AP Euro - The French Revolution

Nobility

The upper social class in France that had special privileges, owned land, and paid fewer taxes

Peasantry

The lowest social class made up of poor farmers and laborers who paid most of their taxes

Bourgeoisie

The middle class of merchants, professionals, and business owners who were wealthy but lacked political power

Racial Privilege

Special rights and advantages given to certain groups

Liberty

The freedom to think, speak, and act without unfair government control

Equality

The idea that all people should be treated the same under the law, without special privileges

Seven Years’ War

• Major global conflict between European powers (France & Britain), fought in Europe, North America, and overseas colonies.

• France spent huge amounts of money on the war but ultimately lost to Britain.

• The war left France in deep debt and weaken its economy

• Financial crisis forced the French gov to raise taxes, increasing resentment among among Third Estate and helped set the stage for the French Revolution

Treaty of Paris (1763)

• Officially ended the Seven Years War between France and Great Britain.

• In treaty, France lost most colonial possessions in North America & India to Great Britain, reducing French power overseas.

• France remained heavily in debt after the war.

• The treaty worsened financial problems + contributed to growing dissatisfaction with monarchy

Social Change in 18th century Europe:

• During the 18th century, Europe experienced, major social changes as a middle class grew wealthier through the trade and industry. Despite their economic success, the bourgeoisie had little political power, which caused resentment.

• At the same time, peasant struggled with high taxes, rising food prices, and poverty. These inequalities increased tensions between social classes and weakened the old social order.

• European empires created racial hierarchies in their colonies that legally and socially defined enslaved people as inferior in order to justify slavery. These racial regimes protected the economic interests of European elites by normalizing exploitation and denying enslaved population basic rights and freedoms, contradicting the enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality.

The Enlightenment and Calls for Liberty and Equality

• The Enlightenment challenged traditional sources of authority, such as absolute monarchy by emphasizing reason, natural law, and individual rights.

• Philosophers like John Locke argued that government existed to protect life, liberty, and property while Rousseau claimed political authority came from the general will of the people. These ideas encourage people, especially the bourgeoisie, to question inherited privilege and demand equality before the law.

• As Enlightenment ideas spread, the undermined loyalty to absolutism and inspired revolutionary thinking in France.

Impact of the Seven Years’ War

• The Seven Years War placed enormous financial strain on France due to the high costs of global warfare and military defeat by Great Britain.

• Although France lost valuable colonial territories, it gained little political or economic benefit from the war, leaving the state deeply in debt. To address this crisis, the monarchy relied on increased taxation, which burdened the third estate while the nobility remain largely exempt.

• This unequal financial pressure intensified social resentment, and exposed the inefficiency of the absolute system, contributing directly to revolutionary unrest.

Stamp Act (1765)

• A British law that printed materials in American colonies, such as newspapers and legal documents, to raise money for Britain’s war debts.

• Colonist strongly opposed it because they had no representatives in parliament —> got repealed

Tea Party (1775)

The Boston tea party was a colonial protest in which colonists dumped British tea into the Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act and taxation without representation.

Coercive Acts (1774)

• Laws passed by Britain to punish Massachusetts for the Boston tea party, including closing Boston Harbor, and limiting colonial self government.

• Colonists called them the Intolerable Acts

Declaration of Independence (1776)

A document written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, that declared the American colonies independent from Britain and listed grievances against King George III while asserting natural rights.

Loyalists

American colonists who remained loyal to Britain during the American Revolution often because of economic ties, fear of change, or belief in monarchy

Leagues of Armed Neutrality

An alliance of European nations that agreed to protect neutral shipping rights during the American Revolution, indirectly weakening British naval power

Bill of Rights (1791)

The first 10 amendments to the US Constitution ratified in 1791, that guarantee fundamental freedoms such as speech, religion, and due process

Three-Fifths Compromise

An agreement at the Constitutional Convention that counted enslaved people as 3/5 of a person for taxation and representation, increasing southern political power

Origin of the Revolution

• The origins of the American Revolution can be traced to British attempts to strengthen control over the colonies after the French and Indian war.

• Britain impose new taxes, such as the Stamp Act to pay off war debt, angering colonists who lacked representation in parliament.

• Enlightenment ideas about natural rights and government by consent further inspired resistance. Colonial protests, boycott, and political organizations escalated tensions.

• By the early 1770s, violence and mutual distrust made compromise increasingly unlikely.

Independence from Britain

• As tensions grew, armed conflict broke out at Lexington and Concord in 1775, marking the start of the Revolutionary war.

• The second continental Congress organized a continental army under George Washington. Influenced by enlightenment ideas, colonial leaders, decided independence was necessary rather than reconciliation.

• In 1776, the Declaration of independence, formally broke political ties with Britain.

• The war ultimately became a global conflict with foreign support, weakening British control.

Framing the Constitution

• After the independence, weaknesses in the articles of confederation became clear, especially the lack of strong central government.

• In 1787, delegates, met at the constitutional convention to revise the government, but instead created an entirely new constitution.

• The document established federalism, separation of powers, and checks and balances to prevent tyranny.

• Compromises such as the great compromise and 3/5 compromise resolved sectional disputes. Ratification was cured only after promises to add a Bill of Rights.

Limitations of Liberty and Equality

• Despite revolutionary rhetorics, celebrating liberty and equality, these principles were applied selectively and inconsistently.

• Enslaved Africans remain oppressed, Native Americans were dispossessed of their lands, and women were excluded from formal political participation.

• Political rights were largely restricted to white, property-owning men, reinforcing existing social hierarchies.

• As a result, the new republic exposed a profound contradiction between its enlightenment ideals and its social realities.

Parlements

French regional courts made up of nobles that could register or block Royal laws, often resisting royal reforms.

Desacralization

The process of removing the sacred/religious authority of the monarchy, making the king seem less divinely chosen

Estates general

A representative assembly of the three estates (clergy, nobility, commoners) called by the king to approve taxes

Tennis court oath

A pledge by the delegates of the third state in 1789 to not disband until they have been recognized as a national assembly and had written a new constitution

Great Fear

A rave of panic in rural France, where peasants attacked noble estates, fearing aristocratic plots against them

Declaration of the rights of man and of the citizen (1789)

A revolutionary document that proclaimed liberty, equality before the law, and natural rights for men in 1789

Assignats

Paper money issued by the revolutionary government backed by confiscated church land

Financial crisis and the old order

• France faced severe debt due to war spending, royal extravagance, and an unfair tax system that exempted nobles and clergy.

• The third estate bore most of the tax burden, causing resentment.

• Attempts at reform failed because the parliament blocked new taxes. Enlightenment ideas encourage criticism and absolutism.

• This crisis forced Louis XVI to call the state General, exposing the social divisions.

Formation of the national assembly

• When voting rules favored the privileged estates, the third state broke away and declared itself the national assembly. They claim to represent the French nation as a whole.

• The tennis court oath symbolize their commitment to constitutional form.

• Popular support grew as Parisians the Royal repression. This marked the end of absolute monarchy in practice.

Popular uprising and the rights of man

• Urban crowds and peasants played a major role in pushing the revolution foward.

• The storming of the Bastille became a symbol of resistance to tyranny. The great fear led peasants to destroy feudal records.

• In response, the national assembly abolished feudal privileges. The declaration of right of man established liberty, equality, and sovereignty of the people.

Women’s role and constitutional monarchy.

• Women actively participated through protests, political clubs, and pamphlets.

• The women’s march on Versailles forced the royal family to move to Paris.

• Reformers created a constitutional monarchy, limiting the Kings power.

• However, women were still excluded from political rights. Despite their activism, equality remain incomplete.

Reorganization of France

• The Revolutionary government reorganized France into departments to eliminate regional privilege and improve efficiency.

• Legal equality, replaced the whole system of noble privileges and feudal rights.

• Church lands were confiscated to pay off debt, and assignats were issued as paper currency.

• The civil constitution of the clergy placed the Catholic Church under a state authority, causing deep divisions.

• These reforms aimed to modernize France according to Enlightenment principles.

Reflections on the revolution in France (1790)

Conservative work by Edmund Burke that criticized the French revolution for destroying tradition, religion, and social order, warning it would lead to chaos and violence.

A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792)

an essay by Mary Wollstonecraft arguing that woman are rational beings who deserve equal education and legal rights, applying enlightenment ideas of equality to women.

Declaration of Pillnitz (1791)

a statement by Austria and Prussia expressing support for king Louis XVI and threatening intervention, if the French monarchy was harmed, which increased revolutionary fears of foreign invasion.

Jacobins

a radical political club that supported a republic, universal male suffrage, and strong central government, eventually dominating the revolution during the reign of terror.

Sans-Culottes

Working class Parisians radicals who wore long trousers instead aristocratic breeches and pushed for price controls, economic, equality, and harsh measures against enemies of the revolution

Reign of terror (1793-1794)

when the revolutionary government used violence, mass executions, and repression to eliminate internal enemies and defend the republic.

Committee of public safety

A powerful executive body led by Robespierre that directed France’s war effort, and enforced revolutionary laws during the reign of terror.

Thermidorian Reaction (1794)

The 1794 backlash against radical Jacobins that led to the arrest and execution of Robespierre and retreat from extreme revolutionary policies.

Directory (1795-1799)

A five man executive government established in 1795 that ruled France until 1799, marked by corruption, political instability, and reliance on the military.

International reactions and war

• European monarchy is feared the spread of revolutionary ideas and the execution of Louis XVI.

• The declaration of pillnitz alarmed French revolutionaries and helped push France towards war.

• In 1792, France declared war on Austria and Russia. War intensified revolutionary nationalism and suspicion of internal enemies.

• These pressures helped radical groups gained power.

The fall of monarchy (1792)

• Military failures and growing distrust of Louis XVI weakened confidence in the constitutional monarchy.

• Many revolutionaries believed the king was conspiring with foreign powers to destroy the revolution.

• In August 1792, Parisian crowds and San-Colettes stormed the Tuileries Palace, effectively ending royal authority.

• The Legislative Assembly suspended the monarchy and called for a new National Convention.

• Soon after, France was declared a republic and Louis XVI was later executed.

Radicalization and the Reign of Terror

• Foreign invasions and internal revolts pushed the revolution toward extreme measures to ensure survival.

• Radical Jacobins gained control of the National Convention and centralized power.

• The Committee of Public Safety, led by Robespierre, exercised near-dictatorial authority. Revolutionary tribunals executed thousands accused of being counterrevolutionaries.

• The Reign of Terror aimed to protect the republic but resulted in widespread fear and political repression.

Military Success and Unity

• The revolutionary government introduced the levée en masse, mobilizing the entire population for war.

• This policy created large citizen armies motivated by nationalism rather than loyalty to a monarch.

• Improved organization and leadership allowed French forces to repel foreign invaders.

• Military victories strengthened support for the revolutionary government.

• Success on the battlefield helped unify the nation and legitimize revolutionary authority.

Thermidorian Reaction and the Directory

• Growing opposition to the excesses of the Reign of Terror led to a political backlash.

• In July 1794, Robespierre was arrested and executed, ending Jacobin dominance.

• The new leadership dismantled radical institutions and reduced the use of political violence.

• The Constitution of 1795 established the Directory to prevent concentrated power.

• Despite these reforms, corruption and instability weakened the regime and increased reliance on the military.