FRENCH

REVOLUTIONThe end of

monarchy system in

France

WHAT IS FRENCH REVOLUTION?

Nowadays we have thoughts of liberty, freedom and equality around us. And like everything has its own history same way even these ideas have their own history.

French revolution is the part of that history. The French revolution is the end of the

monarchy system in France. The declaration of the Rights of Man during the revolution, announced the coming of new time.

INTRODUCTION

The Paris city in France, on the morning of 14th July, 1789, was in a great danger. The king has commanded his army to move into the city and the citizens were frightened. Rumours were spread that at the king’s order, his army would start firing upon the citizens. So, 7000 men and women formed people’s militia in the front of the town hall. They stormed on Bastille.

BASTILLE STORM

People’s militia attacked the fortified building prison, the Bastille, where they hoped to get a secret stored bullets and shells. They killed the commander of the Bastille and prisoners were released and Bastille was destructed completely and its stone fragments were sold in the market.

1. FRENCH SOCIETY DURING LATE 18TH CENTURY

FRANCE KING AND QUEEN AND ITS CONDITIONSLouis XVI became the king of France in 1774 and he married to princess Marie Antoinette. He got an empty treasury.Long years of wars had drained financial resources, cost of maintaining the extravagant court and for regular expenses he had very little capital.The debt was more than 2 billion livres and interest was 10%. So he was forced to increase the taxes.

THE SOCIETY OF ESTATESIn 18th century, France was divided into 3 estates.Peasants made 90% of population but 60% of land was owned by nobles, the Church and other rich members of the 3rd estate. Members of first 2 estates enjoyed certain privileges from birth like exemption from paying taxes. Nobles also took feudal dues by peasants.The church also extracted tax called tithes from the peasants and they should also pay direct taxes to the government called taille and many indirect taxes on things like salt and tobacco.Peasant were obliged to render services to the lord, to work in his houses, to serve in army or to participate in building roads.In short, the burden of financing activities with economic exploitation was handled by peasants.

THE STRUGGLE TO SURVIVEThe population of france 23 million in 1715 and 28 million in 1789.With the increase inthe population there was a sudden increase in the demand of foodgrains. The production of grains was increased but it was not enough. Price of the bread rose and so majority people suffered.Workers were employed as labourers and their wages were fixed which couldn’t keep pace with the rising prices. So the bridge gap between poor and rich widened.This led to subsistence crisis.

HOW A SUBSISTENCE CRISIS HAPPENS?

Bad

harvestScarcity of grains

Rising food

prices

The poorest can no longer

buy bread

Food riots

Weaker bodies

Diseases

epidemics

Increased no. of deaths

A GROWING MIDDLE CLASS ENVISAGES AN END TO PRIVILEGESIn 18th century, a new class of society emerged ‘middle class’ that either had overseas trade or used to manufacture textiles. With these people were lawyers and administrative officials that believed that no group of society should be given privileges by birth. Philosophers and people opposing with other with the same factor-John Locke- Two Treaties of Government sought to refute the doctrine in divine.Jean Jacques Rousseau- proposed a form of government based on social contract of people and their representatives.Montesquieu- The Spirit of Laws and proposed a government with 3 divisions of legislative, executive and judiciary.

2.THE OUTBREAK OF THE REVOLUTION

ESTATES GENERAL

Louis XVI wanted to increase taxes but it can’t be done by his will alone. It needs a meeting with the representatives of the 3 estates in estates general. Last time it was held in 1614.On 5 May 1789, Louis XVI called a meeting of the estates general. From first 2 estates 300 representatives each were present. From 3rd estate 600 members were present with 40,000 letters of the grievances of 3rd estate people.Voting system was that each estate would give one vote so 3 votes and the decision. But the 3rd estate demanded to the king for another voting system that the voting be conducted by the assembly as a whole, where each member would have 1 vote. The king denied and the whole 3rd estate assembly walked out in protest.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLYOn 20 June they declared themselves as National Assembly and had a oath not to disperse till they draft a constitution that would limit the monarch’s power. They were led by Mirabeau (noble) and Abbe Sieyes (clergy).When the assembly was preparing the constitution, the people were very angry but quiet and they became violent near the bread selling bakeries and the army busted into the city. The agitated crowd stormed the Bastille.Rumours were spread in country-side that manors had hired brigands who were destroying ripe crops. The feared and angry people looted hoarded grain and burnt down documents containing records of manorial dues.Atlast the king accepted to draft the constitutions and the extra privileges were abolished and the church land was seized.

FRANCE BECOMES A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHYThe national assembly completed the draft of the constitution in 1791. It divided the government into 3 divisions- legislative, executive and judiciary.The active citizens elects electors and these electors elect national assembly that controls king as well as ministers. Only men above 25 years age can vote.To qualify as an elector and then as the member of the assembly, a man had to belong to the highest bracket of taxpayers.

DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE MAN AND CITIZENS

Declaration of the rights of the man and the citizens- rights like right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before law, were established as ‘natural and inalienable’ rights.

READING POLITICAL SYMBOLS

The broken chain

The bundle of rods

and fasces

The eye within

the triangle

radiating light

Sceptre

The snake

biting its tail to form a

ring

Red Phrygian Cap

Blue – white -

red

The winged woman

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