French Revolution

State of society before the revolution

• French society was divided into classes, or estates.
1. First Estate - Clergy
2. Second Estate - Nobility
• These two classes were the privileged class. They were exempted from almost all taxes. 
• Controlled most administrative posts, high ranking posts in army.
• Owned more than 40% of total land of France. 
3. Third Estate
• They were common unprivileged people. 
• Made 95% of the total population. 
1. Peasants
• 80% of the total population, largest dection of Third Estate.
• had miserable life. 
• most peasants free, not like serfs in Middle ages or serfs in other countries. 
• Many owned lands. Majority landless or small holdings.
• No longer allowed wood from forest.
• Not allowed to graze his flocks on uncultivable land. 
2. Middle Class - Bourgeoisie
• Writers, doctors, judges, lawyers, teachers, civil servants, merchants, bankers, manufacturers. 
• Economically most important.
3. Artisans and City Workers
• Worked in inhuman condition.
• looked upon as inferior creatures.  
• Without any rights. 
• Bad working condition. 
• Monarchy
1. Indifferent to the work of government. 
2. No contact with common people. 
3. Led extravagant lifestyle.
4. Brought state to bankruptcy.

Intellectual Movement

• 18th century France has many revolutionary thinkers. 
• asserted man was born to be happy.
• denied existence of God or ignored Him.
• asserted doctrine of nature. 
• urged faith in reason.
• attacked religious doctrines of clergy.
• taxes should be imposed only with the consent of those whom they were levied. 
• denial of the privileges and feudal rights that protected the upper class. 
• no political system can maintain itself without ``the consent of the governed."

Outbreak of the Revolution

• In 1789, Louis XVI's need for money compelled him to agree to a meeting of the States General - old feudal assembly.
• All three estates represented but each had separate meeting. 
• Third Estate claiming to be represent 96% of national population declared themselves National Assembly. 
• On June 20, 1789 found meeting hall occupied by Royal Guards, moved to nearby tennis court to work out constitution. 
• Louis called troops to breakup the assembly.
• Enraged people - surrounded Bastille - state prison joined by guards.
• Revolt spread to other towns. 
• National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

War and End of Monarchy

• People of France involved in war to defend revolution and the nation.
• Nobles and clerics fled country.
• Nobles and clerics encouraged foreign government to intervene in France against the revolution.
• National Assembly replaced by Legislative Assembly.
• France in war with Austria, Prussia and Savoy in Italy for protection of revolution. Later declared war against Britain, Holland, Spain and Hungary. (War: 1792-1815).
• Army became powerful.
• Led to rise of Napolean, who later declared himself Emperor of the French Republic. 

Consequence of French Revolution

• Destruction of feudalism in France.
• Napolean seized power, Napoleonic code introduced.
• Introduction of captalism in Europe.
• French Revolution gave the term "nation" its modern meaning. 
• Nation is not the territory that people belonging to it inhabit but the people themselves. 
• From this followed idea of sovereignty. Nation recognizes no law or authority above its own.
• People constituting the nation are the source of all power and authority.
• abolished slavery in French colonies. 
• Inspired revolutionary movement in  other countries. 
• Destroyed serfdom in areas which came under French occupation. 
• Spain was occupied by France and Portugal was in conflict with France. Spain and Portugal has no contact with its colonies. Therefore most Portuguese and Spanish colonies  in Central and South America. became Independent.