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The Calling Of The Estates General - 2
This unbalanced system led to the Third Estate feeling helpless as they could not protect themselves from the malicious new policies designed to siphon as much money out of them as possible. As a result of this the Third Estate, the poorest of the three, was ordered to pay more taxes, despite them acting essentially as the sole contributors to all of the tax in France at the time. -
The Calling Of The Estates General - 3
In addition to this, they didn't have enough voting power to vote against any of the decisions made by the Second and First Estates regarding where the tax money went. It was through this helplessness, in tandem with the inability to move up within the rigid class structure of the Ancien Regime that the Third Estate decided to revolt. -
The Calling Of The Estates General - 4
WIth no other options, and being faced with the unending poverty, the majority of the French population demonstrated a collective consciousness, through the decision to abandon the rigid class structure found within the Ancien Regime. This decision acted as the straw on the camel's back for the Third Estate, they were left without the ability to feed themselves, and so with this decision they came together to start a revolution. -
The Calling Of The Estates General - 1
This was the first time The Estates General had been called in 175 years and it serves as the starting point for the French Revolution. This meeting served to illustrate the horrible allocation of political power within the Ancien Regime, with over 90% of the population contributing to a third of the overall vote on any new policy or legislation. -
The National Assembly - 1
The National Assembly was a group of people that sought to act as a self-governing body within France. The National Assembly consisted primarily of members of the third estate within the Ancien Regime in France at the time. This group had a common goal of bringing more power to the general population of France, and the members of this group sought to take power from the king to accomplish this goal, crippling the absolute monarchy they lived in. -
The National Assembly - 2
In their pursuit of this goal, they acted as the initiators of the French Revolution, making them an essential part of French history. Some prominent figures in the National Assembly were Maxamillion Robespierre and the Jacobins. The supporters of Maxamillion Robespierre (The Jacobins) believed in direct democracy, they wanted to give freedom and equality to the citizens of France, as well as create a strong government that could endure instability and chaos. -
The Tennis Court Oath - 2
With no proper meeting place, they remained uninhibited, and they kept true to their ambitions, eventually bringing about the change they sought for. This represents the disdain the French people, especially those within the third estate, had regarding King Louis XVI, as they were determined, beyond any shadow of a doubt to bring forth this political change, they were beyond fed up with the absolute monarchy and wanted the power put into their hands. -
The Tennis Court Oath - 1
The tennis court Oath was a pledge taken by what would become the members of the National Assembly, this pledge was to create a written constitution for France, and to not disband from one another until accomplishing this shared goal. As the name implies this oath was made whilst, inside an indoor tennis court, this is due to the fact that they were removed from their intended meeting place, that being in the palace of Versailles. -
The Storming Of The Bastille - 2
The storming took place on July 14th, 1790, taking place over a year since the National Assembly was formed, during the storming the national assembly only lost ninety-eight men. While this might seem like a colossal failure on the part of the revolution, it could be argued that this event served more as a message for the king and his supporters, as well as for the gunpowder and ammunition, rather than an endeavour done in hopes of attaining revolutionaries. -
The Storming Of The Bastille - 1
The storming of the Bastille acted as the spark of the revolution, as it was the first widely recognized action in the revolution that directly opposed the king. This event served and continues to serve as a symbol of the French revolution, this is true despite the fact that through their efforts they only managed to free 9 people. Although, in addition to the prisoners they freed from the Bastille, they also managed to attain ammunition and gunpowder in this venture. -
The Constitutional Monarchy Formed - 2
The shift to a constitutional monarchy gave the third estate more power, as they had far more representation, and far more consideration was given to ensure they weren't unhappy with the decisions of the government. This new political system came to be adopted in France due to the actions of the national assembly during the revolution, in which King Louis XVI was made to sign over a massive amount of his power to the national assembly. -
The Constitutional Monarchy Formed
The political system in France changed dramatically, shifting from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. In doing so France would no longer accept the idea of “the divine right of Kings” that being the belief that the king was a representation of god on earth, and as such whatever he does is the will of not only himself but also god. With the introduction of a constitutional monarchy, decisions could no longer be made without proper consideration of the consequences. -
Republic Of France - 2
This shift also brought forth a period of political instability, as various factions fought for power and control over France. Above all else, the most important distinction between this political system is undeniably the complete removal of the monarchy, meaning King Louis XVI no longer served any purpose in the french government, making it distinct from the previous constitutional monarchy, as well as from the absolute monarchy they had prior to the start of the revolution. -
Republic Of France - 1
The French Revolution resulted in the establishment of the First French Republic, which abolished the monarchy and declared France a democratic republic. The revolution also marked the end of feudalism in France and the rise of the bourgeoisie as the dominant class. The shift to a republic led to the acceptance of democracy within France, this put far more power into the hands of the people in France, giving them voting power on new policies, laws, and any other government movements in France. -
Beheading Of King Louis XVI
King Louis XVI was killed by revolutionaries by way of guillotine -
Beginning Of The Reign Of Terror
The Reign of Terror was sparked by a combination of political instability, economic crisis, and foreign threats. It was characterized by the use of revolutionary tribunals and the guillotine to silence dissent and eliminate enemies of the state. The period saw the rise of radical political factions, such as the Jacobins, and the spread of fear and suspicion throughout French society. -
Period: to
The Reign Of Terror
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Beheading Of Marie Antoinette
The queen of France, Marie Antoinette was killed by revolutionaries by way of guillotine. -
The End Of The Reign Of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a brutal period where thousands were executed for being seen as counter-revolutionary or disloyal to the French Republic. Robespierre, one of the main architects of the Terror, was seen as increasingly tyrannical, leading to his arrest and execution. This event marked a turning point in the Revolution, leading to a more moderate period of government. However, the legacy of the Reign of Terror continued to be felt in France and beyond.