OCR Specification focus:
‘the ‘Great Fear’; the October Days the October Days’
The ‘Great Fear’ and the October Days of 1789 were pivotal moments in the early French Revolution, highlighting tensions between peasants, the monarchy, and revolutionary Paris.
The Great Fear, July–August 1789
Origins of the Great Fear
The Great Fear refers to a wave of peasant revolts and panic that spread through rural France in July and August 1789. Following the fall of the Bastille on 14 July, rumours circulated of aristocratic plots to crush the Revolution. These rumours of a ‘famine plot’ suggested that nobles were hoarding grain or hiring brigands to starve the peasantry into submission.
Disruption in grain supplies led to fears of famine.
Communication breakdowns meant rumours spread unchecked.
Rural populations were already burdened by feudal dues and resented noble privilege.
Feudal Dues: Traditional payments or labour obligations owed by peasants to their landlords under the feudal system.
The collapse of royal authority in the provinces also gave peasants the confidence to resist their lords.
Events of the Great Fear
The Great Fear manifested in widespread peasant uprisings across France. Actions included:
Storming of manor houses to seize grain or destroy feudal records.
Burning of feudal registers, which recorded obligations owed by peasants.
Violence against nobles or their agents, though outright massacres were limited.
This wave of resistance spread rapidly through regions such as Normandy, the Loire Valley, and the south-west.
Political Consequences
The National Constituent Assembly, dominated by deputies anxious to stabilise France, recognised the threat of rural disorder. The uprisings directly pressured the Assembly to address feudal grievances. On the night of 4 August 1789, the Assembly voted to abolish the feudal system, ending seigneurial dues, venal offices, and noble hunting rights.
This represented a dramatic break with the Ancien Régime.
Though compensation was initially demanded from peasants, the symbolic destruction of feudal privilege was irreversible.
The Great Fear thus accelerated the social revolution in the countryside and forced the Assembly to act decisively.
The October Days, 5–6 October 1789
Causes of the October Days
The October Days arose from worsening conditions in Paris and growing hostility towards the monarchy.
Key factors included:
Bread shortages in Paris, where the price of bread consumed up to 80% of workers’ wages.
Resentment against Marie Antoinette, who was associated with extravagance and indifference.
Anger at the royal banquet of the Guards in Versailles (1 October), where officers allegedly trampled the tricolour cockade, mocking revolutionary symbols.
The Parisian crowd, especially women, played a central role, as they were directly responsible for feeding their families.
Tricolour Cockade: A badge combining blue, white, and red, symbolising revolutionary Paris and unity between the monarchy and people.
Events of the October Days
On 5 October 1789, thousands of women marched from Paris to Versailles, demanding bread and confronting the Assembly and king. They were soon joined by members of the National Guard, led by Lafayette.
Jacques-Philippe Caresme, “The Bravery of Parisian Women on October 5, 1789” (c.1789). The print commemorates the women who marched to Versailles to protest bread shortages and demand reform. Source
Events unfolded as follows:
Demonstrators stormed into the Assembly, voicing demands for food and political reform.
The crowd invaded the palace, killing royal guards and forcing their way into the queen’s apartments.
Lafayette managed to restore some order, persuading Louis XVI to address the crowd.
Crucially, Louis was compelled to accept the August Decrees (abolishing feudalism) and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
Official poster of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789). Source
Consequences of the October Days
On 6 October, the royal family and Assembly were escorted to Paris, effectively becoming prisoners of the Revolution.
The king was now under the watchful eyes of the Parisian populace.
Versailles ceased to be the political centre of France; instead, Paris became the revolutionary capital.
The power of popular mobilisation, especially of ordinary women, was dramatically demonstrated.
The October Days thus undermined the monarchy’s independence and strengthened the revolutionary movement in Paris.
Significance of the Great Fear and October Days
The Great Fear
Undermined feudal structures and pushed the Assembly into radical reform.
Demonstrated how rural France could exert revolutionary pressure.
Marked the decline of noble authority in the provinces.
The October Days
Brought the king under direct revolutionary control in Paris.
Symbolised the decisive role of popular action in shaping political outcomes.
Intensified mistrust between the monarchy and the revolutionaries.
Both events highlight the fragility of the monarchy in 1789 and the power of mass mobilisation in propelling the Revolution forward.
FAQ
The speed of rumour circulation in 1789 was linked to poor communication networks in rural France. News travelled largely by word of mouth, with little verification.
Peasants often relied on local markets, travelling peddlers, or parish priests for information. In a climate of food shortages and distrust, stories of brigands or noble conspiracies spread unchecked.
Many villages formed local militias to defend themselves against supposed brigands.
Some disarmed or expelled suspected enemies.
Others joined in seizing noble property and burning records.
Their activity reflected both defensive anxiety and proactive rebellion.
While women had joined in demonstrations before, in October 1789 they led the march to Versailles.
They framed their demands around food shortages, particularly bread, making their grievances appear morally justified and socially urgent. Their leadership highlighted the unique political role of market women in Paris.
Lafayette’s decision to accompany the marchers both legitimised and restrained the protest.
His presence gave the demonstration a veneer of official oversight.
However, some saw the Guard’s inability to protect the king at Versailles as a sign that royal power had been eclipsed by the revolutionary crowd.
After the October Days, the court’s relocation to Paris symbolised the end of Versailles as a centre of political power.
The king became effectively a “prisoner of Paris.”
Versailles lost its prestige as a royal residence and was no longer a political hub.
The Revolution became permanently tied to the urban crowd and the capital.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
What was the immediate outcome of the Assembly’s decision on the night of 4 August 1789?
Mark scheme:
1 mark for identifying that feudal privileges/dues were abolished.
1 mark for mentioning that this decision was part of the August Decrees.
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two reasons why the October Days were significant in the development of the French Revolution.
Mark scheme:
Up to 3 marks for each reason explained.
1 mark for identifying a reason.
1 mark for developing the point with detail.
1 mark for explaining why it was significant.
Examples of valid reasons:
The king and royal family were moved from Versailles to Paris (identification, detail, and significance: placed under close revolutionary scrutiny).
Louis XVI was compelled to accept the August Decrees and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (identification, detail, and significance: limited monarchical independence and confirmed revolutionary reforms).
Demonstrated the power of popular mobilisation, especially of women (identification, detail, and significance: showed the capacity of the crowd to shape political outcomes).
Maximum 6 marks.
