Key learning points

1. The French Revolution led to the execution of King Louis XVI and social upheaval in France.
2. Burke and others feared that the French Revolution would inspire similar social upheaval across Europe.
3. Pamphlets became popular at this time which historians use to understand British responses to the French Revolution.
4. Wollstonecraft and Paine believed Britain should implement a written constitution like the French or US constitution.
5. Pitt feared the unrest that the French Revolution was causing in Britain and brought in new laws to deal with this.

Keywords

• Revolution - a revolution is the forcible overthrow of a government: a great or complete change

• Status quo - the status quo is a term used to refer to the way things are or the existing way society is set up

• Pamphlet - a pamphlet is a small booklet or leaflet written to argue for or against an idea

• Upheaval - when there is a great change in society it is known as a social upheaval

• Constitution - a constitution is a set of basic principles or laws that govern a nation

Common misconception