1. WORLD HISTORY READERS
Level 3-④
The French Revolution

2. The French Revolution What is a revolution?
A poster about a revolution
Crowds during the French Revolution
What is a revolution?
Revolutions are often fought for new ideas.
A revolution happens when the people are angry with their government. The people want to change the way their country is run. They usually want a different political system. The French Revolution ( ) was probably the most important revolution of all time.

3. The King and Queen
What was the government in France like before the French Revolution?
In the 18th century, France was a monarchy. This meant that the king or queen made all the important decisions for everyone. In the 1780s, the French king and queen were Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
Queen Marie Antoinette
Why did the people at that time want to change the government?
At that time, France was in a lot of trouble. It owed a lot of money to other countries. The price of bread was going up and up. Many people were hungry.
King Louis XVI
Hungry farmers before the revolution

4. How did the French Revolution start?
The New Parliament
How did the French Revolution start?
King Louis XVI called a meeting with many important people to advise him at Versailles. At this meeting, a lawyer named Maximilien de Robespierre said ordinary people should have a voice in making decisions for the country. Robespierre was very popular with the ordinary people. Soon the meeting was out of the king’s control. Robespierre and the others met on a tennis court. There they set up something called a parliament.
Maximilien de Robespierre ( )
What is a parliament?
A parliament is a group of people who make important decisions together as leaders of a country. Most countries today have parliaments. However, this was a very new idea back then.
A meeting of the French Parliament

5. Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity
What were the French people fighting for during the revolution?
The French Revolution can be explained in an important three word saying, “Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.” Liberty was the desire for freedom to do as you wished. Equality meant everyone should be equal in the eyes of the law. Fraternity meant working together as friends.
Liberty, equality, and fraternity, written in French
Taking gunpowder from the Bastille
What happened during the revolution?
People marching during the French Revolution
Crowds marched together on the streets.
Newspapers spread the new ideas.
People rioted against the cost of bread.
People attacked a big prison called the Bastille to get gunpowder for their revolution.

6. The Women’s March to Versailles
The view from inside Versailles
Women march to Versailles
What was the march about?
Food. The women shouted against the monarchy, walking through the rain and shouting, “Bread! Bread!” They marched for nearly 20 km.
What happened the day after the march?
The next day, the king and queen were arrested.
King Louis XVI was arrested

7. What was the guillotine?
The guillotine was a new machine designed to kill people quickly. It had a big blade for cutting off people's heads.
The guillotine in action
Was the guillotine used a lot during the French Revolution?
Yes, it was. The king and queen were sent to the guillotine. In fact, thousands of people were killed using guillotines. Even Robespierre was sent to the guillotine!
Marie Antoinette on the guillotine

8. The End of the Revolution
What changed during the revolution?
The government even changed the calendar. They used the new calendar for twelve years before returning to the one we use today.
A French calendar showing old (vieux) and new (nouvelle) months and days
The new banknotes showing the revolution
Emperor Napoleon
How did the Revolution end?
People got tired of all the fighting. They wanted things to calm down. Soon, a man called Napoleon took over and removed the laws of democracy made during the revolution. He put a crown on his own head, and just like a king, he declared himself the emperor of France.

9. An Important Event in History
Democracy in action
A modern parliament
Ideas coming from the French Revolution
How did the French Revolution impact the world?
It probably marked the beginning of the modern world. It spread the ideas of voting, democracy, equality, and freedom for all.

10. Vocabulary blade n. equality n.
the flat part of a knife or tool which has a sharp edge or edges for cutting
equality n.
the act of treating all people the same way

11. Vocabulary error n. guillotine n. a mistake
a device used for cutting off people’s heads

12. Vocabulary march v. murder n.
to walk together in a large group to show agreement or disagreement
murder n.
the crime of killing a person

13. Vocabulary riot v. speech n.
to angrily complain in the street in large groups
speech n.
a talk usually given to a large number of people