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Divided Society
The population was divided into three estates, where the first two paid not taxes and had lots of wealth. The third estate, the Bourgeoise, was 97% of the population and lived in poverty. They were forced to pay taxes and food was scarce. Anything they could buy was expensive. Seeing as a large majority of the country was suffering, they turned their anger torwards the king -
Financial Problems
There was lots of debt to repay because previous kings and queens had spent more than they made. Food was expensive because there was a lack of good crops. This caused riots -
The Great Fear
Rumors and fear plague towns and troops go around destroying villages and food. People are starving and the King and Queen are going about their normal daily lives. People march to the Versailles in an attempt take the King to Paris.The King and Queen try to flee the country but are caught and ultimately sent to Paris to be held as a sort of "prisoner" -
Battle Rages On
The fear among citizens grows as the war continues on. Violent acts are performed by people who claim they are "protecting France". The New National Convention decides that all men can vote, and that there shall be no more kings, queens, or nobles. -
King is Guillotined
King Louis XVI is beheaded -
The Reign of Terror
Hundreds of thousands are getting killed at the hands of Maximilian Robespierre, in association with "The Committee of Public Safety". The guillotine is introduced as the new and equal way of executing people. This period of time was called the "Reign of Terror" because so many people were afriad they would be sent to the guillotine for no good reason. -
Napoleon Rises as New Emperor of France
Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France in 1804. He passes the Napoleonic Code which granted people with more food and land. He was very well liked. -
Napoleon's Reign Ends
Napoleon fails to take over Russia and from there, his reign begins to decline. He dies in 1821
