Causes of the French Revolution

Causes of the French Revolution

• Financial Crisis: France was deeply in debt from the Seven Years' War and American Revolutionary War.
• Social Inequality: The Estates-General system divided society into three estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners, with the commoners (Third Estate) bearing the tax burden.
• Enlightenment Ideas: The spread of liberal ideas from thinkers like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu inspired the desire for reform and democracy.

Key Events of the French Revolution

• Estates-General (May 1789): Representatives from the three estates met to address the financial crisis, but the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly.
• Tennis Court Oath (June 1789): The National Assembly vowed to continue their work on a new constitution.
• Storming of the Bastille (July 1789): A symbol of the absolute monarchy, the Bastille was stormed by a Parisian mob, marking the start of the revolution.
• Great Fear (July-August 1789): Panic and violence spread throughout the countryside, leading to the abolition of feudalism.
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (August 1789): A document outlining the principles of the revolution, including liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• Reign of Terror (1793-1794): A period of violence and executions during the radical phase of the revolution, led by Maximilien Robespierre.
• Rise of Napoleon (1796-1799): Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and eventually became Emperor of France, marking the end of the revolution.

Key Figures of the French Revolution

• King Louis XVI: The monarch who was executed in 1793 for his role in the revolution.
• Queen Marie Antoinette: The queen who was executed in 1793 for her perceived role in the revolution.
• Maximilien Robespierre: A radical leader who dominated the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror.
• Napoleon Bonaparte: A military leader who rose to power and eventually became Emperor of France.
• Georges Danton: A leading figure of the early revolution who was eventually executed during the Reign of Terror.
• Jean-Paul Marat: A radical leader who was assassinated in 1793.

Legacy of the French Revolution

• Establishment of the Modern Nation-State: The French Revolution created a modern, secular state based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• Inspiration for Other Revolutions: The French Revolution inspired other revolutions and movements for democracy and social change.
• Redrawing of the European Map: The French Revolution led to a redrawing of the European map, with the creation of new nations and the reorganization of existing ones.

Causes of the French Revolution

• France was deeply in debt from the Seven Years' War and American Revolutionary War, leading to a financial crisis.
• The Estates-General system divided society into three estates: clergy, nobility, and commoners, with the commoners (Third Estate) bearing the tax burden, causing social inequality.
• The spread of liberal ideas from thinkers like Rousseau, Voltaire, and Montesquieu inspired the desire for reform and democracy, fueled by Enlightenment Ideas.

Key Events of the French Revolution

• In May 1789, the Estates-General met to address the financial crisis, but the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly.
• In June 1789, the National Assembly vowed to continue their work on a new constitution, marking the Tennis Court Oath.
• On July 14, 1789, the Bastille was stormed by a Parisian mob, marking the start of the revolution.
• In July-August 1789, panic and violence spread throughout the countryside, leading to the abolition of feudalism, during the Great Fear.
• In August 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen outlined the principles of the revolution, including liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• From 1793-1794, the Reign of Terror occurred, a period of violence and executions during the radical phase of the revolution, led by Maximilien Robespierre.
• From 1796-1799, Napoleon Bonaparte seized power and eventually became Emperor of France, marking the end of the revolution.

Key Figures of the French Revolution

• King Louis XVI was executed in 1793 for his role in the revolution.
• Queen Marie Antoinette was executed in 1793 for her perceived role in the revolution.
• Maximilien Robespierre was a radical leader who dominated the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror.
• Napoleon Bonaparte was a military leader who rose to power and eventually became Emperor of France.
• Georges Danton was a leading figure of the early revolution who was eventually executed during the Reign of Terror.
• Jean-Paul Marat was a radical leader who was assassinated in 1793.

Legacy of the French Revolution

• The French Revolution created a modern, secular state based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, establishing the Modern Nation-State.
• The French Revolution inspired other revolutions and movements for democracy and social change.
• The French Revolution led to a redrawing of the European map, with the creation of new nations and the reorganization of existing ones.

Village Palampur: An Overview

• Palampur is a village where agriculture is the main occupation.

Agricultural Practices

• Main crops grown in Palampur: wheat, rice, sugarcane, and bajra.
• Seasonal farming is practiced, with different crops grown in different seasons.
• Traditional irrigation methods, such as wells and tanks, are used to water crops.
• Most farms in Palampur are small, with an average size of 1-2 hectares.

Village Economy

• Agriculture is the main occupation of the villagers.
• Non-farm activities, such as dairy farming, craft, and petty trades, are also pursued.
• The village has a weekly market where villagers sell their goods and services.

Factors of Production

• Land is the main factor of production in Palampur, with most villagers owning some land.
• Family members, including women and children, contribute to farm work, making labour a crucial factor.
• Simple tools and equipment, such as wooden ploughs and iron ploughshare, are used for farming, representing capital.

Land, Labour, and Capital

• Most villagers own some land, with landholdings varying from 1-10 hectares.
• Family labour is the primary source of labour, with some farmers hiring labourers during peak seasons.
• Farmers use their own savings or borrow from moneylenders to purchase seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs, representing capital.

Economic Activities

• Farming is the main economic activity in Palampur, with most villagers engaged in farming.
• Dairy farming is a supplemental economic activity, with some villagers keeping dairy animals like cows and buffaloes.
• Crafts, such as weaving and pottery, are also pursued by some villagers to earn a living.