The French Revolution: Class 9 Study Guide
In 1789 people in France rose against an unfair system and changed ideas of rights and government.
Before 1789, France was ruled by a king, Louis XVI, and society was divided into three estates: the clergy, the nobility and everyone else. The Third Estate, which included peasants, workers and the middle class, paid most of the taxes and had few rights. A growing debt, rising bread prices and bad harvests caused great hardship.
In 1789, the king called a meeting of the Estates-General to raise taxes. The Third Estate demanded fair voting and formed a National Assembly. On 14 July 1789, a crowd stormed the Bastille, a royal prison, which has become the symbol of the revolution.
Key events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1789 | Estates-General meets; Bastille stormed; Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen |
| 1791 | A constitution makes France a limited monarchy |
| 1792 | Monarchy abolished; France becomes a republic |
| 1793 | Louis XVI executed; Reign of Terror begins |
| 1799–1804 | Napoleon rises to power and becomes emperor in 1804 |
Ideas that spread
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen said that people are born free and equal in rights and that the nation holds sovereignty. The words liberty, equality and fraternity became the revolution's slogan. The Reign of Terror, led by Robespierre, shows how a revolution can use fear and violence.
Three estates, heavy taxes.
Debt and hunger.
National Assembly, the Bastille.
Rights, republic, equality.
Women and the revolution
Women took part in marches and demanded bread and rights, and writers such as Olympe de Gouges demanded equal rights for women. They did not get the vote in France until 1944.
Worked examples and common mistakes
Example: Which estate paid most taxes? The Third Estate. Example: What did the Bastille symbolise? The old unjust royal power. Common mistakes: mixing up the dates of the Bastille (1789) and the monarchy's end (1792), and thinking that the revolution was one single day. It lasted years.
Check your understanding: model answers
1. Peasants, workers and the middle class: everyone except the clergy and nobility. 2. 1792. 3. For example liberty and equality, or the idea of rights for all citizens.
✨ Key Takeaways
- France had three estates, and the third paid most taxes.
- The Bastille was stormed on 14 July 1789.
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man set out basic rights.
- Liberty, equality and fraternity were the revolution's ideals.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Who belonged to the Third Estate?
- In which year was the monarchy abolished?
- Name two ideas that came from the revolution.