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The Old Order
In France during the 1770's, the population was divided into three social groups called estates. The first estate included: The Roman Catholic Church's clergy. The second estate included the rich nobles. These two classes were the "Privileged estates" because they payed almost no taxes. The third Estate which included the other 97% of the population, they were the middle and lower class. Unfortunately they were the ones charged with the most taxes which enabled them improve their lifestyle. -
The Forces of Change
After the American Revolution, the ideas of the enlightenment were spreading through Europe and in France in the Third Estate. These ideas inspired them to demand their natural rights. -
Economic Troubles
During this time, The France was going through many economic troubles. There had been very bad weather which affected the crops. This and many other factors put the government under a huge debt. Many people blamed King Louis XVI and the Queen, Marie Antoinette for their extravagant spending. -
Great Fear
Soon after, the peasants entered a period of panic and riot. They were afraid that the nobles and the privileged were going to overthrow the third estate. They started arming themselves with pitchforks and other farm tools ready to fight. -
The National Assembly
Members of each of the three Estates met to vote on weather or not they should create a National Assembly. The intention behind this was to reduce the power of the monarch and to form the beginning of a representative government. -
Tennis court Oath
Three days after the National Assembly was created, the members of the National Assembly found themselves locked out of their meeting room. In response, they broke into an indoor tennis court, joined with other members of clergy and nobles who supported them. They refused to leave until the new constitution was created. -
Storming of Bastille
In effect to the tennis court oath, King Louis is said to have used military force to try to eliminate the national assembly. there say that he sent his army to massacre french citizens. The angry citizens fought back in order to defend their city. The fall of Bastille became a symbolic act to many as it marked the beginning of the revolution. Ever since, July 14 has become a national holiday. -
The Rights Man
Many people were afraid, even the nobles. The National Assembly came up with a list that declared the rights of a man. These included "liberty , property, security, and resistance to oppression as well as many more. These rights however were not approved, or respected by everyone, which later declared the author of this an enemy and was executed. -
Start of War and Execution
The legislative assembly declared war in April 1792. The war started very badly for the French since the Prussian (who wanted to reestablish the monarchy) was advancing. Their commander even threatened to destroy Paris if any member of the royal family was harmed. However the French were able to impression and kill many members of the royal family. Many citizens became afraid that relatives or members of the royal family would gain the power back. This caused a major massacre in September. -
The Guillotine
Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotine came up with a machine that decapitated people quickly. This was used to kill people who had a death sentence. Many people argued over if this was the right way to publicly kill guilty people, since they did not suffer. King Louis was one of the people found guilty, On January 21, 1793 King Louis waked the steps to to be decapitated by this machine.
