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Louis the XVI Calls the Estates General
Before King Louis XVI called the Estates General, France was going through an economic downfall. All the tax burden was going down to the Third Estate. Chaos was running through the streets. Due to this chaos, the Estates General was called for a meeting to resolve this issue. Maximillien was representing the Third Estate. He said that everyone should pay the same amount of taxes. The king rejected this idea and continued running the country the same way which caused the Tennis Court Oath. -
The Tennis Court Oath/ Creation of National Assembly
On 20 June 1789, the members of the Third Estate, who started to call themselves the National Assembly took the Tennis Court Oath, yelling not to separate, and to stay together until the constitution of the kingdom is established. This was a vital event in the early days of the French Revolution. It created the Constitution which would make France the country it is today. -
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Causes of the French Revolution
King Louis XIV was a very ineffective ruler due to his choice to put all the tax burden on the lowest class. There was a conflict between the nobility about the reform of the tax system which eventually led to paralysis and bankruptcy. The country was also going through an economic downfall which lead to food shortages and chaos in the streets. -
Parsians Storm the Bastille
A state prison on the east side of Paris also known as the Bastille was attacked by Persians. The bastille was a 30 metre tall building, it dominated the Parisian skyline. They attacked the Bastille because of all the ammunition stored in the prison walls. The mob first talked to the Governor, but he did not comply with them, so he was killed and his head was carried around the streets on a spike. This was important because the bastille was a symbol of the Kings arbitrary power. -
Writing of the Declarartion of the Rights of Men
The Declaration of Rights of Men was a critical document in the French Revolution. It was passed by France's National Constituent Assembly and includes 17 articles that are valid at all times and in every place which connect to human nature itself. This document influenced the start of freedom and democracy worldwide. This was inspired by the American Revolution and from many philosophers. This document recognizes women rights that have been lost in the past. -
Aftermath and Napolean
The French revolution had contributed to Napoleon Bonaparte to power without which he would have died as a common man. His power destroyed the congregative class, but opened many opportunities to talented individuals like Napoleon. French revolution started in 1789 & brought political & economic changes in the history in France, The impacts were both positive and negative. For example, on the positive side there was the impact of Rights of man. On negative side it was Loss of lives and property. -
Establishment of the New Constitution
On June 20th, 1789 the National Assembly gathered in the Versailles tennis court and set the mindset of not breaking up till France had a functional constitution. A functional constitution would define the authority, structure and powers of the new government, It was confirmed in September of that year. The process was long and difficult, allot of people had different opinions, but at the end It was made official. -
Execution Of the King and Queen/ Beginning of the Reign of Terror
France needed to resolve and contempt for the monarchy, so the next National Convection was the execution of Louis XVI. The moderates objected and forced a trial but King Louis XVI was found guilty of treason, on January 21,1793 he was executed at the guillotine. On October 16, 1793 his wife Marie Antoinette had met the same fate. The reign of terror was when the Government was trying to create a republic. It was controlled by the Committee of Public Safety. The Jacobins ran the country. -
Committee of Public Safety
The Committee of Public Safety was set on April 6th, 1793. During the crises of the revolution when France was being threatened by foreign and civil war. This committee was to provide defense for the nation and to oversee the existing organs to executive government. At first it started with 9 people, but after it increased to 12 which was then elected by National Convention. From April to July 1793, the committee of public safety was dominated by Georgas Danton. -
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The Great Terror and the Execution of Maximillien Robespierre
The Great Terror was time span of violence which consisted of political conflicts with the Girondins and The Jacobin's. Thousands of people were killed and executed throughout France. Conflicts between the Girondins and Jacobin's eventually led to the mass execution of the Girondins before the Great Terror. Maximillien's views changed throughout this terror because he went from dominating the Committee of Public Terror to becoming the Principle organ of the Revolutionary government. -
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The Directory
The French Directory was a committee consisting of five members which governed France for four years. It was constantly at war with foreign countries such as Austria, Britain, Prussia and other nations. The countries that it defeated at war were forced to send France huge amounts of money and treasures which were used to fill museums. The French economy was continuing to struggle with economy during the Directory. -
Napolean Overthrows the Directory
Napoleon Bonaparte was the hero of the Italian campaign. He was enrolled in the French military and the Emperor of the French who defeated Europe and the global affairs it had for over a decade. Napoleon wasn't content with the Directory because it was very much corrupted. So when he returned from his Egyptian Expedition, he took his army and many government members to the Directory. He eventually defeated the Directory on Nov.9,1799 and established a consulate. -
Napolean Builds an Empire
Napoleon proved himself to be a very good military leader between the years of 1804-1812. Napoleon was a man who took man risks and some of those risks resulted in great losses, Because of that, In 1810 to 1811, Napoleon built an empire which enlarged France, But also swallowed Belgium, Holland, parts of Germany and a Italian coast all the way to Rome. Not only that but he made it also expand to various puppet nations that was also ruled by Napolean. -
Napolean Defeated at Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo, which took place in Belgium on June 18, 1815 marked the final loss of the French military leader which was Napoleon Bonaparte, who had conquered much of Europe's continent in the early 19th century. He lost against in the Seventh Coalition.