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Divided French Society/ Financial Troubles
it was divided into 3 estates.
1st estate- Clergy-Priest, Nuns, and monks.
2nd estate- Nobility- Knights, military.
3rd estate- Vest mojority of population- peasants.
The financial troubles for France became even worse, due to the wars and the cost if building they kept spending more money than they were taking in. Louis XV hired a financial expert, Jacques Necker to help get out of debt. Jacques was then fired because he said for the Clergy and Nobility to start paying taxes. -
Louis XVI calls the Estates-General
Louis XVI made each group make a cahiers(notebooks listing their grievences). When the estates met and each voted, but the 3rd estate was always over-ruled by the 1st and 2nd. The 3rd estate wanted to count votes "by head." They formed the National Assembly, they were then locked out the meeting hall, and moved to a nearby indoor tennis court. -
Storming the Bastille
The National Assembly attacked Bastille (medieval fortress used to store peisoners). They believed they had mulitple weapons. when they attcked they killed the commander but found no weapons. Bastille was a symbol to the people of France represting years of abuse and monarchy. Now their National Independence Day. -
Threats from Aboard
The king of Prussia and the Emperor of Austria created the Declaration of Pilnitz, which said that they were going to intervene to protect the French Monarchy. -
Revolt/ National Assembly Acts
The nobles decided to end their privilges. Fuedlism is abloished. Late August they Assembly wrote the Declaration of Rights of Man, this said all men were equal, it excluded the woman. The woman were disappionted and on Oct 5 six thousand woman marched 13 miles to see the king. -
Civil War (Radicals take over)
The new Legislative Assembly took office, it only lasted a year becasue there were to many problems going on. Then the San-culottes wanted a republic or government ruled by representives instead of the monarch. -
Monarchy is Abloished
A crowd of Parisians stormed the palace and slaughtered the king's guard. The radicals then attack and kill the king. They put Louis XVI on trail as a traitor of France and then beheaded him. In October, Maria Antionette was also beheaded. -
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Robespierre and the Reign of Terror
Robespierre said that terror was necessary to achieve the goals of the revolution. During the Reign of Terror 300,000 were arrested and 7,000 were excuted. -
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Third Stage of the Revolution
Moderates produced another constitution. The directory held power from 1795 to 1799. Peace was made with Prussia and Spain. The politicains wanted to use Napoleon to farther their goals.Although Napoleon would soon become ruler of France. -
Spread of Nationalism
Nationalism soon spread across France. The revolution and war gave people a sense of national idenity.The French people would attend festivials that celebrated the ntion and revolution.
