British Responses to the French Revolution PDF

British responses to the French Additional material Revolution v2.4 Our lesson slides contain visual elements, such as historical...

British responses to the French Additional material Revolution v2.4 Our lesson slides contain visual elements, such as historical images or timelines, associated with rich explanations. This document provides the verbal explanation that accompanies these visual elements - otherwise known as a narrative. The narrative and slides are matched via this icon: The French Revolution and its influence on Europe A The French Revolution of 1789, inspired by the country’s economic troubles, social injustice and political discontent, dramatically altered the status quo in France. King Louis XVI’s failure to properly address these issues led to widespread calls for change. French commoners, known as the Third Estate, formed their own National Assembly to respond to France’s crisis, signalling the beginning of the revolution. This was followed by Parisians storming the Bastille prison, which was seen as a symbolic act of defiance against the king and his Ancien Regime. The monarchy was abolished, and France declared itself a republic. The revolutionaries aimed to create a more equal and fair society based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity (togetherness). Next came violence and chaos with King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette being executed in 1793. The new French republic also faced opposition from those in France who wished to restore the monarchy, and opposition from other European powers, with France having to fight to defend its new republic. Ultimately, the French Revolution would have far-reaching consequences, inspiring revolutions elsewhere and shaping the course of history for centuries to come. B With revolutions occurring in both America and France during the 1780s, many Europeans feared a pattern was emerging. Edmund Burke, a prominent Anglo-Irish thinker, expressed concerns about the French Revolution in particular and its potential impact on European society. In his 1790 pamphlet "Reflections on the Revolution in France", Burke argued that the ideas unleashed by the French Revolution would spread and destabilise monarchies and trigger social unrest. Many European thinkers admired the French Revolution’s commitment to liberty, equality and fraternity, but at the same time were concerned at how rapidly it was challenging the status quo, in other words the stability of society and the legitimacy of traditional authority. Burke and others believed that there must be a balance between tradition and change and that revolution pushed society into changing too quickly without respecting the tradition of the status quo in European countries like Britain and Ireland. © Oak National Academy 2024. Produced in partnership with Future Academies Trust. Licensed on the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. See Oak terms & conditions. 1 British responses to the French Revolution Additional material The impact of contemporary pamphlets in Britain C During the late 1700s, Britain saw a big increase in the publication of political pamphlets, driven by interest in the French Revolution and its aftermath. These included Burke’s “Reflections on the Revolution in France” and they shaped public opinion about events unfolding in Europe. English thinker Mary Wollstonecraft wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Men" in response to Burke’s worries. In her pamphlet, she defended the French Revolution and argued it secured rights for everyone in French society, regardless of their social status. She went on to argue for similar drastic political change in Britain and elsewhere. Anglo-American writer Thomas Paine penned a similarly-named 1791 pamphlet (“The Rights of Man), also defending the French Revolution, particularly its concern with democracy and individual rights. Paine, a key figure in the American Revolution, argued passionately for the overthrow of the British monarchy and desired a much more equal society in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. Paine advocated for a British constitution, similar to the ones implemented by America and France after their respective revolutions. Paine had actually emigrated to Britain’s American colonies after meeting American Enlightenment thinker Benjamin Franklin in London. He supported the colonies’ overthrow of British rule, becoming one of the United States ‘Founding Fathers’, and signing the US constitution into law in 1788. Naturally, Paine wanted to see similar constitutions, a decrease in the power of monarchy, and greater rights for ordinary people in Britain and the rest of Europe. Pamphlets therefore give us an insight into the diversity of public opinion in Britain at the time of the French Revolution. Supporters of Burke saw the revolution as a dangerous threat to social order and stability, while supporters of Wollstonecraft and Paine saw France as a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples everywhere. The popularity and accessibility of pamphlets made them a powerful mode of political expression and they provided a platform for people from various backgrounds to take part in discussions about the potential impact of the French Revolution outside of France. The response of the British government to unrest D British Prime Minister, William Pitt the Younger, was greatly concerned by the potential impact of the French Revolution on Britain as he worried that the spread of radical ideas that was influencing British thinkers to publish their pamphlets might escalate into violence and revolution on British soil. As a result, Pitt and his government tried to suppress revolutionary ideas and maintain social order by using soldiers to ensure good behaviour in towns and cities. They also issued new laws in 1795 designed to prevent © Oak National Academy 2024. Produced in partnership with Future Academies Trust. Licensed on the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. See Oak terms & conditions. 2 British responses to the French Revolution Additional material people from gathering to discuss politics (Seditious Meetings Act) and to make it more likely that people discussing revolutionary ideas would be arrested and tried for treason (Treason Act). These measures did not succeed in calming radical ideas in Britain completely, but along with new laws aimed at improving the lives of the working class, such as giving the working class more rights at work, and beginning to put an end to the exploitation of child labour in 1802 (Factory Act), Pitt succeeded in avoiding a revolution and largely maintaining the status quo in Britain. © Oak National Academy 2024. Produced in partnership with Future Academies Trust. Licensed on the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. See Oak terms & conditions. 3