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France's population was split into three estates. The First Estate was made up of the clergy and were very wealthy. The Second Estate was made up of nobility who were wel off. Finally, the third estate was made up of the rest of the population.
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Royalty spent boatloads of France's money buying luxuries and fighting wars. Also, in 1780 there was a bad harvest that sent prices skyward.
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The Estates General convened, but did not make any ground because they could not agree on how to vote. This is because even thought the Third Estate was made up of the majority of the population, they were sitll outvoted by the Second and Third Estates.
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The National Assembly was born under the Tennis Court Oath. This stating that they would not leave until they had made a new constitution.
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800 Parisians gathered to attack the Bastille. The people wanted the weapons and gunpower it held. After the battle, the Bastille was torn down brick by brick. The Bastille represented the abusive monarch to the people, this attack represented the fallen tolerance of the monarch.
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The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was passed. Stating the every frenchman is equal. The declaration did not mention women nor the king. Louis XVI did not want to accept the reforms because it had not once mentioned the king.
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6 thousand women marched 13 miles to make the king return to Paris.
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The National Assembly placed the Frech Catholic Church under state control. The Civil Constitutiion of the Clergy took away the governmental influence that the church had.
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The king of Prussia, emperor of Austria, and Marie Antoinette's brother, stated that he would protect the French Monarchy.
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The National Assembly creates a constitution. It made the monarchy limited. It also made the Legislative Assembly. This, collected taxes, made laws, and made war decisions. It also states that a 25-year-old man could vote.
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The Legistlative Assembly took office. There were many different groups withing the Assembly fighting for power. All the while, economic troubles renewed the turmoil in the people.
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War is declared on Austria, Prussia, and Great Britain. Within the war there are multiple battles fought between France and the other countries.
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Parisians storm the royal palace killing all of the royal guards believing that the king was in league with the enemies. They royal family, however, managed to escape.
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The king was executed by his people for betraying France.
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The people of France began to feel pride for their country. This rather than the monarchy that ruled. This was a new conept for people, and spread out from France.
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Robespierre, fearing the potential threats that Great Britain, Prussia, and Austria held, started the Reign of Terror. Any person that could seem to be a traitor was executed. The guillotine became the symbol of terror. It ended with the execution of Robespirrer.
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Another constitution was made. This set up a 5 man directory and a 2-house legislature. Also, it gave back the right to vote to the people.
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The Directory held power. Since the war still continued with Austria and Great Britain, the bread prices began to raise angering people. In the election of 17997 the majority voted for a constitutional monarchy.