French Revolution Revision Guide

Detailed, comprehensive notes on module 2H of AQA’s A-Level History course, France in Revolution, 1774–1815, separated into 24 chapters covering each of the below bullet-points.

The preview is the 9 pages covered under the first chapter - Absolutism and the structure of the Ancien Régime.

The origins of the French Revolution, 1774–1789

• Absolutism and the structure of the Ancien Régime: Louis XVI as King; government; social divisions; privileges and burdens; strengths and weaknesses

• The ideas of the Enlightened philosophes: extent of influence in France; the salons; impact of the American revolution and War of Independence

• Economic problems and royal finance: attempts to improve royal finances under Turgot, Necker and Calonne

• The Assembly of Notables and political developments, February 1787 to May 1789; the state of France, politically, economically and socially by the meeting of the Estates-General

The experiment in constitutional monarchy, 1789–1792

• The revolution May-October 1789: developments in Versailles and Paris; developments in the country, including the Great Fear; the October Days

• The attempts to establish a constitutional monarchy: church reforms; political, judicial and administrative reforms; economic and social change

• Reaction to change internally and externally: the political clubs; the King and the flight to Varennes; the demonstration at the Champs de Mars; the origins and impact of war

• Sans-culottes and the collapse of the constitutional experiment; the September massacres and elections to the national Convention

The emergence and spread of the Terror, September 1792–1795

• The establishment of a Republic: problems and policies; debate leading to the execution of the King

• Internal and external war: the spread of war; the rising in the Vendée; attempts to establish wartime control; Robespierre; the fall of the Girondins and the Federalist revolt

• The progress of the war: the levée en masse and the coming of the Terror

• The spread of the Terror: executions; the influence of Robespierre and the sans culottes; the role of the CPS; Robespierre's fall and the collapse of the Terror

The Directory and Napoleon's rise to power, 1795–1799

• The aftermath of the Terror: the Thermidorian reaction and White Terror; the 1795 Parisian risings

• The establishment of the Directory: the constitution; financial and political problems and policies; strengths and weaknesses of the Directory

• Military campaigns and expansion abroad: Napoleon's contribution to French success; background, character and military leadership; the Italian campaign and Egypt

• The coup of Brumaire and the establishment of the Consulate: the strengths and weaknesses of the new constitution; Napoleon's position and the state of France by 1799

The impact of Napoleon's rule on France, 1799–1815

• Political change: Napoleon's consolidation of power and establishment of Emperor status; constitutional developments

• Social change: class distinctions and titles; education and attitude to women; censorship and propaganda; the position of the Church; the Concordat and its aftermath

• Legal and administrative change: the Napoleonic codes; the prefects, police and control

• Financial and economic policies and problems: taxation; the central economy; the impact of war and the Continental System; degree of economic change

The impact of Napoleon's rule on Europe, 1799–1815

• The army and conquest during the consulate and Empire: reasons for military success by 1808 and the part played by Napoleon; the reasons for expansion and the building of an empire, its value and problems

• The control of the Grand Empire: administration; economic and social policies

• Challenges to the Empire: the continental blockade; the Peninsular War; the Austrian campaign; the Russian campaign; the war of the Fourth Coalition

• The collapse of the Empire: the first Peace of Paris; the 100 days; Napoleon's abdication and second Peace of Paris; treatment of France by the Vienna settlement; the condition of France in 1815; Napoleon's reputation and legacy

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