Overview
This lecture traces the origins, major events, and consequences of the French Revolution, examining the downfall of the monarchy, rise of republican ideals, and the Reign of Terror.
Prelude to Revolution
- By the late 1700s, France was the most powerful kingdom in Europe but faced poverty and hunger among its people.
- Social structure divided into three estates: clergy, nobility, and the commoners (Third Estate), with the latter having little power.
- Enlightenment ideas challenged tradition, advocating reason, equality, and individual rights.
- France's financial crisis worsened due to war debts and Queen Marie Antoinette’s lavish spending.
Monarchy in Crisis
- King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette became increasingly unpopular due to inability to produce an heir and perceived indifference to the people’s suffering.
- Bread shortages and rise in food prices led to unrest and riots.
- Meeting of the Estates General in 1789 marked the beginning of open political confrontation.
Outbreak of Revolution
- Third Estate forms National Assembly, swearing the Tennis Court Oath to draft a new constitution.
- Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, became a symbol of revolution against tyranny.
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen established liberty, equality, and fraternity as the new ideals.
Radicalization and the Fall of the Monarchy
- Revolutionary fervor increased; women’s march brought royal family from Versailles to Paris.
- King Louis XVI attempted and failed to flee France, eroding trust.
- France declared war on Austria and Prussia; growing paranoia about enemies within.
The Reign of Terror
- Power centralized under the Committee of Public Safety, dominated by Maximilien Robespierre.
- The guillotine became the symbol of revolutionary justice; thousands were executed, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
- De-Christianization campaigns and the new revolutionary calendar aimed to erase old traditions.
- Internal dissenters like Danton and the moderate Girondins were purged.
Fall of Robespierre and the Aftermath
- Fear and suspicion during the Great Terror led to Robespierre's arrest and execution.
- The Terror ended but left France in political uncertainty until Napoleon’s rise.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Estates General — Assembly representing France's three social estates.
- Tennis Court Oath — Pledge by the National Assembly not to disband until a constitution was created.
- Bastille — Fortress-prison in Paris, symbol of royal tyranny, stormed by revolutionaries.
- Declaration of the Rights of Man — Foundational document asserting equal rights and freedoms.
- Guillotine — Decapitation machine symbolizing revolutionary justice.
- Reign of Terror — Period (1793–94) marked by mass executions of "enemies of the revolution."
- Committee of Public Safety — Executive body leading the Terror.
- Jacobins — Radical revolutionary faction led by Robespierre.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key revolutionary documents: Declaration of the Rights of Man.
- Prepare for discussion on the effects of revolutionary violence and the transition from monarchy to republic.