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Divided French Society/Financial Troubles
Financial troubles in France started in a wallpaper factory with rumors of the owner planning to lower the workers salary although the price of daily necessities was inflating. Soon most of the population suffered from unemployment and starvation while clergy and nobles lived great lives. People of the third estate fought against the old, outdated government, demanding that the first and second estates pay taxes. This unfair treatment between the estates led to lots of violence and crime. -
Louis XVI Calls the Estates General Continued...
eated the National Assembly, refusing not to stop until a new constitution was made.The King accepted these ideas but rumors spread of him assembling an army. -
Louis XVI Calls the Estates General
Bankruptcy and chaos in France led Louis XVI to call the Estates General, which is essentially like our Congress. Citizens of each estate created a "notebook" of everything they wished to speak about at the meeting. Topics discussed in the notebooks included, fairer taxes, regular estates meetings, and freedom of the press. Delegates would also now be elected, only if they owned land. These ideas were influenced by the enlightenment thinkers. People of the third estate insisted on reform and cr -
Parisians Storm the Bastille
The Bastille symbolized the years of hardship, from the monarchy, the citizens of France had to over come. The attack made Louis XVI aware of how serious the issues in France had become. This battle is remembered and celebrated as the day the people of France gained independence. -
Revolt/ National Assembly Acts
The Political Crisis of 1789 began with starving peasants, unemployed citizens, and the rise in the price of goods. Rumors soared throughout the towns spreading what became known as the "Great Fear." Peasants became angry which led to crime and violence. In Paris, political groups comepeted for power. Nobles voted against themselves, ending their old priviledges. The Declaration of the Rights of Man was created to bring equality to the people. This was inspired by the Enlightenment and included -
Revolt/National Assembly Acts Cont. 1
Enlightenment and included the idea that government was run for the people and by the people. This angered female citizens. They protested that they should have the same rights as men. Several women were imprisoned and executed during this time. In return, women marched to Versailles demanding that the royal family returns home to Paris. The National Assembly forms and decides to take over church land to help get out of this political crisis. This creates more anger. The Constitution of 1791 is -
Revolt/National Assembly Acts Cont. 2
As a result, the Constitution of 1791 states that power is divided up and put into the hands of the population, limiting the power of the monarchy. With much embarressment, the royal family tries but fails to escape from France. They get caught and are forced back to Paris, escorted by soldiers. This angers the citizens of France because they now see the King and his family as traitors. -
Threats From Abroad
The August of 1791, the king of Prussia and the emperor of Austria created the Declaration of Pilnitz to protect the King from the people of France and keep the monarch from falling. In response, France prepared for war. The war between the revolutionists and monarchy supporters did not start until April of 1792 and would continue until 1815. -
Radicals Take Over Cont.
other group consisted of political officials who wanted to put an end to all reforms. -
Radicals Take Over
The newly elected Legislative Assembly took office in October of 1791. Struggling with problems within and out of the country, they did not hold power for long. Food shortages, hoarding, the rise in the price of goods, and the failing economy led to people known as sans-culottes started demanding government with elected representatives. Two main groups competed for power. One group, known as the Jacobins, consisting of lawyers and educated citizens, used newspapers to advertise their views. The -
Monarchy Is Abolished Cont.
put Louis XVI on trial as a traitor of France. Louis was sentenced to death and later his wife, Marie Antoinette was executed as well. -
Monarchy Is Abolished
The war enters a radical phase when citizens arrive at the royal palace and murder the King's gaurds. 1,200 imprisoned nobles and priests were killed in fear of them escaping and impeding the progress of the war. Citizens demanded a new form of legislature called the National Convention. This extended the right to vote to all males. At one of the conventions meetings members voted to aboloish the monarchy and establish The French Republic. They planned a new constitution, abolished nobility, and -
Robespierre and The Reign of Terror
ation, and protecting the general will. These ideas were supported by the sans-culottes. Robespierre believed terror was needed to progress in the revolution. What became known as the Reign of Terror, lasted from September 1793- July 1794. A big part of this fear was a beheading machine, known as the guillotine, which killed thousands during the time. Robespierre gave a speech on February 5th which led to him being arrested on July 27th 1794. -
Robespierre and The Reign of Terror
At the start of 1793, France was at war with much of Europe. Citizens demanded relief from food shortages and inflation. Problems between the Jacobins and the Girondins were never ending. To deal with these issues The Committee of Public Safety was created and had absolute power. Taxes required all citizens to join the war efforts. France came up with new tactics which allowed them to dominate opposers. Robespierre incorporated ideas from Rousseau, like abolishing slavery, having religious toler -
Third Stage of The Revolution
The Revolution enters its third stage, creating the Constitution of 1795, the third in six years. The directory stuggled with starvation problems as the price of bread increased. Addionally, many felt the directory was bringing back the feeling of royalty. Returning clergy supported this. Politicians looked to Napolean Bonaparte for help, who would later becoming the ruler of France. -
Spread of Nationalism
By 1799, the 10 year revolution was over. France overthrew its old social order, abolished its monarchy, and had the churches under state control. Liberty and equality was thrust upon all citizens. Nationalism filled the country and in 1793 France became a nation in arms. Revolutionaries continued to push for social reform and religious toleration. Systems were put together to help the poor, including soldiers and war widows. States schools were created and slavery was abolished.
