French Revolution: Complete Graphic Organizer

The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France from 1789 to 1799. It began with the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14, 1789, and ended with the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor in 1799. The French Revolution was sparked by a combination of economic, social, and political factors. France was facing a financial crisis due to its involvement in the American Revolution and the extravagant spending of King Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette. Meanwhile, the majority of the French population, particularly the lower classes, were suffering from poverty, starvation, and inequality. The revolution began with the Estates-General, a meeting of representatives from the three social classes in France, which had not been convened since 1614. The Third Estate, which represented the common people, demanded more representation and greater political power. When the king refused, the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly and began drafting a new constitution. The revolution quickly turned violent, as crowds of angry Parisians stormed the Bastille and other symbols of the monarchy.

In August 1789, the National Assembly abolished feudalism and established the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which asserted the equality of all citizens before the law and guaranteed individual rights such as freedom of speech, press, and religion. The revolution continued with the Reign of Terror, a period of mass executions and political repression led by radical Jacobin leader Maximilien Robespierre. The Reign of Terror was brought to an end with the execution of Robespierre in 1794. In 1795, a new constitution was established, creating a Directory government. However, the Directory was plagued by corruption and instability, leading to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, who seized power in a coup d'état in 1799. The French Revolution had a profound impact on world history, inspiring political and social revolutions in Europe and beyond. Its legacy includes the spread of revolutionary ideals such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, the emergence of nationalism, and the transformation of Europe's political and social order.

Teacher-prepared notes show students what is important and how ideas relate, and offer a model for how students should take notes themselves (Marzano et al., 2001). This graphic organizer helps students understand the underlining causes and effects of the French Revolution. The notes go over The Tennis Court Oath, the Bastille, and The Great Fear. These notes also cover the start and end of the Reign of Terror, and conclude with an overview of the rise and fall of Napoleon. Ready to print and ready to use!

Clipart credit: By Prince Padania and by Dandy Doodles