France's July Revolution of 1830: A 10-Minute Lesson on Freedom & Faith

Engage 10th-grade world history students with this quick 10-minute lesson plan on the July Revolution of 1830 in France. This resource explores the causes of the 'Three Glorious Days,' including King Charles X's oppressive July Ordinances. It uniquely connects the historical fight for political liberty with the Christian concept of spiritual freedom as described in Galatians 5, making it ideal for faith-based education.

Create Your Own Custom Lesson Plan
PDF

Lesson Plan: Three Days of Fury & Freedom

A Look at France's July Revolution of 1830

Subject: World History

Grade Level: 10th

Time Allotment: 10 Minutes

Focus: Understanding the motivations behind the July Revolution and connecting the human desire for liberty with the Christian concept of true freedom.

Materials Needed:

  • A piece of paper or small whiteboard
  • A pen, pencil, or marker
  • A Bible or Bible app (optional, for reference)

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this 10-minute lesson, you will be able to:

  1. Explain the primary cause of the July Revolution in one sentence.
  2. Create a protest slogan or newspaper headline that reflects the perspective of a French citizen in 1830.
  3. Compare the political freedom sought by the French revolutionaries with the spiritual freedom described in Galatians 5.

Lesson Procedure & Activities

Part 1: The Spark of Revolution (2 Minutes)

Teacher: "Imagine you woke up this morning and heard a new law was passed overnight. The government has decided to shut down your favorite news websites, podcasts, and YouTube channels because they are 'too critical.' On top of that, they've announced that most people, including your family, are no longer allowed to vote. How would you feel? What would you want to do?"

(Allow for a brief response.)

Teacher: "That's almost exactly what happened in France in 1830. King Charles X issued decrees, called the July Ordinances, which did two main things: they censored the press (no freedom of speech!) and took away the right to vote from most of the middle class. The people of Paris were so outraged that in just three days—often called the Trois Glorieuses or 'Three Glorious Days'—they revolted and forced the king to flee."

Part 2: Earthly Kings vs. The Heavenly King (4 Minutes)

Teacher: "The people replaced King Charles X with his cousin, Louis-Philippe, who they hoped would be a 'Citizen King' and protect their freedoms. This event shows us a powerful truth about human nature: we have a deep, God-given desire for justice and liberty. When earthly rulers become tyrants and take away rights, people often push back."

Teacher: "From a Christian perspective, this is fascinating. The Bible tells us in Romans 13 that God establishes governing authorities to punish evil and promote good. But what happens when the government does the opposite? The July Revolution was a direct response to what the people saw as injustice."

Teacher: "But it also points us to a deeper kind of freedom. The revolutionaries wanted freedom *from* a bad king. The Bible talks about an even greater freedom. Let's look at Galatians 5:1. It says, 'It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.' This is freedom *from* sin and death. Then, in verse 13, it tells us what to do with that freedom: 'Do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.' The French got a new king, but their ultimate problems didn't go away. Christian freedom, however, is permanent and changes our purpose from serving ourselves to serving God and others."

Part 3: Creative Application - Headline of History! (3 Minutes)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to be a Parisian in 1830. Your task is to capture the feeling of the revolution. On your paper, create one of the following:

  • A Newspaper Headline: Write a powerful headline for a secret newspaper announcing the king has fled.
  • A Protest Slogan: Create a short, catchy slogan that revolutionaries might have chanted on the streets.

Think about what you would be most angry about—the censorship or the loss of voting rights? What kind of freedom are you demanding? Go!"

(Give the student 2-3 minutes to create and then share their headline or slogan.)

Part 4: Final Thought (1 Minute)

Teacher: "Great job! Your headline/slogan really captures the passion of that moment. It's a great reminder that while fighting for earthly justice is important, our ultimate hope isn't in a new king or a new government, but in the perfect King, Jesus, who gives a freedom that no one can ever take away."