❖ Overview of The French

Revolution
❖ Events Leading to The
French Revolution
❖ Key Events of The
French Revolution
❖ Key Historical Figures
❖ Consequences of The
French Revolution
❖ Bibliography
Painting “La Liberté guidant le people” - Eugène Delacroix
 Overview of The French Revolution

The French Revolution was a period in the history of France which brought about major changes not only in
the political landscape of France, but also of Europe and the world. It started in 1789 and lasted until 1799.
At that time, France was a monarchy ruled by King Louis XVI and queen Marie-Antoinette.

“Louis XVI, roi de France et de

Navarre (1754-1793), revêtu du “Marie-Antoinette dit « à la Rose »” -
grand costume royal en 1779” - Louise Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun
Antoine-François Callet

Painting “The Storming of the Bastille,” - Jean-Baptiste Lallemand

 Events Leading to The French Revolution

Economic Hardship Social Inequity

There were many causes which led to the French Another cause was the social structure of French society at that
Revolution and economic hardship was one of the major time, which was divided into three major categories: the clergy, the
ones. France found itself in severe financial difficulty, not nobility, and the commoners. The commoners made up the vast
only because of its involvement in costly wars, including the majority of the population, had little political power and were
American Revolutionary War, but also extreme spending by burdened by taxes which supported the first two categories. From
the monarchy. This led to widespread poverty and the commoners rose a middle class called bourgeoisie, which
discontent. began demanding political inclusion.

Enlightenment
The cultural movement called The Enlightenment, or Age
of Reason, also contributed to the spark which led to the
French Revolution. Thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and
Ineffectiveness of the Monarchy
Montesquieu brought about new ideas regarding
King Louis XVI's was an indecisive leader, incapable
democracy, individual rights, and the questioning of
of managing the political and economic crisis.
traditional authority and influenced public opinion.

Images from Freepik

 Key Events of The French Revolution

Calling of the Estates-General (1789)

The Estates-General was convened for the first time since 1614 to address the fiscal crisis. The general population which was
made up of commoners and the new rising class the bourgeoisie, frustrated by its lack of influence, declared itself the National
Assembly, with the support of the clergy and some of the nobles.

Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789)

The fall of the Bastille, a symbol of royal tyranny, became a powerful symbol of the revolution and is celebrated annually as
Bastille Day.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 1789)

This document proclaimed the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity and became a foundational text for modern
democracies. King Louis XVI refused to accept the document, triggering another massive public outcry.

Reign of Terror (1793-1794)

Led by radical revolutionaries like Maximilien Robespierre, the Reign of Terror was marked by mass executions of enemies of
the revolution, which were members of the nobility class. Thousands, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette,
were guillotined.

Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte (1799)

The revolution ended with Napoleon's coup d'état, which established him as the ruler of France and eventually led to the
creation of the Napoleonic Empire.
Painting “The Storming of the Bastille,” - Jean-Baptiste Lallemand
Key Historical Figures

King Louis XVI (1754-1793)

Maximilien Robespierre (1758-1794)
He was the last king of France before the fall of the
He was a leading figure of the French
monarchy. His indecisiveness, his inability to
Revolution, a prominent member of the
manage the financial crises of France and his
Jacobin Club and the Committee of Public
refusal of all demands for reform led to his downfall.
Safety. Robespierre held a major role in
He was arrested, tried and executed by guillotine in
initiating the Reign of Terror, during which
1793.
thousands were executed, including the
Painting “Louis XVI, roi de France et de Navarre (1754-1793),
king and queen. He was eventually arrested
revêtu du grand costume royal en 1779” - Antoine-François Callet
and executed in 1794.
Anonymous author of painting
Marie Antoinette (1755-1793)
She was queen of France and wife of Louis XVI.
She became a symbol of the monarchy’s excesses
and was widely unpopular, often unfairly blamed for
the country’s financial problems. She was tried and Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)
executed by guillotine in 1793. Although he rose to power after the height
Painting “Marie-Antoinette dit « à la Rose »” - Louise Elisabeth of the Revolution, Napoleon’s early military
Vigée-Lebrun successes and eventual coup in 1799
ended the revolutionary period and
established him as the ruler of France. His
Jean-Paul Marat (1743-1793) reign marked the transition from the
He was a radical journalist and politician, fiercely revolutionary period to the Napoleonic era.
defending the lower classes and a supporter of the Painting by Jacques Louis David
Reign of Terror. He was assassinated in his bath by
Charlotte Corday, a Girondin sympathizer, in 1793.
Painting “Portrait of Jean-Paul Marat” – Joseph Bose
 Consequences of The French Revolution

End of Monarchy
The revolution led to the fall of the monarchy and the establishment of the First French Republic.

Spread of Revolutionary Ideas

The French Revolution inspired subsequent revolutions and movements for democracy and independence globally.

Social Changes
French society became more egalitarian. A democratic, government was established, in which all classes of citizens were
represented. Laws were given for basic property rights, the separation of church and state, and establishment of human
rights.

Legal Reforms
The Napoleonic Code, introduced by Napoleon, reformed French law and became a model for legal systems around the
world.

Painting “Une exécution capitale, place de la Révolution,” - Pierre-Antoine Demachy

 Bibliography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_
Revolution
https://www.britannica.com/event/Fre
nch-Revolution
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
education/resources/french-
revolution/

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