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Deficit spending by the government
picture of Jacques NeckerThe government is in debt because of spending the money on wars. Louis XIV choose Jacques Necker, a financial expert, as a advisor. Jacques Necker urged the king to redce some of courts spending, reform government, and abolish burdensome tariffs on trade. When Jacques Necker proposed taxing on both the first and the second estates he was forced to be dismissed. -
Louis XVI Calls the Estates-General
France was on the verge of bankruptacy, bread riots were spreading, and nobles were denouncing royal tyranny. Louis XVI finally summoned the Estates General to meet at Versailles the following year. Each estate had met and voted separately. Each group had one vote, but the First and Second Estates always outvoted the Third Estate two to one. -
Parisians Storm the Bastille
The peasants heard rumors that the royal troops were going to occupy the capital. So they grouped up and grabbed some weapons that they had. They demanded the gates to be open so they could get more weapons, and gunpowder,but the commander of the bastille refused to open the gates and opened fire on the crowd. Many people were killed but finally the mob broke through the defense and killed the commander and the five guards. They released the prisoners that were being held there. -
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The National Assembly Acts
Declaration of the Rights of Man pictureThe Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The Declaration announced that all men were borne and remain free and equal in rights. The slogan of the French Revolution is Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Many women were unhappy that the Declaration of the Rights of Man did not grant equal citizenship to them. Olympe de Gouges demanded equal rights in her Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen, so then the women are free. -
Threats from abroad
Louis XVI failed to escape. So the king of Prussia and the emperor of Austria issued the Declaration of Pilnitz. This says the two monarchs threatened to intervene to protect the French monarchy. They may have been bluffing buy the French took the threat seriously and prepared for war. -
Monarchy is Abolished
Parisians stormed the royal palace of Tuileries. They killed the kings guards. A Month later they attacked the prisons that held nobles and priests accused of political offese. around 1,200 prisiners were killed. -
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Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
RobespierreRobespierre was one of the chief architects of the Reign of Terror. Spectators greeted death sentences. Robespierr, in his speech, explained why the terror was necessary to achieve the goals of the revolution. About 17,000 people were executed. Many vicims were falsely accused. July 27, 1794, Robespierre was arrested by the memers if the convention, and he was executed the next day. -
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The Third Stage of the Revolution
Napoleon BonaparteThe Constitution set up a fiveman Directory and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens. Middle class were the dominant force during this stage of the French Revolution. Peace was made with Prussia and Spain. War with Austria and Great Britain contunued. Polotitions turned to Napoleon. He was a popular military hero who had won a series of ictories against Austrians in Italy. the planed to use him to advance their own goals. -
Spread of Nationalism
Revolution gave the French people a strong sense of national identity. They got a strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country, spread throught France. The French people attended festivals that celebrated the nation and the revolution.
