explain the french revolution in simple word
Answers
The French Society during the Late 18th Century
In 1774, Louis XVI, a 20 year young from Bourbon dynasty ascended the throne of France.
He was welcomed by empty treasure. The France was reeling under tremendous debt which
had mounted Up to 2 billion livres. For meeting theses expenses increase in the tax was
inevitable.
The French Society was divided into three estates. First two enjoyed all privileges.
1st Estate: Clergy
2nd Estate: Nobility
3rd Estate: Big businessmen, merchants, court officials, peasants, artisans, landless
labourers, servants, etc.
Some within the Third Estate were rich and some were poor.
The burden of financing activities of the state through taxes was borne by the Third
Estate alone.
The Struggle for Survival : Population of France grew and so did the demand for grain. The
gap between the rich and poor widened. This led to subsistence crises.
Subsistence Crisis : An extreme situation where the basic means of livelihood are
endangered .
The Growing Middle Class : The 18th century witnessed the emergence of middle class
which was educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged by birth.
These ideas were put forward by philosophers such as Locke the English philosopher and
Rousseau, French philosopher. The American constitution and its guarantee of individual
rights was an important example of political theories of France. These ideas were discussed
intensively in salons and coffee houses and spread among people through books and
newspapers. These were even read aloud.
The years following 1789 in France saw many changes in the lives of men, women and
children.The revolutionary governments took it upon themselves to pass laws that would
translate the ideals of liberty and equality into everyday practice. One important law that
came into effect was the abolition of censorship.
The ideas of liberty and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French
Revolution. These spread from France to the rest of Europe during the 19th century
Time Line : The French Revolution
1770s-1780s — Economic decline : French Government in deep debt.
1788-1789 — Bad harvest, high prices, food riots
1789, May 5 — Estates-General convened, demands reforms.
1789, July 14 — National Assembly formed. Bastille stormed on July 14. French Revolution
starts.
1789, Aug. 4 — Night of August 4 ends the rights of the aristocracy.
1789, Aug. 26 — Declaration of the Rights of Man
1790 — Civil Constitution of the Clergy nationalises the Church.
1792 — Constitution of 1791 converts absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy
with limited powers.
1792 — Austria and Prussia attack revolutionary France
1793 — Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette are executed.
1792-1794 — The Reign of Terror starts. Austria, Britain, the Netherlands, Prussia and Spain
are at war with France.
— Robespierre’s Committee of Public Safety repels back foreign invaders.
Executes many “enemies of the people” in France itself.
1794 — Robespierre is executed. France is governed by a Directory, a committee of five men.
1799 — Napoleon Bonaparte becomes the leader.