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Divided French Society/ Financial Trouble
France divides into 3 classes. The Nobles in which defend the land, the clergy that enjoy enormus amounts of wealth and privlages and then the diverse population that is mostly rural peasants.
Louis XVI left France in deep debt. The lavish court still brought in millions, half of the governments income went to paying interest on debts. There was also really bad harvests so food prices really increased. -
Louis XVI calls the Estate General
Estates prepare Grievence notebooks, shoemakers denounce regulations that made leather so expensive, servant girls demanded to be able to leave service when they wanted.
"Vampires pumping the last drop of blood."
Delegates take the tennis court oath. Mostly lawyers, middle class officials and writers. Then went to Versailles to solve financial crisis -
Parisians Storm the Bastille
Paris seized the spotlight from the national Assembly in Versailles.
800 Parisians assembled outside of Bastille and demanded weapons and gun powder was stored inside and the commander of Bastille refused to open up
So the mob broke in and killed the commander and 5 guards and released some prisoners but found no weapons. Bastille was a symbol of years of abuse from monarchy. -
Threats from Abroad
The king of Prussia and emperor of Austria issue the decleration of pilnitz.
Two monarchs threaten to intervene and protext the French Monarchy.
The decleration was all a threat, but revolutionaries in France were ready for war. -
Civil War (Radicals Take Over)
Newly elected Legislative Assembly takes office and survives for less than a year. The economic problems fed renewed turmoil.
Uncertainy about prices led to hoarding and caused additional food shortages.
Sans-Culottes demanded a republic or government ruled by elected representatives -
Civil War
War between French revolutionaries and European monarchs moved to the battle firled.
Fighting began in 1792 and lasted on and off until 1815 -
Monarchy is abolished
Tensions lead to violence.
A crowd of Parsians stormed the royal palace of the Tuileries and slaughtered the kings guards and the Royal family fleeds to the Legislative Assembly. A month later, citizens attacked prisioners that held nobles and priests. 1,200 prisioners were killed, radicals then took control of the assembly. The right to vote was extended to all men -
Monarchy is abolished
Radical body voted to abolish the monarchy and establish the French Republic, Abolish titles of Nobility.
The king was convicted and sent to death, and then Marie Antoinette was also executed. -
Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
Shrewd lawyer and politicians quickly rose to the leadership of the committee of public safety. Promoted religious tolerations and wanted to abolish slavery. Very popular with sans-culottes. "Liberty cannot be secured, unless criminals lose their heads." Robespierre was one of the cheif architects of the Reign of Terror which lasted until July 1794. February 5, 1794 Robespierre explained why the terror was necessary to achieve goals. 300,000 were arrested and 17,000 were executed -
Spread of Nationalism
Revolution and war gave the French a strong sense of identity. Nationalism is a strong feeling of pride and devotion to ones country. French people celebrated the nation and the revolution. France was a nation in arms. -
Third Stage of the Revolution
The constitution of 1795 set up a five-man difectory and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens of property.Directory held power from 1795 to 1799, peace was made between Prussia and Spain however war continued with Austria and Great Britian.Rising bread prices caused hungry sans-culottes to riot.Chaos threatened politicians to turn to Napoleon, a popular military hero. Politicians planned to use him to advance in their own goals, before long Napoleon outwitted them all to become ruler
