Overview of the French Revolution
The French Revolution was a period of far-reaching social and political upheaval in France that began in 1789 and ended in the late 1790s. It overthrew the monarchy, established a republic, and culminated in a dictatorship under Napoleon Bonaparte. The revolution was triggered by widespread discontent with the French monarchy and the poor economic policies of King Louis XVI.
The Three Estates (Social Structure)
French society before 1789, known as the Ancien Regime, was divided into three estates. This strict hierarchy determined a person’s rights, status, and taxation obligations.
| Estate | Composition | Privileges/Burdens |
|---|---|---|
| First Estate | Clergy (Church officials) | Owned 10% of land; paid no direct taxes (Taille); collected Tithes. |
| Second Estate | Nobility (Aristocrats) | Owned 25% of land; exempt from most taxes; held top government jobs. |
| Third Estate | Peasants, artisans, merchants, lawyers | 98% of population; paid all taxes (Taille, Tithes, feudal dues); no political power. |
Key Terms and Events
- Subsistence Crisis: An extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are endangered, occurring frequently in the Old Regime due to bad harvests and rising prices.
- Estates General: A political body to which the three estates sent their representatives. Louis XVI called a meeting in 1789 to pass proposals for new taxes.
- Storming of the Bastille: On 14 July 1789, an angry mob stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of the king’s despotic power, marking the start of the revolution.
Factors Leading to Revolution
Economic: The treasury was empty due to long wars and the cost of maintaining the court at Versailles. Bad harvests led to high bread prices.
Political: Louis XVI was an indecisive ruler. The Third Estate demanded a “one person, one vote” system in the Estates General, which was rejected.
Intellectual: Philosophers like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu inspired people with ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
