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Period: to
Bad Harvests, High Prices, and Unemployment
There is a growing population in France and the cost of living increases as resources deplinish. The nobles were also charging more for basic equipement that the peasants needed to use, but the peasants' wages did not increase with thei higher costs.
*Old Regime -
Louis XVI Takes the Throne
Louis XVI takes the French throne after his grandfather dies. The country is already in a lot of debt. Louis and his wife are also extremely frivolous. This does not help the country get out of the financial crisis.
*Old Regime -
Period: to
Banks Refused to Lend Money to Government
The french bank refuses to lead money to Louis XVI because he already so far into debt. Louis wanted the money because the nobles and clergy refused to pay any taxes and the country desperately needed money.
*Old Regime -
Louis XVI calls the Estates General
The estates general is made up of people who represent each state (clergy, nobles, and peasants). They agree on taxes and other issues facing the country. The were called because the king is hoping to be able to tax the nobles and clergy. They are to meet in Versailles in May, 1789.
*Old Regime
*Old Regime
*Old Regime -
Tennis Court Oath
After the King insisted that the estates meet separately at the Estates General, the third estate became upset. They wanted more votes in the Estates General because there were more people in their estate. They were eventually locked out of the Estates General and the third estate then renamed themselves the National Assemble. They then met on a nearby tennis court and vowed that they would not give up until they had written a constitution for France.
*Rule of Moderates -
Storming of the Bastille
After the King gathered troops in Versailles, the National Assembly became worried that he was going to try to stop reforms. The citizens grew angry and forced their way into the Bastille, a prison in Paris. It led to many deaths, but the rebels got their weapons and freed seven prisoners.
*Spontaneous Revolt -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The National Assembly released this document. It is the French Constitution, even today. It was inspired by The American Declaration of Independence. It states that men should be equal before the law, have freedom of speech, and be protected against arbitrary arrest and punishment. This National Assembly met in Paris when this was released. It was created because peasant unrest and violence was getting so out of hand that the Assembly was forced to make reforms.
*Rule of Moderates -
Nobles Vote to End their Privileges
During a National Assembly meeting, the nobles decide to give up their privileges. If they hadn't done this, they may have faced death from those who were revolting.
*Rule of Moderates -
March to Versailles
The King was refusing to accept many reforms and this angered many people. They found it threatening that the King was in Versailles instead of Paris. Women marched to the Kings palace in Versailles demanding bread. Finally, as things grew out of hand, the King agreed to move to Paris.
*Spontaneous Revolt -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The National Assembly needed to fund the government. To do this, they took Church lands and items. They then sold them. Then they pasted the Civil Constitution of the Clergy that said that the church no longer had the right to chose their clergy, and instead, the clergy was to be elected.
*The Rule of Moderates -
Attempted Escape of the King and Queen
There was growing unrest among the radicals in Paris and the royal family feared for their lives. So Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, and their children tried to flee France to go the Austria, disguised as ordinary people. A bystander spotter them and reported them and they were sent back to their palace in Paris.
*Reign of Terror -
Limited Constitutional Monarchy is Established
After trying to escape and being sent back to Paris, King Louis XVI agree to a limited monarchy because he was basically a prisoner and had no other choice. The monarchy didn't work well, though, as people did not trust the king.
*Rule of Moderates -
France Declares War on Austria
Radical leaders feared the worst of Austria. Frightened that they would bring Louis XVI back into power, they declared war on Austria.
*Radicals -
Radicals establish a Republic
The radicals establish a republic, the National Convention, which consists of male citizens, mainly doctors, lawyers, or other middle class society. The National Convention resided in Paris for most of its duration and its goal was to end the monarchy and make France a republic.
*Radicals -
Execution of the King
The radicals executed Louis XVI, in Paris, because they needed to publicly get rid of the monarchy so that they could start the republic. They sentenced the King to death after finding a iron box with secret letters to other countries. Though the letters weren't really a crime, they were used to make the king seem less trustworthy and convince others that he neeeded to be sentenced to death.
*Reign of Terror -
Robespierre and Commitee of Public Safety Control France
Other countries, worried that the French revolution would spread, became wary of the french people. Then a war was started with the french. The French formed the Committee of Public Safety to help with the war effort. This included a draft and the resources of civilians.
*Radicals -
Execution of Robespierre and End of Reign of Terror
After Robspierre accuses many people of treason, some people become frightened that he might do the same to them. To prevent this from happenning, they have him sentenced to death. After his death, the radicals lost much of their power and the reign of terror ended.
*Thermidorian Reaction -
Directory is Established
The Directory is a council of five men who ruled in a two-house legislation. The Directory, though, did not seem to help much and was soon overthrown.
*Thermidorian Reaction -
Coup d'etat of Napoleon
Napoleon , a war general, after fighting in Egypt, returned home hearing about political turmoil. He seized power against the Directory, much to the pleasure of the present Parisians.
*Thermidorian Reaction -
Napoleon names himself Consul for Life
Napoleon became a strong leader for France. He helped to restore it. The French people were very happy about this, even when he named himself Consul for Life. This basically meant that he made himself King. For the revolution, this was a giant step back, but many of the people didn't realize this because he was backed by the popular vote.
*Thermidorian Reaction
