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Deficit Spending
Jaques NeckerEconomic woes in France added to the social unrest and heighted tensions. One cause of economic troubles was a mushrooming financial crisis, due in part to years of government spending more than it takes in. Louis XVI hires a financial expert- Jaques Necker. -
Estates-General
Bread riots were spreding, and nobles, fearful of taxes, were denouncing royal tyranny. This caused Louis XVI to summon the Estates-General. In preperation, Louis had each estate prepare cahiers or notebooks listing grievences-fairer taxes, freedom of speech, and regular estate meetings were some of the demands. In June 1789, a meeting with delegates of the third estate (97% of the population) was held, and they declared themselves a National Assembly. -
Storming of the Bastille
Rumors were that royal troops were occuping the capital of Paris. More than 800 Parisians assembled outside the Bastille (prison) and the crowd demanded gunpowder for their weapons. The commander of the Bastille opened fire on the crowd, that started a battle. Many people were killed. This made the crowd even angrier, so they brok into the prison and killed the commander and many guards, and let prisoners out. This caused King Louis XIV to feel threatned for the first time. -
Rights of Man
The French Declaration announced that "all men were born and remained freeand equal in rights." They enjoyed natural rights to "liberty,property, security, and resistance to oppresion." The constitution insisted that governments esist to protect the natural rights of citizens, like the writings of John Locke and the philosophes. -
Women's March
October 5th six thousand women marched 13 miles from paris to Versailles. The crowd's anger was directe at the Austrian-born queen, Marie Antoinette. She lived a life of extravagance and this led to futher public unrest. The women refused to leave Versailles untill King Louis met their demand, that the royal family return to Paris. Not to happily, the king agreed and the royal family was held vertial prisoners. -
Church Under State Control
The National Assembly put the French Catholic Church under state control. Bishops and priests were elected. They refused to accept the civil Constitution. The pope comended it. -
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Spread of Nationalism
French FlagAt this time government rallied sons and daughters of declaration to defend the nation. Nationalism then spread across France. French people attended festivals to celebrate the nation and relolution. From the port city of Marseiles, troops marched to a new song called "La Marseillaise that would later become the French National Anthem. -
Threats From Abroad
The failed escape from King Louis XVI brought on the threats from abroad. In August, the king of Prussia and emperor of Austria (Marie Anionette's brother) issued the Declaration of Pilnitz. The document stated that the two Monarchs threatned to intervene to protect the French Monarchy. Revolutionaries in France took the threat seriously and prepared for war. -
Constitution of 1791
This constitution set up a limited monarchy in place of the absolute manarchy that had ruled France for centuries. A new legislative assembly had the power to collect taxes make laws, and make decisions on war. The document seemed to complete the revolution. -
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Radicals Declare War
WarEconomy goes bad, and san-culottes used pamphlets and newspapers to spread republican case. Words soon led to war between french revolutionaries and European monarchs. Austria was the first attacked, the Prussia, Britan, and other states. The war went off and on untill 1815. -
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Reign of Terror
Reign of terrorRobespierre was a lawyer and politician. He agreed with the ideas of Rousseau. During the reign of terror 300,000 people were arrested and 17,000 were executed. On July 27th 1794 Robspierre was arrestedand executed the day after. After his death, less people were executed. -
Third Stage of The Revolution
France began to move away from excesses of the convention. Moderates produced another constitution in 1795. In the elections of 1797, supporters of a constitutional monarchy won the majority of seats in the legislative. As chaos threatened polititions turned to Napolean Bonapart, a military hero. The politicians planned to use him to advance their own goals. Before long, Napoleon would be loved by the french and become Emperor of France.
