British responses to the French Revolution
I can explain how historians study pamphlets to understand reactions to the French Revolution in Britain.
British responses to the French Revolution
I can explain how historians study pamphlets to understand reactions to the French Revolution in Britain.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The French Revolution led to the execution of King Louis XVI and social upheaval in France.
- Burke and others feared that the French Revolution would inspire similar social upheaval across Europe.
- Pamphlets became popular at this time which historians use to understand British responses to the French Revolution.
- Wollstonecraft and Paine believed Britain should implement a written constitution like the French or US constitution.
- 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
All contemporary British thinkers were complete supporters of the French Revolution.
Levels of support for the French Revolution amongst contemporary British thinkers varied.
To help you plan your year 8 history lesson on: British responses to the French Revolution, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 history lesson on: British responses to the French Revolution, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the The French Revolution: How did Europe respond to the French Revolution? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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Adult supervision recommended
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Put these time periods into the correct chronological order.
Q2.During the Scientific Revolution of the 1500s, which of these people challenged the teachings of the Church by explaining that the Earth revolved around the Sun, rather than the other way around?
Q3.Which of the following thinkers do we class as belonging to the Enlightenment movement of the 1700s?
Q4.Match the events with the year they took place
1793
1765
1804
Q5.What word is used to describe a country without a monarch?
Q6.What effect did revolutions that were happening all around the world have on monarchs in the 1700s and 1800s?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which laws were brought in by the British government due to discontent caused by the French Revolution?
Q2.Was Edmund Burke for or against the spread of French revolutionary radical ideas?
Q3.Match the British political thinker to the pamphlet that they wrote.
Revolution in France
A Vindication of the Rights of Man
Rights of Man