Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction

• Briefly introduce the French Revolution, mentioning its start and end dates (1789–1799) and its significance as a turning point in world history.
• Mention that while the revolution was primarily driven by internal causes, its impact was felt globally.

2. Causes of the French Revolution (Internal Causes)

• Discuss the political, social, economic, religious, and demographic causes that led to the revolution.
• Political Causes: King Louis XVI’s despotic rule, failure in wars (e.g., Seven Years’ War), and extravagant lifestyle drained the treasury.
  • Source: Historical records on the reign of Louis XVI.
• Social Causes: The division of society into three estates (clergy, nobility, and the third estate) led to discontent among the lower classes, who were taxed heavily.
  • Source: Social history of France.
• Economic Causes: Over-taxation, war debts, and excessive spending by the monarchy worsened the financial crisis. Poor harvests and high bread prices further angered the masses.
  • Source: Economic history of France.
• Religious Causes: Church holding large amounts of land while the poor suffered under religious taxes.
  • Source: Religious history of France.
• Demographic Causes: Population increase leading to food shortages, exacerbated by bad weather conditions (e.g., droughts).
  • Source: Demographic studies of 18th-century France.
• Enlightenment Influence: Philosophers like Rousseau criticized the old regime and promoted ideas of equality, liberty, and rational governance.
  • Source: Works of Enlightenment philosophers.

3. Global Impact of the French Revolution

• Discuss how the revolution’s ideas spread beyond France, influencing other nations and global movements.
• Human Rights and Democratic Ideals:
  • The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789) became a seminal document for human rights and democracy, inspiring other nations to adopt similar rights-based frameworks.
    • Source: Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
• Impact on Colonies:
  • The revolution’s ideas of liberty and equality inspired colonial revolutions, particularly in Haiti and Latin America.
  • The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) was directly influenced by the French Revolution, as enslaved people in French colonies sought their own freedom.
    • Source: The Haitian Revolution by historians such as C.L.R. James.
  • The Latin American independence movements (e.g., those led by Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín) were inspired by French revolutionary ideals.
    • Source: Historical accounts of Latin American independence.
• Revolutionary Ideas:
  • The ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired leaders like Tipu Sultan of India and Raja Rammohan Roy, who sought to challenge colonial and traditional structures in their own countries.
    • Source: Biographical accounts of Tipu Sultan and Raja Rammohan Roy.

4. Conclusion

• Sum up the causes of the French Revolution as primarily domestic but highlight how its impact extended globally, fostering movements for human rights, independence, and democratic governance.
• Reaffirm that the revolution laid the groundwork for modern democratic ideals and inspired global revolutions.

Relevant Facts for the Answer

1. Political Causes:
   • King Louis XVI’s ineffective leadership and financial mismanagement, which resulted in a bankrupt treasury (source: French historical records).
   • The loss of colonies (e.g., Canada) and defeat in the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) weakened France’s global power (source: military history).
2. Social Causes:
   • French society was divided into three estates: the privileged clergy and nobility and the oppressed common people (source: social history of France).
3. Economic Causes:
   • France’s enormous war debts, exacerbated by the costly Seven Years’ War and involvement in the American Revolution, placed a significant financial strain on the country (source: economic history of France).
   • The third estate was burdened by heavy taxation, while the monarchy and nobility lived extravagantly (source: economic history).
4. Religious Causes:
   • The Church owned large tracts of land while imposing taxes on the peasants, leading to widespread resentment (source: religious history).
5. Enlightenment Influence:
   • Philosophers like Rousseau and Voltaire promoted the ideas of natural rights, equality, and democracy, influencing the revolution (source: Enlightenment philosophy).
6. Global Impact:
   • Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen became a foundational document for human rights, influencing future democratic movements globally (source: French historical records).
   • The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) was inspired by the French Revolution, where enslaved Africans overthrew French colonial rule (source: The Haitian Revolution by C.L.R. James).
   • The Latin American revolutions led by figures like Bolívar were inspired by the French Revolution’s ideas of liberty and independence (source: history of Latin American independence).
   • Tipu Sultan and Raja Rammohan Roy were influenced by the principles of the French Revolution in their respective struggles against colonialism (source: biographies of Tipu Sultan and Raja Rammohan Roy).