How Enlightened was the French Revolution?

In this lesson, we will look at what France was like just before it experienced a revolution in 1789. We will learn how the French King faced a crisis which was caused by a mixture of social changes, Enlightenment ideas and the consequences of the American War of Independence.

In this lesson, we will learn how the crisis Louis XVI faced turned into a revolution. We will find out about why 1789 has gone down as one of the most important years in history. We will also be looking for evidence of Enlightenment ideas in the key events and documents produced.

In this lesson, we will learn about how the French Revolution became a bloodbath. We will learn how the hope and joy of 1789 was put at risk by foreign invasion and enemies within. We will see how, in this atmosphere, the French Revolutionaries turned on each other and thousands were executed.

In this lesson, we will assess whether the French Revolution was Enlightened. We will also hopefully come to understand why historians might disagree when answering questions like this.