Introduction to the French Revolution Social Studies 9

Why is the French Revolution important? The Revolution had an important effect on the history of Europe The Revolution’s ideas about democracy and individual rights spread quickly During the French Revolution, people were fighting for a more democratic form of government

Opposed Absolute Monarchy The revolutionaries shared similar goals to those who opposed James I and Charles I during the British Civil War They rejected an absolute monarchy and wanted to limit the powers of the king

France’s undemocratic form of parliament, the Estates General, was replaced by the National Assembly which held out the hope for a more democratic system of government The Assembly’s goals were to create a new constitution for France and to call for an end to absolute monarchy

Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen This was one of the most important documents to come out of French Revolution It was similar to the American Declaration of Independence It set out basic human rights that governments should not overlook

National Assembly adopted the Document of Rights It guaranteed freedom of thought, speech, religion, security, and property, and equality under the law It put limits on government powers The Declaration would provide the basis for later human rights documents including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

In time, the National Assembly created a new form of government – a constitutional monarchy which limited the king’s powers Under the new constitution, Legislative Assembly had the power to make laws and king had power to enforce them New constitution said that all men were equal before the law Only property owners, however, could be elected to government

The National Assembly would last for only about 11 months before the French abolished it They elected a National Constitutional Convention which met to form a new, more democratic government for France – a republic New government took all the king’s powers away

It gave all French men the right to vote and to hold political office Government decided to fight to bring freedom to all the common people in Europe