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Deficit spending by the government and Economic Reform
King Louis XVILouis XIV had left France deeply in debt. Costs generally had risen in the 1700s. By 1789, half of the government's income from taxes went to paying the interest on the enormous debt. Louis XVI appointed John Necker as his advisor but was dismissed after he had the idea that the clergy and nobles would pay taxes. -
Louis XVI Calls the Estates-General
As 1788 came to a close, France tottered on the edge of bankruptcy. Bread riots were spreading, and nobles were denouncing royal tyranny. Louis XVI summoned the Estates-General to meet at Versailles the following year. Louis had all three estates prepare cahiers, notebooks, listing their grievences. After weeks of a stalemate at the Estates-General, delegates of the Third Estate declared themselves to be the National Assembly. These delegates would soon tak the Tennis Court Oath. -
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National Assembly Acts
Women's MarchThe Rights of man and the Citizen were very closely writtne to the American Decleration. Six thousand women marched 13 miles in the pouring rain from Paris to Versailles. They took the king and brought him back to Paris. The Church is placed under state control and bishops and priests became elected, salaried officials. In 1791 the National Assembly produced a constitution and established a new government. -
Parisians storm the Bastille
More than 800 Parisians assembled outside the Bastille. The crowd demanded weapons and gunpowder believed to be stored there. The mob killed the gaurds and released some prisoners but didn't find the weapons they were looking for. -
Threats from Abroad
In August 1791, the king of Prussia and the emperor of Austria issued the Decleration of Pilnitz. This document was written to protect the French monarchy. -
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Civil War
French Civil WarThe war of words between French revolutionaireis and European monarchs moved onto the battlefield. The Legislative Assembly declared war first on Austria and then on Prussia, Britain, and other states. The fighting that began in 1792 lasted on and off until 1815. -
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Monarchy is abolished
Louis' BeheadingIn September 1792 the National Convention voted to abolish the monarchy and establisht a republic. In January 1793, Louis was beheaded in front of a crowd. -
Nationalism Spreads
The government wanted the sons and daughters of the revolution to defend the nation. Nationalism was soon spread all overFrance and people celebrated and had festivals the nation and the revolution. Port City Marseilles troops marched to a new song, "La Marseillaise", that will eventually become the French National Anthem. -
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Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
RobespierreRobespierre, a shrewd lawyer and politician, quickly rose to the leadership of the Committee of Public Safety. He wa one of the chief architects of the Reign of Terror. On July 27, 1794 Robespierre was arreted and executed. -
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Third Stage of the Revolution
Napolean BonaparteIn reaction to the Terror, the revolution entered a third stage. Moderates produced another constitution, the third since 1789. A five-man Directory was set up, as well as a two-house oegislature. Peace was made with Prussia and Spain, but war with Austria and Great Britain continued. As chaos threatened, politicians turned to Napolean Bonaparte.
