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Defecit Spending and Economic Reform
Louis VX of FranceLouis XV left France deeply in debt after his reign. He took the serious matters more lightly, and tended to spend money on things that pleasured him. The government started raising taxes, and increasing the price on food, especially bread. The government borrowed more and more money that they didn't have and kept growing deeper into debt. -
Louis XIV Calls the Estates-General
Louis XIV took the reign dealing with major debt problems. His advisor and a financial expert, Jacques Necker urged the king to call in the Estates-General. The Estates-General was the legislative body consisting of three representatives of the three estates. They ended in May of 1789. In June of that same year, they named themselves the National Assembly, and moved to an indoor tennis court because they thought the King would try to get rid of them. -
The People of France Storm the Bastille
There were rumors going around that royal troops were going to occupy the capital. Over 800 Parisians gathered around the Bastille looking for weapons and gun powder that they thought were there. The commander of the Bastille opened fire onto the crowd. Finally, the crowd broke through the defenses of the Bastille. They killed 5 guards and the commander, but they found no weapons. -
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The National Assembly Acts
National Assembly, August 4, 1789After the storming of the Bastille, the Natioanal Assembly took action. They abolished feudalism at 2 A.M. The Assembly created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. It declared that all men are to be created equal. The Assembly later issued the Constitution of 1791. This constitution set up a limited monarchy, rather than an absolute monarchy. The constitution reformed laws, and seemingly completed the revolution. -
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Threats Come From Abroad
Declaration of PilnitzWord was spread fast of the choas that was going on in France from nobles, clergy, and others who had fled from France. When other countries heard these stories, they started threatening France. The king of Prussia and the emporer of of Austriaissued the Declaration of Pilnitz. This document threatened to protect the French monarchy. The French took this seriously, and prepared themselves to go to war. Battle would start soon after this between the French and European monarchs. -
Civil War
Prices were atarting to rise rapidly because of a decrease in the value of the currency. Sans-culottes were working-class men and women. They demanded a republic to be established. They did not want a monarch. Jacobins on the other hand were mostly middle class lawyers or intellectuals. They agreed with the sans-culottes in that they supported a republic. There were also moderate reformers and political officials who didn't want any more reforms at all. -
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The Monarchy is Abolished
Louis XIV gets sent to the GuillotineIt started with a crowd of Parisians storming the royal palace. They slaughtered the king's guards, and caused the royal family to flee the palace. A month later, 1,200 prisoners were killed by a large group of enraged citizens. Radicals then took control of the assembly and named it the National Convention. They established the French republic. The convention put Louis XVI on trial as a traitor to France. He was then sent to the Guillotine. -
Spread of Nationalism
The revolution and war gave the people of France a strong sense of national identity. Nationalism, a strong feeling of pride in and devotion to one's country, spread throughout France. French citizens attended festivals that celebrate the country and the revolution. French troops starting to sing songs as they marched to battle. One of these songs ended up being the country's national anthem. -
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Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
RobespierreRobespieere, a lawyer and politician, quickly became the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. He was nicknamed "the incorruptible" for his selfless dedication to the revolution. Robespierre was big part of this time period in sending thousands to the Guillotine. In all, 17,000 people were executed during the Reign of Terror. The convention then turned on the Committee of Public Safety, afraid for their own lives. They executed Robespierre, and the Reign of Terror ended with him. -
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Third Stage of the Revolution
Napoleon BonaparteModerates produced the trird constitution since 1789. It was the Constitution of 1795. It set up a five man Directory and a two house ligislature elected by male citizens of property. Peace was made with Prussia and Spain, but war with Austria and Great Britain continued. Politicians turned to Napoleon Bonaparte, a military hero, to solve their problems.
