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The Old Regime
The Old Regime was a time of unfainess in France, they were divided into three unequal estates. The second and third estate were privelged. The first estate was the people of the church called the clergy, they only paid 2% of the taxes and owned ten percent of the land. The second estate was made up of the rich nobles who owned 20% of the land and paid zero taxes. The third estate was 98% of the people. They paid 50% of their income to taxes and had the lowest income of all the estates. -
The Forces of Change
The people of France were getting tired of the three estates and how France was run. People started using enlightenment ideas and using words like equality, liberty, and democracy. The success of the American Revolution inspired the people of France. The economy of France was failing, the cost of living rose, and the government went into major debt. Plus, King Louis was a weak leader, indecisive, and spent wastefully. France was ready for change. -
Revolution Dawns
The Third Estate delegates were eager to make changes in the government and their views had been shaped by the enlightment ideas. They named thierselves the National Assembly to pass laws and reforms in the name of he French people. They proclaimed the end of an absolute monarch and the beginning of a representative government. The king was afraid ordered foreign troops to come. The people got afraid so they stormed Bastille, a prison, to get ammo. This was a symbolic act of the revolution. -
The Assembly Reforms France
In 1789 the National Assembly adopted the Declaration of Rights of Man which came from enlightment ideas. The French people embraced the ideas of the Declaration, The National assembly focused on chruch and state relationship. They made it to where the Catholic church lost land and political independence. Many peasents were loyal to the Catholic chrch and opposed the revolutionary change. Meanwhile, King Louis was afraid about his monarchy and tried to escape but was caught and put under guard. -
The National Assembly Makes New Reforms
The National Assembly stripped much of the power of the king and created a constitutional monarchy. The king and his ministers still had the executive part of the government. The National Assembly also created a Legislative Branch to create the laws and have the power to approve of prevent wars. -
Terror in France
A man by the name of Robespierre started to gather control in France. He and his supporter wanted to build a "Republic of Virtue." Robespierre became the leader of the Commitee of Public Saftey, with that power he could say who were enemies of the state. He governed France as nearly a dictator. This time became known as the Reign of Terror, because people were being killed on the smallest of charges. But, conspirators demanded his arrest in 1794 and he was killed by the gullotine the next day. -
Napoleon
A new leader by the name Napoleon Bonapart started to rise up in France. He was a military leader that had extreme talent in the planning of battles. After he defended the Delagates in 1775 he was put in charge of the army. Then he was appointed to be a part of the three consuls and quickly gained dictorial powers. Napoleon kept many changes of the French Revolution. He also fired corrupt officials, got the economy on a solid footing, and he made a concordat with the pope. -
Napoleon Creates an Empire
Napoleon wanted to expand his empire into the new world. But, in 1803 he decided to sell the louisiana territory to the U.S., this way he got $15 million and punished the Brithish. He then turned all of his attention to Europe. With his military supremness he got Austria, Prussia, and Russia to sign peace treaties, and the only world power left was Britain. The Battle of Trafagar was a naval battle against Britain and it was the only major battle Napoleon lost. He still controlled most of Europe -
The Congress of Vienna
After Napoleon, Europe needed order and stabality. The Congress of Vienna was a series of meetings in Vienna that were made to provid security and stablity to the entire continent of Europe. The meetings were made in secret by the 5 "great powers" of Europe. But the most influencial was Klemens Von Metternich who distrusted the democratic ideas of the French Revolution. He made a balance of power so that no country would be a threat to others, and he also restored the royal families of Europe.
