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louis xiv had left frence deeply in debt. the seven years war and the american revolution strained the treasery even further. to bridge the gap between income and expenses the government borrowed more and more money. by 1789 half the goverments income from taxes went to paying the interest on this enormous debt. bad harvests sent the food prices soaring.
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france tottered on the verge of bankruptcy bread riots were spreading and nobles fearful of taxes were denouncing royal tyranny. louis finally simmoned the estates general to meet at versailles the following year
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moving away from the excesses of the convention moderates produced another constitution the constitution set up a five man directory and the two house legislature elected by male citizens of property the middle class and professional people
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more then 800 parisians assembled outside the bastille. the commander of the bastille refused to open the gates and opened fier on the crowed. finally they mob broke through the defence they killed the commander and five guards and relesed a handful of prisoners. the french have celebrated bastille day annually as there national independce day.
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establisheda new govrenment that set up a limited monarchy in the place of the absolute monarchy that had ruled france for centuries.
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the national assembly declares war on tyranny eager to spread the revoution and destroy tyranny abroad the legislater assembley declared war frist on austria and then on prussia britain and the other states.
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august as a step toword writting a constitution the assembley issued the declaration of the rights of man. the declaration further proclaimed that all male citizes were equal before the law. on october 5 about six thousand women marched 13 miles in the pouring rain from paris to versailles.
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battle disasters quickly inflamed revolutions who thought the king was in the league with the enemies. the royal family fled to the legislative assembley escapeing brfore the mob got there. paris crowds then took over of the assembly.
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danger threatened france on all sides. the country was at war with much of europe including britain the netherlands spain and prussia. robespierre a shrewd lawer and politican rose to the leadership. robespierre was one of the chief arichitecs of the reign of terror.
