Political Impact of the Revolution
- The Revolution ended absolute monarchy and introduced the idea that sovereignty comes from the people, not from divine right.
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789) established key principles like liberty, equality, and fair taxation.
- Political clubs (e.g., Jacobins, Girondins) and mass participation changed politics, making it more radical and violent.
- The Revolution created new institutions, from the National Assembly to the Directory, though instability remained.
- The execution of Louis XVI (1793) and abolition of monarchy marked a turning point, making France a republic.
Social Impact of the Revolution
- The feudal system was abolished: peasants no longer had to pay feudal dues to landlords.
- Equality before the law was introduced, weakening noble privilege and clerical power.
- Religion lost influence after the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790) and anti-church policies during the Terror.
- The Revolution encouraged new social mobility, as positions in government and the army were increasingly based on talent, not birth.
- However, social divisions did not disappear. Women, for example, gained little political power and faced repression (e.g., closure of women’s clubs in 1793).
Economic Impact of the Revolution
- Attempts at economic reform, such as the introduction of assignats (paper money), led to inflation and hardship.
- The sale of Church lands raised money but disrupted rural life.
- War and political instability disrupted trade and industry, but also created demand for weapons and supplies.
- By the mid-1790s, France’s economy was unstable, with food shortages, inflation, and black markets.
French Revolutionary Wars (1792–1799)
- France declared war on Austria and Prussia in 1792, fearing foreign monarchs would crush the Revolution.
- The wars became a struggle for survival, leading to the levée en masse (1793), mass conscription that created one of Europe’s largest armies.
- French victories, such as at Valmy (1792), boosted morale and spread revolutionary ideals abroad.
- The wars radicalized politics at home: fear of betrayal fueled the Terror and justified harsh policies.
- By the late 1790s, France was fighting multiple coalitions, expanding into Italy, the Netherlands, and parts of Germany.
- The wars allowed ambitious generals like Napoleon Bonaparte to rise, eventually leading to his coup in 1799.
Common Mistake
- Students sometimes focus only on France’s domestic changes, forgetting how the wars shaped politics and society (e.g., rise of nationalism, militarization).
- Some confuse economic problems of the Revolution (inflation, assignats, bread shortages) with economic reforms under Napoleon, which come later.
Exam technique
- Use a three-part structure (political, social, economic) when asked about “impact,” so the essay is balanced and organized.
- Link the wars and domestic politics e.g., “The levée en masse not only defended France but also strengthened revolutionary unity and nationalism.”
Self review
- To what extent did the French Revolution bring lasting political and social change within France?
- Examine the impact of the Revolutionary Wars on France between 1792 and 1799.
- How far were the economic problems of France solved by revolutionary governments between 1789 and 1799?
