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Louis XIV
Louis XIV wasn't perfectly prepared for being a king. He preferred doing physical activities, especially hunting instead of attending affairs of state. He also loved to work with his hands, like bricklaying and metalworking. Louis was well intentioned to improve the lives of the common people but he lacked the ability to make decisions. When he took the decision, it was often based on very poor choices and advice from the members of his court. -
The Old Older
At the time, France was Divides into 3 large social classes, in other words "estates." The first 2 estates had some privileges. Some of them were access to high offices and exemptions from paying taxes. The people from the 3 estate weren't allowed for them to do/have. The 1 estate owned ten percent of the land in France. The 2 estate was made up rich people and nobles. The nobles owned almost 20 percent and had to pay no taxes sometimes. 97 percent of the people belonged to the 3 estate. -
The Forces Change
The lower class kept increasing. France now had some real economic problems, weak and indecisive leadership. These things all helped franc to generate a desire for a change. New views and ideas were know spreading about power and authority in the third estate. They people from this estate were inspired by the success in the American Revolution. -
Dawn of the Revolution
Third estate delegates were very excited to make changes in the government. They insisted that all three estates meet together and all have a vote. This was an advantage for them because they had many delegates as the other 1 and 2 estates. On June 17, they voted to establish a National Assembly, because they wanted to end the absolute monarchy and a beginning of representative government. Some people started to suggest that the King was intent on using military force to dismiss the Assembly. -
The Assembly Reforms France
In the night of this day many noblemen gave speeches, and declared their love and liberty. They were more motivated by fear than by idealism. More members joined and removed the feudal privileges of the first and second estates. By the next morning, Old Regime was found dead. Weeks later the Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The document stated "men are born and remain free and equal in rights." They also started to focus on the Church(Take over the land) -
Great Fear Sweeps France
Some rumours started to spread that nobles were hiring outlaws to scare and terrorise the peasants. Something called the "Great Fear" spread throughout France. Peasants were not going to stay inside their homes doing anything. So they armed themselves with pitchforks and other tools, they broke into nobles' manor houses and destroyed the old legal papers the made them pay feudal dues. Women also rioted because of the pricing of bread. Overall, King and his family left Versailles, forever. -
Divisions Develop
For 2 years, the Assembly argued for a new constitution in France. In this month Louis approved the new constitution the Assembly had completed. They created a limited constitutional monarchy. This made to create a new legislative body "Legislative Assembly." Even though they had a new government, they still had the old problems like food shortages and government debt. This made to split up the Legislative Assembly into 3 groups: Radicals, Moderates and Conservatives. -
War and Execution
War in France began really bad for them. The Prussian commander had said that he will destroy Paris if revolutionaries harmed any member of the royal family. This really had engaged the people from Paris. So on August 10, about 20,000 men and women invaded the Tuileries which is the palace where the royal family was staying at. The defending troops in Paris were sent to reinforce the French army in the field. The people involved in the changes in September 1972, were members of radical org. -
The Terror Grips France
The Jacobin leader called Maximilien, slowly started to gain power. His supporters set to build something called "republic of virtue" which was to erase Frances' past. In July 1793, he became leader of the Committee of Public Safety. He governed France as a dictator, and this period was known as "Reign of Terror." The task of the Public Safety Chief was to protect the Revolution of its enemies. -
End of the Terror
In this year, some members of the National Convention started to think differently and turned on Robespierre. They demanded to arrest him and get him executed. The Reign of Terror ended on July 28 when Robespierre was sent to the guillotine. In the end, France had found just the right general to command the army, his name was Napoleon Bonaparte.
