Year 10 History - The French Revolution

Semester Overview

• Term 1: The French Revolution & Australia: Making a Nation
• Term 2: The Modern World & Rights & Freedoms

Relevance of the French Revolution

• A. Cobbins: "The consequences of the French Revolution were so momentous for Europe at the time, and for the whole world subsequently, that it has cast a shadow over the whole of modern history. It split the nations vertically and forced men to declare themselves for or against it".

Biblical Worldview & Revolution

• Genesis 1 & 2: God created the world in an ordered manner.
• Man was created to be part of that order, implying structure from the beginning, not chaos.
• French Revolution circumstances: change desirable, manner of revolution chaotic, not aligning with God's way of leading/governing.

Lesson 1: What is a Revolution?

• Definition of Revolution: Overthrowing a government or social order in favor of a new system
• Learning Objective: Identify the key factors required for a Revolution to take place.
• Silent Starter: Brainstorm ideas and key terms related to the concept of Revolution.
• Class Discussion: Consider five things you would do to spark a Revolution in a school.
• Activate Prior Knowledge:
  • Consider 5 points of what might be needed to complete a Revolution of a school.
  • Revolution as a cake: Recipe analogy (prep time, cook time, ingredients, quantities, instructions).
• Make a connection: Knowing what a Revolution might look like today will help you understand how Revolutions happened in History.

Defining Revolution: Historian Perspectives

• Crane Brinton (1938): "A revolution is the overthrow of an existing social and political order, followed by the establishment of a new order fundamentally different from the one that preceded it."
• Eric Hobsbawm (1973): "Revolutions are moments of fundamental and rapid social transformation in which the established institutions and elites are replaced by new ones, often through violent means, leading to significant shifts in power, ideology, and society."
• Hannah Arendt (1963): "Revolution is not just a moment of violent upheaval but a profound act of beginning something new, breaking away from a previous order to create a new political structure based on principles of freedom and equality."

Revolutions Throughout History: Examples & Non-Examples

• Examples:
  • The American Revolution (1775-1783)
  • The French Revolution (1789-1799)
  • The Russian Revolution (1917)
• Non-Examples:
  • A peaceful election transition to a new party/leader
  • Cultural shifts (e.g., Hippie movement)
  • Civil rights movement in the US
  • Coup d’etat

Factors Involved in a Revolution

• Long-term causes: Political, economic, or social events accumulating over time.
• Short-term causes: Crises that worsen or highlight existing problems and suffering.
• Ideology: A system of ideas or beliefs, a worldview.
• Flashpoints: Critical moments of direct confrontation with the old regime.
• Armed struggle: Formation of militias; Militia: “Militia” means a military force that engages in rebel activity against the regular army
• A grab for power: Seeking to displace or overthrow the old order.
• Consolidation & confrontation: Rebuilding and gaining support of the new society.
• Division: Disputes over aims and methods of constructing the new society.
• Radicalisation: A period of radical political leadership after the revolution.
• Moderation: The new regime becomes more moderate; radicals might be isolated.

Activity: Applying Revolutionary Factors

• Choose one revolution to research and explore:
  • The American Revolution (1775-1783)
  • The Cuban Revolution (1959)
  • The Iranian Revolution (1979)
• Identify where/how/if each factor for revolution occurs and present findings to the class.

Closure

• Revolutions occur through a variety of factors and have a significant impact on societies and power structures.
• Extended Thinking: What is the most important factor in causing a Revolution? Why?
• Summary Closure: Explain one factor that contributes to a Revolution, using academic vocabulary.

Lesson 2: Introduction to France

• Learning Objective: Use historical terms to describe significant aspects of 18C France’s context.
• Silent Starter: Write three central features of a Revolution.
• describe “describe” means to give a detailed account.

Status of France by the Mid-18th Century:

• David Andress: France's international position was being eroded by diplomatic and military defeats. Costly failures of the Seven Years' War (1756–1763) weakened France's global influence and contributed to growing discontent at home. The social and economic strains exacerbated by these defeats would have long-term consequences, culminating in the crisis of the French monarchy in the decades leading up to the Revolution.

Key Terms and Ideas for Considering a Country’s Context

• Class Discussion: Factors to know about when trying to understand what was happening in France.

Geographical Context of France - 18th Century

• Geographical location of France and its potential impact on national development.

Political Context of France - 18th Century

• France’s Dominant Position Pre-18thC:
  • Triumph over Spain & Habsburg dynasty in Thirty Years War.
  • Strength of Louis XIV’s reign - the Sun King.
• France’s Declining International Influence 18thC:
  • Seven Years War (1756-63)
  • British capture of French colonial possessions in India, Quebec & Caribbean
  • Inability to prevent annexation of territories belonging to Poland, one of its traditional allies, by Prussia, Austria and Russia.

Political Context of France - 18th Century: Louis XIV - The Sun King

• One of the longest reigns in European history (1643-1715).
• Provided Europe with an example of an absolutist style of government; Absolutist “Absolutist” means that one person holds all the power
• Reign marked the growth of France as one of the great powers of the continent.
• Louis reformed areas of justice, promoted commerce & industry as well as overseas colonies.
• He was heavily invested in the development of architecture, art, literature, science, music & built royal palaces e.g. Versailles.
• Name of King Louis XIV became synonymous with greatness, power, splendour and glory; Synonymous “Synonymous” means having the same meaning as another word

Political Context of France - 18th Century: Louis XIV

• John B. Wolf: Louis XIV was not just a king of France; he was the embodiment of absolute monarchy and the symbol of an era. Through sheer force of will, he transformed France into the most powerful nation in Europe. His reign saw the creation of a highly centralized state, which asserted French Hegemony across the continent. The armies of Louis XIV were unmatched, and his campaigns, although costly, reshaped the political landscape of Europe. Moreover, Louis XIV’s France became the cultural beacon for Europe, exporting French art, literature, fashion, and manners. His court at Versailles set the standard for Opulence and grandeur, and French became the language of diplomacy and culture, spoken in courts from Madrid to Moscow.
• Hegemony “Hegemony” means dominance of one state over another
• Opulence “Opulence” means great wealth or luxury

Political Context of France - 18th Century: Seven Years War

• Conflict grew out of a desire of European powers to extend their influence both in Europe and overseas > global conflict spanning 5 continents.
• Also known as the ‘French & Indian War’ > fighting took place on American and Canadian frontiers and India.
• Outcome of the war changed the balance of power in Europe.
• In the Treaty of Paris, France acknowledged the loss of all its territory on the North American mainland and the Indian subcontinent, and Britain emerged as the dominant European colonial power.
• Influence of France was greatly reduced.

Political & Social Context of France - 18th Century

• Site Study: Palace of Versailles VR LAB.

Social Context of France - 18th Century

• The social context of France in the 18th century was marked by stark inequalities and rigid class structures, which contributed to widespread discontent by the end of the century.
  1. The Three Estates
  2. Economic disparity & rural poverty
  3. The Enlightenment
  4. Tensions between monarch and the people
  5. Rise of public opinion and political clubs

France in the 18th C - Because, But, So

• BECAUSE of King Louis XIV’s successful reign and ability to transform the nation into a symbol of strength through not only his military victories but his cultural pursuits.
• BUT its extensive military campaigns and spending led to growing dissatisfaction amongst its people leading to instability and a declining international influence.
• SO it became a model for other monarchies influencing European politics and the development of absolutism across the continent.

Lesson 3: Long-term causes of the French Revolution

• Learning Objective: Explain the long term causes that contributed to the French Revolution Explain the long term causes that contributed to the French Revolution.
• Definitions:
  • Explain “Explain” means to give an account for why something is that way.
  • Long Term Long Term refers to matters that have not occurred quickly, but built up over time.
  • Revolution “Revolution” means overthrowing a government or social order in favour of a new system
• Silent Starter:
  • Using the 4 sentence types, generate 4 sentences on the factors that contribute to a revolution. For example:
  • State – a range of factors are required for a revolution to take place.
  • Question – what is the most important factor that contributes to a revolution?
  • Exclamation – Incredible how most revolutions go through a period of radicalization!
  • Command – Read Animal Farm for an excellent analogy highlighting the factors that led to and consequences of the Russian Revolution.
• Activating prior knowledge: Describe the social and political context of France in the 18th C.

Long-term Causes

• There is no consensus among historians on the sole causes however, there is a broad acknowledgement of the complex nature of the tensions and problems that were apparent and various factors that were at work to lead to the revolution.

Long-term cause: Political Role of the King:

• Ancien regime: French term for an old or previous regime; used to describe the system of government and life before 1789
• Absolute monarchy: a system of govt. Where the king has complete power
• In theory there were no legal limits to the monarch's power over his realm
• In practice: bound by laws/customs of land & agreement of France's elite: nobility + clergy
• Resided in Versailles
• Appointed ministers to advise him on the government (but weren't a collective group or a cabinet)
• 'Divine right of kings' - God chose the king and his family to rule.

Principles of the French Monarch