French Revolution
The First Moderate Stage (1789-1791)

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The French Revolution was a fight for freedom from oppression and for equality of all people in France. The motto of the revolutionaries was “Liberty [Freedom], Equality and Fraternity [Brotherhood]”.The events of the Revolution occurred over 10 years and can be divided into 3 stages. The first was a moderate phase, when the changes achieved were not that big and with not much violence being inflicted. The second stage was more radical with changes taking place and a lot of violence. Members of the aristocracy as well as the king and queen were beheaded at the guillotine. Anyone who did not support the government was killed. This stage ended when the man who was responsible for this “reign of terror” was killed. The third and last stage was again moderate much like the first stage. This stage ended when Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and turned France into a mighty and aggressive empire.

The first stage of the French Revolution started when the urban masses stormed the Bastille. Some of the soldiers who were guarding the Bastille joined them, and they took over the fortress, released the prisoners who were kept there and killed the man in charge of the prison. When the peasants in the countryside heard what had happened in Paris, they joined in the revolution. They did this by burning the manor houses of their landlords and destroying the feudal registers. These registers were the only proof on paper of the feudal relationship between the peasants and their landlords. When they were destroyed, it was easy for the National Assembly to do away with the feudal rights of the Second Estate. On 26 August 1789 the National Assembly started to create a constitution by drawing up the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (almost like a Bill of Rights). This contained liberal ideas of human rights and how people should be ruled.

In the countryside, the peasants burned down the manor houses of the aristocracy. Fearing for their lives, the aristocracy fled the country. In the picture, one can see them fleeing with their coaches and horses while the buildings are burning. The event is called The Great Fear.
From: www.historywiz.com/ frenchrev-mm.htm

 

But the king was still an absolute ruler, and before the Declaration could be put into practice, the king had to accept it. He did not want to do this, until angry masses marched to his palace at Versailles to demand that he accept the Declaration. Fearing that they would take the palace over like they did with the Bastille, he quickly gave in and accepted the demands. Many nobles had also given in to the demands of the Third Estate, and had given up their feudal rights. Those who refused to do so started to flee from the country in fear of their lives and because they did not want to give up their privileges.

The March to Versailles. The marchers were mostly women, who did not have bread to feed their families and wanted to demand changes from the king and queen.
From: www.historywiz.com/ frenchrev-mm.htm

The first stage ended in 1791, when the bourgeoisie's National Assembly was in power.

These are some of the changes they made:

•  The Second Estate lost their special privileges;

•  Basic human rights - like liberty and equality - were accepted;

•  The Church lost its special privileges - tithes were stopped and Church land was taken and sold;

•  The king lost his absolute power;

•  Everybody became equal before the law and had the right to a fair trial;

•  All men above 25 could get voting rights (but they had to earn a certain amount of money before they could get these rights).

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Learning Outcome 1: Historical Enquiry
Assessment Standards: Asking questions about aspects of the past and asking questions to begin an investigation of the past.

Activity

 

1. Look at the changes that the National Assembly made.
2. Draw two columns in your workbook. Name the one column "Changes of the National Assembly" and the other "The Old Order".
3. Write the changes in the first column. Next to every change, write how it was different from the Old Order.

For example:

Changes of the National Assembly Everybody became equal before the law and had the right to a fair trial.

The Old Order The absolute king could put anybody in jail without reason or a trial.

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Learning Outcome 2: Historical knowledge and understanding
Assessment Standards: Demonstrating historical knowledge and understanding; explaining changes in a wider historical context [change and continuity].

Activity

With a friend, discuss the following:

1. Look at point 6 under the reforms. Only men over the age of 25 got voting rights.
   •  How is this different from South Africa's voting rights today?
   •  How is this different from France's voting rights today?
2. What do you think this says about how women were seen in the 18 th century?
3. Try to find out when women got voting rights in:

• France
• South Africa

(Tip: go to http://www.ipu.org/wmn-e/suffrage.htm )