II. Prepare a mind map on the French Revolution and also prepare a flow chart on each
subtopic of the French Revolution chapter. (History)
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Causes of the French Revolution:
Social Inequality: French society in the eighteenth century was divided into three estates namely The Clergy, The nobility and third estates. First two estates, that is, the clergy and the nobility enjoyed certain privileges by birth. They were exempt from paying taxes. The Third estate comprises of businessmen, merchants, Peasants and artisans, labours had to pay taxes to the state.
Political Causes: Long years of war had drained the financial resources of France. France had a debt of more than 2 billion livres. To meet its regular expenses, such as the cost of maintaining an army, the court, running government offices or universities, the state was forced to increase taxes which angered the people.
Economic Problems: The population of France also increased from 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. Food grains were now in great demand. The price of bread shot up. Wages did not keep pace with rising prices. This led to subsistence crisis.
Strong Middle Class: A new middle class emerged educated and wealthy during the eighteenth century. They believed that no group in society should be given privileges by birth. Ideas of equality and freedom were put forward by philosophers. The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in salons and coffee houses and spread among people.
Immediate Causes: On 5 may, 1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes. Third estates protested against this proposal but as each estate have one vote, the king rejected this appeal. They walked out of the assembly.
The Outbreak of the French Revolution
Louis XVI called an assembly of the Estates General to pass his proposals to increase taxes on 5th May 1789. The first and second estates sent 300 representatives each, who were seated in rows facing each other on two sides, while the 600 members of the third estate had to stand at the back. The third estate was represented by its more prosperous and educated members only while peasants, artisans and women were denied entry to the assembly. Voting in the Estates General in the past had been conducted according to the principle that each estate had one vote and same practice to be continued this time. But members of the third estate demanded individual voting right, where each member would have one vote.
France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy
The National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution in 1791, aiming to limit the powers of the monarch. The powers were now separated and assigned to different institutions – the legislature, executive and judiciary which made France a constitutional monarchy.
France Abolishes Monarchy and Becomes a Republic
Louis XVI had signed the Constitution, but he entered into secret negotiations with the King of Prussia. Rulers of other neighbouring countries too were worried by the developments in France and made plans to send troops to stop the revolutionary events .
Women Revolution
From the very beginning, women were active participants in the events which brought about so many changes in the French society. Most women of the third estate had to work for a living. Their wages were lower than those of men. In order to discuss and voice their interests, women started their own political clubs and newspapers. One of their main demands was that women must enjoy the same political rights as men.
The revolutionary government did introduce laws that helped improve the lives of women.
By creation of state schools, schooling was made compulsory for all girls.
Their fathers could no longer force them into marriage against their will.
Divorce was made legal, and could be applied for by both women and men.
Women could now train for jobs, could become artists or run small businesses.
It was finally in 1946 that women in France won the right to vote.
The Abolition of Slavery
The unwillingness of Europeans to go and work in the colonies in the Caribbean which were important suppliers of commodities such as tobacco, indigo, sugar and coffee created a shortage of labour on the plantations. Thus, the slave trade began in the seventeenth century.
We can trace the origin of the following democratic rights we enjoy today to the French revolution:
Right to Equality before law
Freedom of Speech and expression
Right against exploitation
Right to justice
Legacy of the French Revolution
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 nineteenth century, where feudal systems were abolished. Later, these ideas were adopted by Indian revolutionary strugglers, Tipu Sultan and Rammohan Roy also.
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