French Revolution Grade 10 Notes and Written Essay

Welcome to today’s Grade 10 History lesson. In this session, we are focusing on one of the most important political turning points in modern history — the French Revolution. This topic is part of your Term 2 History syllabus and will be tested through source-based questions and an essay. Understanding the French Revolution is not just about memorising dates. It is about understanding how ordinary people, suffering under a brutal system, rose up to challenge the rich and powerful in the name of freedom and justice.

Before we begin, here are a few key terminologies you must know for this topic:

Revolution – A complete and often violent change of a system or government.
Ancien Régime – The old system of monarchy, nobility, and privilege that ruled France before 1789.
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity – The revolutionary slogan that captured the hopes of the French people.
Estate System – The social structure in France that divided people into the First Estate (clergy), Second Estate (nobility), and Third Estate (common people).
Enlightenment – A movement of thinkers who questioned traditional authority and promoted reason, rights, and individual freedom.
Reign of Terror – A period during the revolution marked by extreme violence and mass executions.

Important facts to remember when writing an essay on the French Revolution:

Always explain the causes of the revolution, not just the events.
Make sure to describe the role of ordinary people, especially the Third Estate and women.
Include dates and names of events such as the Storming of the Bastille (14 July 1789).
Show how ideas like liberty and equality spread to other countries.
Remember to critically comment on whether the revolution achieved its goals or created new problems.

Term 2 Grade 10 History Essay and Notes Guide: Understanding the French Revolution

When we study the French Revolution, we are not just studying a bunch of people in old clothes fighting over bread. We are looking at the moment the modern world began to take shape. If you want to make sense of where ideas like democracy, freedom, and human rights come from, then the French Revolution is your best case study. And to be honest, the French Revolution was not just a noble fight for freedom. It was messy, violent, and full of contradictions.

What Is a Revolution?

Let us begin by being clear. A revolution is not just a protest or a change in government. A revolution is when people are so fed up with the system that they completely destroy it and start over. In the case of France in 1789, the revolution was aimed at the Ancien Régime — the outdated and unfair political and social system where kings ruled by divine right, nobles had all the privilege, and the ordinary people were left to suffer.

Think about it like this. Imagine you live in a country where you are taxed for everything, cannot afford bread, and you have no voice in government — but the wealthy live in palaces and throw feasts. That was France before the revolution. It was only a matter of time before something snapped.

Causes of the French Revolution

The conditions in France by 1789 were unbearable for ordinary people, especially those in the Third Estate, which included peasants, workers, and the middle class. They carried the tax burden while the First Estate (the clergy) and the Second Estate (the nobility) enjoyed wealth and protection. There was also a food shortage. Bread was the staple diet, but the poor could barely afford it.

Add to this the influence of new Enlightenment ideas. Thinkers like Rousseau and Voltaire wrote about liberty, equality, fraternity, and individual rights. These ideas challenged the belief that kings were chosen by God and that people should simply obey. These new beliefs started spreading, especially among the educated middle class in France.

But here is something often left out of school textbooks. The king, Louis XVI, was not entirely blind. He knew France was in crisis. He even called the Estates-General to try and fix things. But it was too little, too late. People had already tasted the idea of freedom. And when people realise they are being crushed by a system designed to protect the rich, they do not ask for permission to change it. They break it down.

The Course of the French Revolution

The actual events of the revolution were shocking and dramatic. The Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 was not just a violent act. It was a symbol. The Bastille represented the king’s power to imprison people without trial. Its fall was a statement: the people would no longer be silenced.

Ordinary people played a critical role. Women marched to Versailles, demanding bread and forcing the royal family to return to Paris. Workers and peasants formed political clubs, took up arms, and demanded change. This was not a revolution led by politicians. It was a revolution built on the backs of everyday citizens.

However, it is important to admit that not everything about the revolution was noble. The Reign of Terror, led by Robespierre, saw thousands of people executed by guillotine — sometimes for no real reason other than suspicion. The revolutionaries turned on each other. Power corrupted those who claimed to fight for justice. That is the tragedy of revolutions. Sometimes they give birth to monsters while trying to kill kings.

The Global Impact

The ideas of the French Revolution did not stay in France. They inspired people across the world, including in South Africa. The belief in human rights, liberty, and equality gave strength to future struggles. The Haitian Revolution, for instance, where enslaved people rose up and created the first Black republic, was directly influenced by what happened in France. And even centuries later, when we think of 1994 in South Africa, when democracy was born, we still echo the voices of those who once demanded justice in Paris.

If you are writing your Term 2 Grade 10 History Essay, remember this: the French Revolution was not a single moment. It was a process that changed how humans see themselves. It exposed the violence of power and the power of ordinary people. Use your notes and your textbook, but also think critically. Was it all worth it? Can violence ever bring justice? These are the questions real historians ask — and so should you.