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Deficit Spending
Deficit Spending Louis XIV left France depply in debt, the 7 year war and the American revolution had strained the treasury. Louis XV pursued pleasure before businessadn ran up more debt. Louis XVI hired a financial expert Jacques Necker, who sugested taxing the nobles and clergy, and was fired. -
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The Estates General
estates generalIn 1788 a baffled louis XVI finaly summoned the estates general. the the third estate was always out voted 2 to 1. In May 1789 the estates general convened. After weeks of stalemate, delagates of the third estate declared themselves to be the National Assembly in June 1789. They feared the king planed to dismiss them so they meet on the tennis courts were they developed the famous Tennis Court Oath. They agreed not to give up untill they had a constitution. -
Storming the Bastille
In 1789 more than 800 parisians stormed the medieval fortress of Bastille. They did this in hopes of finding gunpowder and this event was the real begining of the French Revolution. Today French celebrate Bastille day annually as their national independence day. -
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National Assembly Act
National AssemblyAugust 4th 1789 the nobles agree to give up their own privileges. They gave up old monorial dues, excusive hunting rights , special legal status, and exemption from taxes. In late august they passed the declaration of the rights of man, declaring all men had equal rights, like liberty, propert, security and resistance to oppression. -
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National Assembly Act 2
National AssemblyIn 1790 the French Catholic Church is placed under state control. Under the Civil Constitutionof the Clergy, issued in 1790, bishops and priests became elected, salaried officials. In 1791 the National Assembly completed its goal of producing a constitution. It set up limited monarchy. A new Legislative assembly had the power to make laws, collect taxes, and decide on issues of war and peace. Lawmakers were elected by tax paying male citizens over the age of 25. -
Threats From Abroud
In 1791 the king of Prussia and the Emporor of Austria issued the declarationof Pilnitz. They threatened to inervene to protect teh french monarchy. They feered that the revolution ideas would spread and there would be revolts in their own countrys. Whether of not they would have realy carried out there threats, France declared war on them. -
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Civil War
Civil WarOver the year groups from inside France have been fighting the revolution. Groups gain some power but never enough to silence the revolution. Fighting not only on the outside but also on the inside continues till the reign of terror in 1793 in which many are killed. Moderates and radicals fight for power and radicals will win. -
Monarchy Abolished
January 1793 King Louis XVI is exicuted ending monarchy in France. Later in October Marie Antoinette is executer as well. -
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Robespierre and The Reign of Terror
Reign of TerrorRevolutionary courts condected hasty trials, most ending with execution. About 300,000 people were arrested and 17000 were executed. There were many victims of mistaken identity of falsely accused. The Guillotine was a symbol of horror as the main executioning machine. On July 28, 1794 Robespierre, the father of the reign on terror, was executed. with him the reign of terror died but the revolution lived on and executions slowed dramatically. -
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Third stage of the Revolution
French RevolutionAfter the Terror the revolution entered a third stage. The convention prodiced another constitution, the third since 1789. This new constitution set up a five man diractiry and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens of property. Directory held power from 1795 to 1799. Peace was made with Prussia and Spain but not with Austria and Great Britain. Riots broke out because of bread shortage and many supporters of a constitutional monarchy won seats in the legislature. -
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Third stage of the Revolution
Napolean BonaparteThreatened with chaos Politicians turned to Napolean Bonaparte, a popular war hero. They planed to use him to advance their own goals. However befor long he would outwit them all and become ruler of France. -
Spread of Natonalism
The revolution and war gave the French people a strong sense on national identit. In earlier times peaple had felt loualty to local authority. During monorchy loyalty shifted to the king or queen. Now they turned to their country and government. The French people attended civic festivals that celebrated the nationand the revolution. Out of this nationalism the French got their national anthem "La Marseillaise."
