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Weak Governments
Before the Frech revolution, France had a very weak government. The King, Louis XVI pursued pleasure before business. He was diconnected from the common people. The estates were divided by Clergy, Nobles and common people (third estate). The third estate was always outvoted and had barely any say. The citizens were tired of a weak king and corrupt system which helped provoke revolution. -
Economic Failure
Citizens of France suffered with a corrupt tax system which only taxed the third estate. The King's costly wars ran up debt and depleated the treasury. The farmers suffered bad harvests which made food expensive. Inflation, no jobs, no food, and high taxes pushed the working class oveer the edge. The nobles and clergy still lived a lavished lifestyle which called the peasants to demand for reform of the unfair treatment. -
Social Stratification
France was divided into three estates, putting clery and nobles above the average person. The clergy adn nobles had more rights, freedoms, and no taxes. While the common people had little rights, or freedoms and had many taxes. The common people started to get more unsettled about th eunfair treatment, and finally took a stand against it during the revolution. -
Enlightenment and American Revolution Ideas
The ideas of the philosophes spread throughout France. Their ideas gave the people new opinions and views on the government and themselves as people. News of the American revolution spread too. With the ideas of rights boiling over and news of other succeeding revolution the French thought maybe they could do it too. If a few colonies could win against a huge military nation, why couldn't a whole country? -
Louis XVI calls in the Estates-General
The Estates-General hadn't been called for 175 years, but the budget crisis called for it. Louis ordered for the Estates to bring cahiers listing grievences. The Estate-General meeting would be held at the Palace of Versailles. -
Tennis Court Oath
Delegates from the 3rd Estate were elected to represent the rest of the Frech citizens. The delegates declared themselves the National Assembly. When a vote of heads was called they found their meeting room was locked and gaurded. Scared that the King was going to dismiss them, they went to a nearby indoor tennis court and swore to "never to separate and meet wherever the circumstances might require until we have established a sound and just constitution." -
The Storming of Bastille
Rumors of troops occupying cities spread to Paris. 800 Parisans stood outside the Bastille and demanded weapons for defense. The commander of the Bastille refused to open the gates and opened fire on the crowd. The crowd finally broke through the gates and stormed the Bastille. They killed the commander, some gaurds adn released prisoners held in the fort. The Parisans found no weapons at the Bastille. -
"Feudalism is Abolished"
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National Assembly Takes Action
In late August, the National Assembly created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. This document was similar to the Declaration of independence. It demanded equality for every man to hold office, natural rights, and taxes for though able to pay. It did not give women rights though. Louis XVI was still resistant to accept reformation, which created new anger throughout France. -
Women March on Versailles
6000 women marched to Versailles and demanded to see the king. They were enraged because they couldn't feed their families and they couldn't stand the queen who lived a lavished life and was against reformation. They demanded the king return to Paris. Finally the king agreed, and the king and his family return to Paris where they were virtual prisoners for the next 3 years. -
Louis XVI tries to Escape
Louis and his family tried to escape to Austria where is wife had family in power. Louis hoped that Austria would help him regain control of France. However, Louis was caught while trying to escape which enraged France even more, knowing that the king was trying to abandon them and he was a traitor. -
War on Tyranny
After the King was caught trying to escape, other countries started to threaten the revolution. Threating to come in and help protect the monarchy. So the radical revolutionists then declared wars on tyranny, they are eager to spread revolution. -
Radicals Take Control
Radicals take over the Assembly adn form a new group, The National Convention. They add the right to vote for all men to their constitution. A vote is held and they dcide the king was an unjust and unfair king. He is a traitor to the revolution and France should be ruled as a republic not any kind of monarchy. -
Monarchy is Abolished
Due to the conveentions votes teh king, Louis XVI was trialed as a traitorand for running down the treasury and sentenced to death. The king goes to his death with dignity. He even addresses the crowd, but in the middle of his speech the soldiers interupt with a drum role. A few months after his wife is also executed with crimes of treason and incest. It is when she adresses the women in the crowd about the terrible crime of incest that people begin to realize things are going to far. -
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Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
France was being attacked on all sides by Britain, Netherlands, Spain and Prussia. The people were also dividing themselves as priests and royalists ran a rebellion. Sans-Culottes demanded food and inflation reliefs. The convention itself was dividing too. The Committee of Public Saftey came to power, it was run by 12 members and had almost absolute power, they ended most of the wars. During this time, under Robespierre, 1,700 people were executed as "traitors". Every citizen was scared. -
Robespierre Dies, Terror Dies with him
Robespierre is finally arrested and goes through trial. After attempting suicide he is executed. His death practically marks the end of the Reign of Terror. The blood bath ends and execution rates drop. -
Napolean's Rise to Power
During the third stage a third constitution was created. It was a 5 man directory with a 2 house legislature. Sans-culottes rioted about prices and royalist opinions revived. The directory planned to use Napolean, a great soldier that one many battles in the wars to benefit their own goals. Napolean later out witted them and ended up ruling France. -
French Nationalism
After the revolution, everyone in France began to feel a sense of nationalism. They felt pride and devotion to their country which they had faught for. They celebrated through song and dance at festivals that revolved around the revolution. The French National Anthem even came from a song the troops sang during the revolution.
