those deemed guilty were arrested, imprisoned, and tried by\u00a0revolutionary tribunals<\/strong>, with a high likelihood of being sentenced to\u00a0death by guillotine<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Economic and social changes:<\/strong>\u00a0Robespierre's government implemented laws to control the economy, such as placing maximum ceilings on wages and prices.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Meat and bread were rationed, and peasants were forced to carry their grain to cities where it was sold for prices set by the government.<\/li>\r\n\t
- \u00a0Churches were closed, and their buildings were repurposed as barracks or offices.<\/li>\r\n\t
- The downfall of Robespierre:\u00a0<\/strong>Over time, even Robespierre's supporters began to call for moderation in his policies. Eventually, he was convicted by a court in July 1794, arrested, and executed by guillotine.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Rule of the Directory<\/h3>\r\nThe\u00a0fall of the Jacobin government<\/strong> allowed the wealthier middle classes to come to power. A new constitution was introduced that restricted voting rights<\/strong>\u00a0to property-owning sections of society, excluding non-propertied individuals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t- Introduction of the Directory:\u00a0<\/strong>The legislative councils appointed a Directory, which\u00a0consisted of five members\u00a0<\/strong>and served as the executive branch of the government. The creation of the Directory aimed to\u00a0prevent the concentration of power\u00a0<\/strong>in a single individual, as had been the case under the Jacobins.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Instability of the Directory:\u00a0<\/strong>The Directors often clashed with the legislative councils, leading to conflicts and attempts to dismiss them. The political instabilitywithin the Directory created a sense of discontent and dissatisfaction among the people.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte:\u00a0<\/strong>The political instability and power struggles within the Directory created an opportunity for military leaders to seize control.\u00a0Napoleon Bonaparte\u00a0<\/strong>emerged as a\u00a0military dictator<\/strong>\u00a0and eventually took power, marking the end of the Directory.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
French Revolution Impacts<\/h2>\r\nThe French Revolution had a profound impact not only in France but also throughout Europe, serving as a source of inspiration for anti-colonial intellectuals and movements worldwide during the 19th and early 20th centuries.<\/p>\r\n \r\n\t- Reduction of Social Inequality:\u00a0<\/strong>The revolution aimed to reduce social inequality by curbing privileges based on birth.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Republican government:\u00a0<\/strong>A republican form of government with\u00a0electoral rights\u00a0<\/strong>was established, replacing the monarchy.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Abolition of the feudal system:\u00a0<\/strong>The feudal system was abolished, which perpetuated\u00a0social hierarchies\u00a0<\/strong>and obligations.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Abolition of slavery:\u00a0<\/strong>Although it took time for the total abolition of slavery, the French Revolution played a pivotal role in bringing about its eventual demise.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Subordination of the Church:\u00a0<\/strong>The Church\u00a0lost its supremacy\u00a0<\/strong>and became subordinate to the state.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen:\u00a0<\/strong>The Declaration underscored the significance of\u00a0both individual and collective rights<\/strong>.\r\n\r\n
\r\n\t- It championed principles such as\u00a0liberty, equality, and fraternity<\/strong>, shaping the course of history and inspiring subsequent movements for justice and freedom.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
- Separation of powers:\u00a0<\/strong>It resulted in establishing a system with three separate organs of government:\u00a0legislative, executive, and judiciar<\/strong>y.<\/li>\r\n\t
- Inspiration for Europe:\u00a0<\/strong>It sparked hope across Europe, inspiring people to challenge despotic rule and strive for the establishment of egalitarian societies.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
American Revolution vs French Revolution<\/h3>\r\n | | | | | | |