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Deficit spending by the government and Economic reform part 1
dollar sign
Louis XIV had left France deeply in debt. To bridge the gaps of income and expenses the government kept barrowing more and more money. (1789) Half of government's income from taxes went to paying interest. Bad harvest made food prices soaring. The nobles and clergy would not let government end their exemption from taxes. -
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Deficit spending by the governemt and economic reform part 2
Louis XV The heirs of Louis XIV were not the right people to solve the economic crisis. Louis XV ran up more debt. Louis XVI was weak and indecisive. He wisely chose an advisor. But when he erged the king to tax teh First and Second Estate the nobles and high clergy forced the king to dismiss him. -
Louis XVI Calls the Estates-General
Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General to meet at Versailles. Louis had all three estates prepare a cahiers listing their grievances. The Third Estate wanted voting to be counted "by head" not one vote per estate. The Third Estate took a daring step, they declared themselves the National Assembly. Reform-minded nobles and clergy joined the assembly. -
Parisians storm the Bastille
The streets buzzed with rumors that royal troops were going to occuy the capital. More then 800 Parisians assembled outside the Bastille. The crowd demanded weapons and gunpowder that was believed to be stored there. The commander of the Bastille refused to open the gates and opened fire on the crowd. Finally the enraged mob broke through teh defenses. They killed the commander and five guards and released the handful of prisoners who were being held there, but found no weapons. -
National Assembly Acts
The National Assembly voted to end their own privileges. They agreed to give up their old manorial dues, exclusive hunting rights, special legal status, and exemption from taxes. -
Rights of Man part 2
In addition, the declaration asserted freedom of religion and called for taxes to be levied according to ability to pay. Slogan, "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." The women were dissapointed tehy didn't get equal citenship. -
Rights of Man part 1
The first step to writting the constitution was the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The French declaration announced, all men were "born and remain free and equal rights." The constitution insisted that governments exist to protect the natural rights of citizens. The declaration also proclaimed that all male citizens were equal before the law. Every frenchman had an equal right to hold public office. -
Women's March
About 6,000 women marched in the rain from Paris to Versailles. Tehy were mad at Marie Antoinette because she didn't care about them. They yelled "bread" because of the new high prices on it. They went to kill Marie, and captured the King. -
The Church
The Nationally Assembly put the Cahtolic Church under state control. The Civil Constitution of teh clergy, bishops and preists became elected, salaried officials. Ended papal authority over the French Church and dissolved convents and mnastaries. Many bishops, preists, and peasants refused and rejected the changes. -
Threats from Abroad
Louis XVI tried escaping, but failed. This brought problems abroad. The King of Prussia and Emperor of Austria issued the Declaration of Pilnitz. The monarchs threatened to intervene to protect the French monarchy. The declaration might have been a bluff, but the revolutionaries in France took the threat seriously and prepared for war. -
The Constitution of 1791
National Assembly completed it's main task by producing a constitution. It set up limited monarchy in place at absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries. New Legislative Assembly had the power to make laws, collect taxes and decide on issues of war and peace. Law makers are elected by tax-paying male citizens over age 25. the constitution made the government more efficient and moderated reformers. -
Radicals Declare War part 1
The newly elected legislative Assembly took office. Faced with crisis at home and abroad, it survived less then a year. Economic problems fed renewed turmoil. The Revolutionary currency dropped in value, causing prices to rise, which led to hoarding and caused additional food shortages. Working class-man and women, called sans-culottes, pushed the revolution into more radical actions. They demanded a republic or government ruled by elected representatives instead of a monarch. -
Radicals Declare War part 2
The sans-culottes found support amoung radicals in the Legislative Assembly, especially the Jacobins. They used pamphleteers ans sympathetic newspaer editors to advance the republican cause. Opposing the radicals were moderate reformers and political officials who wanted no more reforms at all. -
Monarchy is Abolished part 1
Battle disasters quickly inflamed revolutionries who thought the king was in league with the enemies. A crowd of Parisians stormed the royal palace of the Tuileries and slaughtered teh King's guards. The royal family fled to the Legislative Assembly before the mob arrived. A month later, citizens attacked prisons. Radicals took control of the Assembly. They called for the election of a new Legislative body called the National Convention. The right to vote was to be extened to all male citizens. -
Monarchy is Abolished part 2
The convention voted to abolish the monarchy and establish the French Republic. Deputies drew up a new constitution for France. On January of 1793, Louis XVI was put on trial as a traitor of France. The king was convicted by a single vote and sentenced to death. Marie Antoinette was also executed in October. -
Spread of Nationalsim
Revolution and war gave the French people a strong sense of national identity. Natioalism, a strong feeling of pride and devotion to one's country, spread throughout France. The French people attended civic festivals that celebrated the nation and the revolutio. By 1793, France was a nation in arms. -
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Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
Robespierre Courts conducted hasty trials. Robespierre was one one of the chief architechs of the reign of terror. He was a shwred layer and politician who quickly rose to the leadership of the committe of Public Safety. He went on a killing spree. Robespirre was executed July 28th 1794. -
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Third Stage of the Revolution part 1
Third stage of revolution In reaction to the Terror, the revolution entered a third stage. Moving away from the excess of the Convention, moderates produced another Constitution, the third. Th eConstitution of 1795 set up a 5 man Directory and a two-house legislative elected by male citizens of property. The Directory help power from 1795-1799. -
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Third Stage of the Revolution part 2
bread Weak but dictatorial, the Directory faced growing discontent. Peace was made with Prussia and Spain, but war with Austria and Great Brittain continued. When rising bread prices stirred hungry sans-culottes to riot, the Directory quickly suppressed them. Another threat to the Directory was the revival of royalist feeling. -
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Third Stage of the Revolution part 3
Nepolean Bonaparte Many emigres were returning to France, and devout Catholics, who resented measures that had been taking against the Church, were welcoming them. Nepolean Bonaparte became the French ruler.
