Revolution and the failure of constitutional monarchy, 1789–93 — Edexcel A-Level History
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Revolution and the failure of constitutional monarchy, 1789–93 explained
Revolution and the failure of constitutional monarchy, 1789–93 covers 4 specification points, including The Great Fear and the abolition of feudalism;… and Key political groups; the role of individuals,….
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Attempts to create a constitution, 1789–91: the Great Fear and the abolition of feudalism; the Declaration of the Rights of Man; the October Days and the impact of the march on Versailles; the reforms of the National Assembly.
Between 1789 and 1791, the National Assembly dismantled the ancien régime and drafted a constitutional monarchy. Rural panic in the Great Fear (1789) drove deputies to abolish feudal privileges on 4 August. While personal servitude ended, many seigneurial dues were made redeemable and were not fully abolished without indemnity until 1793. The Declaration of the Rights of Man asserted liberty, equality and popular sovereignty. The October Days saw Parisian women march to Versailles, forcing Louis XVI to Paris and weakening royal independence. The Assembly then reorganised France: administrative units (départements), judicial reform, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790) and the Constitution of 1791. These measures created a new political order but also divisions over the king's role and the Church.
The political environment, 1789–93: key political groups; the role of individuals, including Mirabeau, Brissot, Robespierre and Danton; popular protest and the sans- culottes; royalist support; revolutionary culture.
From 1789 to 1793, revolutionary politics became increasingly complex. Key groups included the Jacobins, Feuillants, Girondins and Cordeliers, each with distinct views on monarchy and reform. Individuals such as Mirabeau, Brissot, Robespierre and Danton shaped debate and policy. Popular protest, driven by the sans-culottes, exerted pressure through journées and organisations like the Paris Commune. Royalist support persisted, especially in the provinces and among émigrés, fuelling fears of counter-revolution. Revolutionary culture emerged through symbols, festivals, oaths and new civic rituals, helping to forge a new national identity. These elements interacted to destabilise the constitutional monarchy and push the Revolution towards radicalism.
Breakdown of relations with the king, 1791–92: flight to Varennes and counter-revolutionary activity; divisions in the Legislative Assembly; the emergence of Republicanism; the impact of war with Austria and Prussia.
Between 1791 and 1792, the constitutional monarchy collapsed. In June 1791, Louis XVI fled Paris but was arrested at Varennes, destroying trust in the king and exposing counter-revolutionary activity by émigrés. The Legislative Assembly divided into Feuillants supporting the monarchy, and Jacobins and Girondins opposing it. Republicanism emerged strongly after Varennes, though it was temporarily suppressed by the Champ de Mars massacre in July 1791. In April 1792, France declared war on Austria, with Prussia joining later. Early defeats and the Brunswick Manifesto intensified fears of betrayal, radicalising the revolution and leading to the fall of the monarchy in August 1792.
The revolution radicalised, 1792–93: the invasion of the Tuileries; the impact of the state of national emergency; the journée of 10 August; revolutionary government and the September massacres; the creation of the National Convention; the trial and execution of the king.
From 1792 to 1793 the revolution became increasingly radical. In June 1792 the invasion of the Tuileries by sans-culottes pressured the king, and the state of national emergency, declared in July 1792, gave authorities emergency powers. On 10 August 1792 a journée stormed the Tuileries, suspending the king and ending the constitutional monarchy. In September, revolutionary government and the September massacres saw the killing of prisoners, driven by fear of counter-revolution. The National Convention was elected and declared France a republic on 21 September 1792. In January 1793 Louis XVI was tried and executed, followed by Marie-Antoinette in October, marking a decisive break with the old order.
Your focus
- Describe the key events of 1789–91, including the Great Fear, the abolition of feudalism, the Declaration of the Rights of Man, the October Days and the reforms of the National Assembly.
- Explain how these events contributed to the attempt to create a constitution and a constitutional monarchy.
- Analyse the impact of popular protest and Assembly reforms on the political and social order of France.
Show all 12 objectives
- Identify key political groups and individuals in the period 1789–93 and explain their significance.
- Analyse the role of popular protest and the sans-culottes in shaping revolutionary events.
- Evaluate the impact of royalist support and revolutionary culture on the political environment.
- Describe the events of the flight to Varennes and its consequences for the monarchy and counter-revolutionary activity.
- Identify and compare the political groups in the Legislative Assembly and their attitudes to the king.
- Explain how the emergence of Republicanism and the war with Austria and Prussia contributed to the radicalisation of the revolution.
- Students can outline the key events of 1792–93 that radicalised the revolution.
- Students can explain the significance of the 10 August journée and the creation of the National Convention.
- Students can assess the impact of the trial and execution of Louis XVI on the revolution.
Revolution and the failure of constitutional monarchy, 1789–93 exam tips
Marking Points
- Explains how the Great Fear (July–August 1789) triggered the abolition of feudalism on 4 August 1789, noting that while personal servitude ended, many seigneurial dues remained redeemable until 1793.
- Analyses the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (26 August 1789) as a statement of universal rights, equality before the law and popular sovereignty.
- Assesses the October Days (5–6 October 1789) and the impact of the march on Versailles, including the relocation of the king and Assembly to Paris.
- Evaluates the reforms of the National Assembly, such as the creation of départements, judicial reorganisation, the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790) and the Constitution of 1791.
- Connects these events to the broader attempt to create a constitutional monarchy and the tensions that later undermined it.
- Identifies and compares key political groups (e.g., Jacobins, Feuillants, Girondins, Cordeliers) and their aims.
- Explains the roles and significance of Mirabeau, Brissot, Robespierre and Danton in the political environment.
- Analyses popular protest and the sans-culottes, including their methods and influence on events.
- Assesses the nature and impact of royalist support and counter-revolutionary activity.
- Evaluates revolutionary culture (symbols, festivals, oaths) as a means of legitimising and spreading revolutionary ideals.
- Explains how the flight to Varennes undermined the king's credibility, exposed counter-revolutionary activity, and made constitutional monarchy unworkable.
- Analyses the divisions within the Legislative Assembly between Feuillants, Jacobins and Girondins, and how these shaped political conflict.
- Assesses the emergence of Republicanism after Varennes, noting its temporary suppression following the Champ de Mars massacre.
- Evaluates the impact of war with Austria (declared April 1792) and Prussia, including military defeats and the Brunswick Manifesto, in radicalising the revolution.
- Explains the significance of the invasion of the Tuileries and the state of national emergency in escalating tensions.
- Analyses the journée of 10 August 1792 as a turning point that ended the monarchy.
- Assesses the role of revolutionary government and the September massacres in the radicalisation process.
- Evaluates the creation of the National Convention and the trial and execution of the king as key radical steps.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Use precise dates and terms (e.g., 4 August 1789, 26 August 1789, 5–6 October 1789) to anchor arguments.
- 💡Link each event to the central aim of creating a constitution and the challenges of constitutional monarchy.
- 💡Use specific examples of individuals' actions and speeches to illustrate their roles.
- 💡Link popular protest to political outcomes, such as the fall of the monarchy in 1792.
- 💡Discuss revolutionary culture as a tool for building legitimacy and mobilising support.
- 💡Use precise dates and names to support arguments, such as June 1791 for Varennes and April 1792 for the declaration of war against Austria.
- 💡Link each factor to the breakdown of relations with the king, showing how they reinforced each other.
- 💡Sequence events clearly to show the progression from constitutional monarchy to republic.
- 💡Use terms like 'journée' and 'sans-culottes' accurately to demonstrate understanding.
- 💡Connect the trial and execution of the king to the wider radicalisation, not just as an isolated event.
Common Mistakes
- Treating the abolition of feudalism as a single complete act; correction: recognise it ended personal servitude but many dues remained redeemable and were not fully abolished without compensation until 1793.
- Confusing the Declaration of the Rights of Man with the American Declaration of Independence; correction: the French Declaration was a distinct 1789 text asserting universal rights for French citizens.
- Assuming the October Days were solely a food riot; correction: they were also a political intervention that relocated the king and Assembly to Paris, altering power dynamics.
- Treating the sans-culottes as a single unified group; correction: they were diverse, including artisans and shopkeepers, with varying demands.
- Assuming all royalists were absolutists; correction: some favoured a constitutional monarchy, and support for the king varied regionally.
- Confusing the roles of individuals, e.g., attributing Brissot's foreign policy to Robespierre; correction: distinguish their positions and factions.
- Confusing the Legislative Assembly with the National Assembly; correct this by noting the Legislative Assembly was elected in 1791 and had a different composition.
- Stating France declared war on both Austria and Prussia in April 1792; correct this by specifying war was declared on Austria on 20 April 1792, with Prussia entering later as an ally.
- Claiming republicanism flourished immediately after the Champ de Mars massacre; correct this by explaining the massacre actually suppressed the republican movement that had grown after Varennes.
- Confusing the invasion of the Tuileries in June 1792 with the journée of 10 August; the former was a protest, the latter a violent insurrection.
- Believing the September massacres were ordered by the government; they were largely carried out by sans-culottes and fédérés.
- Stating that the National Convention was created before the monarchy fell; it was elected after the 10 August insurrection.