(i) Jacobin clubs were political clubs that spring up after the revlutionary wars.
(ii) These clubs were important rallying point for point for people who wished to discuss government policies and plan their own forms of action.
(iii) It got its name from the former convent of St  Jacob in Paris
Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.

(i) The financial position of France at the time of Louis VI was bad. On his accession the new king found an empty treasury.
(ii) The three estates into which the French society was divided were:
(a) First estate - the clergy
(b)Second estate - the nobility
(c)Third estate-big businessman, merchants, court officials, lawyers, peasants and artisans, small peasants, landless labour and servants.
(iii) The first estate the church constituted the privileged class was exempt from taxes, owned vast lands and extracted taxes called 'tithes' from peasants.
(iv) The nobles like the Church were part of the privileged class, was exempt from taxes, owned vast lands and extracted taxes, owned vast lands and extracted feudal dues and services from peasants.
(v)The third estate formed more than 90% of the population. They enjoyed no political rights and social status but bore the burden of taxes.

(i) Napoleon, a product of the revolution was a military dictator who crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804
(ii) He set out to conquer neighbouring European countries, dispossessing dynasties and crating kingdoms where he placed members of his family.
(iii) He saw his role as moderniser of Europe and introduced many laws. He codified the French Law. These were known as the Napoleonic Code. Other important laws he introduced were protection of private property and uniform system of weights and measure based on the decimal system.
(iv) Initially many saw him as a liberator who would bring freedom for the people but soon his armies were viewed as invading forces.
(v) He was finally defeated at Waterloo in 1815. But his revolutionary ideas liberty and modern laws to other parts of Europe; had an impact long after he left.

(a) Before the revolution:
(i) The position of women in France was much inferior to men in social status. Except for daughters of nobles and wealthier classes, most women had no access to education and job training.
(ii) Along with tending to the family and house many women of the third estate had to work for a living.
(iii) They engaged themselves in small jobs-worked as seamstresses or laundresses, sold flowers or worked as domestics in houses of prosperous people.
(iv) The wages of women were lower than those of men.
(v) They were passive citizens with no political rights whatsoever.
(b) Mer the revolution:
(i) Women gained from the revolution. Laws were passed to improve their lives.
(ii) They gained access to education with the introduction of state schools and system of compulsory education for girls.
(iii) Women could marry at will and could no longer be forced into marriage by their fathers.
(iv) Marriage was made into a contract entered into freely and registered under law.
(v) Divorce was made legal and could be applied for by both men and women.
(vi) Women could now train for jobs, become artists and run small businesses.

(i) Women were disappointed by the constitution of 1791 because it reduced them to 'passive' citizens.
(ii) Despite being active participants in the revolution, they were denied the right to vote, to be elected to the Assembly, and to hold political office.

(i) Jacobin clubs became an important rallying point for people who wished to discuss government policies and plans and their own forms of action.
(ii) In 1792, the Jacbins planned an insurrection of large number of Parisians who were angered by short supplies and high food proces.
(iii) On the morning of August 10,1792. They stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, massacred the king's greeds and held the king as hostage for several hours.
(iv) Later the Assembly voted to imprison the royal family.
(v) Elections were held and from then all men of 21 years regardless of wealth were given thr right to vote.
(vi) The newly elected assembly was called the Convention.
(vii) On 21 Sept 1792 it abolished the monarch and declared France a republic.
(viii) They ruled France under their leader Maximilian Robespierre from 1793 to 1740. Robespierre's reign was known as 'Reign of Terror'.

(i) (a) Jacobins was the most popular and successful political club in France. It got its name from nthe former convent of St. Jacob in Paris.
(b) The less prosperous sections of the society were members of the Jacobin club. They included small shopkeepers, artisians such as shoemakers, pastry cooks, watch makers, printers, as well as servants and daily wage workers.
(ii) Their leader was Maximilian Robespierre.
(iii) (a) The Jacobins came to be known as sans-culottes literally meaning those without knee breeches.
(b) A large number of Jacobins began wearing long striped trousers similar to those worn by dock workers. This was to set themselves apart from the fashionable in society, especially nobles who wore knee breeeches.

The American constitution and its guarantee of individual rights inspired the philosophers.

The fall of the Bastille took place on 14 July 1789.