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Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Thomas Paine argued that the colonies were being unfairly treated by Britain, and advocated for a revolution. Paine argued on the basis of liberties against the government, and it eventually led to the American Revolution. Paine's work served as a precedent for many of the ideals seen in the French Revolution, where people started to emphasize individualism and their own liberties against tyrannical governments and absolutist rulers. -
Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations
After decades of communal farming and plots, Adam Smith and many other economic thinkers advocated for economic liberalism, where they believed the invisible hand would guide the market. Adam Smith wrote in his book, arguing for privatization and capitalism instead of the previous system of guilds and government regulation. This represented the start of mass industrialization and capitalism, but also marked the start of income inequality and poverty rates as the rich benefited. -
American Revolution
After unfair treatment from Britain, the U.S. declared independence and engaged in a war with Britain. France also assisted the U.S., later leading to a decisive victory and independence. Although it had some ambiguous liberties, like the treatment of Native Americans, the overall framing of the Revolution and its ideals of liberty gave rise to the French Revolution's ideals, where they also emphasized individualism over tyrannical rulers. -
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution
After rigorous fighting in the Revolutionary War, the U.S. Constitution was finally ratified. Although not physically in Europe, the U.S. Constitution had tremendous impacts on the Revolutionary War by setting a precedent for revolt against tyranny while also placing emphasis on individual liberties and freedom. Furthermore, the impacts of the Revolutionary War itself served to directly lead to the war, because after significant funding, Louis XV had to raise taxes and debt, one cause of the FR. -
Storming of the Bastille
After being angered by the National Assembly, Louis XVI attempted to send troops to Paris to dissolve it. Afraid of encroaching troops, peasants stormed the Bastille, a prison, for weapons to defend themselves. Louis XVI later gave up and allowed the National Assembly to do as they wish. This served as one of the first signs of the Revolution and constitutionalism, as the monarch was significantly weakened by the people, while also forced to cede power to a legislative and representative branch. -
French Revolution
The French Revolution was a period of time in which constitutionalism and representation was emphasized in France in lieu of absolutism and monarchy, borrowing from the Enlightenment ideals. Meanwhile, France was also locked in a war against Prussia and Austria. Nonetheless, it still succeeded in the war and its initial Revolution ideals, albeit with some roadblocks like the Great Terror and the Directory. Overall, liberty and equality was instilled in France, contrasting absolutism. -
Wollstonecraft's Vindication of Rights of Women
After the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen was declared during the French Revolution, white men enjoyed significantly increased privileges and liberties, like universal male suffrage. However, women were excluded from this, leading Mary Wollstonecraft to write the Vindication of Rights of Women, arguing for the same rights, liberties, and equality that men enjoyed, arguing on the foundation of equal rights for men and women. This is an example of the increasing liberties during the FR. -
Execution of Louis XVI
After significantly losing power to popular sovereignty in the National Assembly during the French Revolution because of poor ruling, Louis XVI tried to escape, but was caught and later imprisoned. After debating, the Mountain decided to execute him, much to the dismay of Prussia and Austria. Nonetheless, the execution of a monarch was unheard of and truly symbolized the French Revolution - the end of monarchy and absolutist rule in favor of equal constitutionalism and democracy. -
Reign of Terror
Paranoid about dissenters from the French Revolution, Robespierre and his Committee for Public Safety led mass executions and imprisonments of anyone deemed unloyal to the Revolution. This contrasted the foundation of the French Revolution, characterized by paranoia, dictatorship, and authoritarian rule. Fortunately, the Reign of Terror was ended after moderates executed Robespierre after he executed many loyalists like Danton, which later led to the Thermidorian Reaction, restoring the FR. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
After enjoying many victories in territories like Prussia and Austria, Napoleon felt threatened after losing in Spain from Guerrilla Warfare and suffering a counter-blockade. Desperate, he turned to invade Russia as a scapegoat, but he failed to account for starvation and the cold Russian winter, eventually leading to a disastrous defeat. This defeat marks the near end of Napoleon's rule - despite creating a large and vast French empire, he was later exiled and replaced by Louis XVIII. -
Napoleon Defeated and Exiled
After suffering a defeat in the invasion of Russia, Russia, Great Britain, Austria, and Prussia all stopped another army from being raised and forced Napoleon into exile and gave the throne to Louis XVIII. Napoleon still felt he was the true ruler of France and returned with an army, but he was defeated at Waterloo and again exiled into St. Helena. This marks Napoleon's end in ruling and by further extent, the weakening of France as countries became more hostile towards it.
