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Deficit Spending and Economic Reform
Louis XIVLouis XIV left France in heaps of financial trouble. Costs began to rise in the 1700's and the government borrowed too much money. By 1789, half of the government's income from taxes went to paying the interest on the massive debt. Another problem hit when bad harvests increased prices and hunger. The only way to dig themselves out of this hole, the government would have to raise taxes, reduce expenses, or both. The nobles and clergy withstanded the attempt to end their exemption from taxes. -
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Third Stage of the Revolution
Napoleon BonaparteA third constitution was produced by moderates. It set up a five-man Directory and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens of property. Peace with Prussia and Spain was made during this time but war with Austria and Great Britain continued. The corrupt leaders failed to solve the pressing problems. Rising bread prices caused riots. Chaos began to snowball, so the threatened turned to Napoleon Bonaparte. -
The Estastes General is Called
It took France almost going bankrupt for Louis XVI to summon the Estates General. For the Estates General to be able to do their job, Louis had the three estates prepare cahiers (notebooks) listing what they wanted change. The only delegates that could vote in the Estates General were men who owned land. They got off to a rough start over the issue of voting. Eventually the Tennis Court Oath was made saying that they wouldn't seperate and would meet wherever necessary until issues were solved. -
Parisians Storm the Bastille
Paris streets were bussing with rumors that royal troops were going to occupy the capital. 800 Parisians gathered outside the Bastille and demanded weapons and gunpowder that they believed was stored there. However, the commander refused to open the gates and he opened fire on the crowd. The enraged mob broke through and found no weapons. However, this day remained a symbol of abuse by the monarchy and it was a wake up call to Louis XVI. -
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National Assembly Acts
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the CitizenNobles voted to give up their own privileges. In late August, the Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. It stated that all men are born and remain free and euqal in rights and they had natural rights to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. It expressed freedom of religion and levied taxes according to your ability to pay. -
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National Assembly Acts
On October 5th, about six thousand women marched 13 miles from Paris to Versailles. They wanted to see the King and refused to leave until the king agreed to return to Paris. The King eventually agreed. After this incident the National Assembly put the French Catholic Church under state control. The Civil Constitution eliminated papal authority over the French Church and convents and monasteries. However, many priests and bishops, the pope, and large numbers of peasents hated these changes. -
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The National Assembly
The government punished those who did not support the Civil Constitution. This caused a chasm between revolutionaries in Paris and the peasents in the provinces. When a constitution was set up it created a limited monarchy. A legistlative Assembly had the power to make laws, collect taxes, and decide on issues of war and peace. Although it seemed to solve the issues of the country, it put the power in the hands of men with the means and leisure to serve in government. -
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Threats from Abroad
Louis XVI Fleeing FranceThe Declaration of Pilnitz was declared where two monarchs threatened to intervene to protect the French monarchy. It was mostly a threat by the French Revolutionaries took the threat seriously and prepared for war. -
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Civil War
Civil WarThe war was started to spread the revolution and destroy tyranny abroad. The Legislative Assembly declared war first on Austria, then Prussia, Britian, and other states. They expected an easy win over France but it lasted much longer. -
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Monarchy is Abolished
Parisians Storm the TuileriesThe Parisians stormed the palace of the Tuileries and killed the king's guards. The royal family fled to the Legislative Assembly, escaping before the mob arrived. A month after that, citizens attacked prisons that held nobles and priests accused of political offenses. Radicals eventually took control of the Assembly and called for the election of a new legislative body called the National Convention. The convention sentenced the king to death. -
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Nationalism Spreads
MarseillesPeople attended civic festivals that celebrated the nation and the revolution. A variety of dances and songs on themes of the revolution became popular. They set up state schools to replace religious ones and organized systems to help the poor, old soldiers, and war widows. The government also abolished slavery in France's Caribbean colonies. -
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Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
GuillotineMaximilien Robespierre was the leader of the government battles against the counterrevolutionaries. He was also one of the chief architects of the Reign of Terror. The Revolutionary courts conducted hasty trials and spectators greeted death sentences with cries. 300,000 people were arrested during the Reign of Terror and 17,000 were executed. The guillotine was the symbol of Terror. However, Terror overtook those who initiated it. On July 27,1794, Robespierre was arressted and executed.
