Enlightenment ideas and the causes of the French Revolution
I can explain why the French Revolution took place.
Enlightenment ideas and the causes of the French Revolution
I can explain why the French Revolution took place.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- European Enlightenment ideas had spread to America, causing a revolution which France had supported.
- The French monarchy was deep in debt and taxed the poorest in society the most.
- The inequality of the Ancien Régime and successive poor harvests angered ordinary people.
- King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette spent money lavishly whilst their people were starving.
- The people of France rose up against the monarchy in revolution in 1789 leading to the execution of the king.
Common misconception
The French Revolution only occurred because of the Enlightenment.
The French Revolution occurred for a myriad of reasons. These include causes such as the Enlightenment, the influence of the American Revolution, the lavish spending of the monarchy and their supposed indifference to the plight of the Third Estate.
Keywords
Ancien Régime - the Ancien Régime was the name for the political and social system in France before the Revolution, ruled by the monarch: King Louis XVI
Taille - the taille was a land tax paid in France by peasants and non-nobles before the Revolution, and was not paid by clergy or nobility
Estates-General - an Estates-General was an emergency meeting of people from all areas of French society that the king could call to advise him
Republic - a republic is a country without a king or queen.
Absolute - the ability of a monarch to do as they please without having to answer to anyone for their actions is known as absolute power
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of serious crime
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
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6 Questions
clergy
nobility
ordinary commoners