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The first meeting of the Estates General
The people were sick and tier of the country being so in debt, the rising of the prices, and the inequality that they forced the King to call a meeting of the Estates General, which was an assembly were representatives from all the states would argued over the issue. This meeting took place at Versailles. -
The vote to establish the National Assembly
The third estate was eager to begin modifying and changing the government. In one of the meetings of the estate general a clergyman sympathetic to their suggested for the third estate to name themselves the National Assembly that will pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people. The members of this estate agreed with a majority and the National Assembly was created. This was considered the first act of revolution and the end of the absolute monarchy in France. -
The storming of Batille
Rumors flew throughout the city of Paris that the King’s purpose was to use military force to dismiss and end the National Assembly. Also, that foreign troops were coming to kill French citizens in Paris. As a result, people gather weapons and prepared to defend their city. On this date, a mob searching for arms and gunpowder broke in Bastille, a Paris prison. The angry citizens soon took control of the building and killed many of the guards. The storming of Bastille became a great symbol for re -
Feudalism and the Old Regime end
In the night of August 4,1789, a meeting was held as a result to the panic that came from the Great Fear. Motivated mostly by fear, noblemen joined other members of the National Assembly in dismissing feudal privileges of the First and Second Estates, therefore making a more equal society. This resulting on the end of the Old Regime. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens is passed
Three weeks after ending Feudalism the National Assembly adopted a new statement of revolutionary ideals, a document called: the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens. They used the Declaration of Independence as a base to build their own. The document stated that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” These rights included “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” -
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The Constitution of 1791 is created
After two years of arguing over a new constitution for France, the National Assembly managed to make one. This document created a limited constitutional monarchy, therefore it stripped most of the king’s power and authority. It also created a new legislative body called the Legislative Assembly, which had the power to create laws and approve or reject declarations of war. The king was forced to approved this new constitution. -
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Chaos in Paris and the September Massacres
The war against Austria and Prussia began badly, with the Prussian forces advancing to Paris. The Prussian commander threatened on destroying the city if they harmed the royal family. This backfired, the Parisians were enraged. On August 10, an angry mob invaded the Tuileries, the palace where the royal family was staying and massacred the royal guards.They imprisoned the king and queen together with their children. Suddenly, rumors began spreading that supporters of the king held in Paris priso -
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The Legislative Assembly takes drastic measures
Pressured by the radicals on the streets, murdering prisoners, the Legislative Assembly set aside the Constitution of 1791. They removed the king from his office, they dismissed the National Assembly, and they called for the election of a new legislature. Most of the people involved in these changes were members of a radical,political organization called the Jacobins -
The abolisment of monarchy from France
After the drastic changes done by the Legislative Assembly,The National Convention, the new governing body, took office. One of its first actions was to abolish the monarchy from the country. With this, they declared France a republic and gave adult made citizens the right to vote. -
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The beginning of the Reign of Terror
In the early months of 1793, a Jacobin leader called Maximilien Robespierre slowly began to gain power. Together with his supporters they wanted to build a “republic of virtue” by wiping every trace of France’s past. In July, 1793, Robespierre became one of the leaders of the Committee of Public safety, which asked him to protect the Revolution from its enemies. Not only that, but he managed to govern France for the next year. He governed practically as a dictator. Robespierre had the people who -
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France is ruled by a renovated government
Robespierre death, the French public opinion changed dramatically. People had become weary of the Terror. They were also upset because of the high prices of necessary goods. Because of this, leaders from the National Convention drafted a new plan of government, in 1795. This plan placed power firmly in the hands of the upper middle class. It also established a two house legislature and an executive body called the Directory. These five men were revolutionaries, some of them corrupt, therefore th
