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The financial crisis seen during the French Revolution was caused by unfair taxes, bad harvest, and war. The tax system in the Old Regime places the majority of the burden on the Third Estate. This system meant that France was unable to collect enough taxes to stay out of debt. Due to colder climates, France faced seasons of bad harvest which led to famine. Lastly, the many wars fought by France helped the country go further into debt.
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In 1789, King Louis XVI called the Estates General for the first time since 1614. He called this meeting because he was facing large financial problems and wanted to seek help.
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After the Third Estate was locked out of the Estates General, they moved to a nearby tennis court to form their own assembly. While there, they vowed the Tennis Court Oath which stated; "not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require until the constitution of the kingdom is established".
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Soon after the Third Estate formed the National Assembly, members of the clergy and nobility began to join them. Later, Louis XVI recognized the National Assembly.
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Revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, a prison in Paris, in order to collect gunpowder. This revolt occurred out of fear that Louis XVI's troops in France were going to attack the people. Revolutionaries were able to enter the prison and collect gunpowder and release the prisoners being held there.
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The Great Fear was a general panic in the Third Estate. Many people were scared that nobles were going to attack members of the Third Estate. This fear caused peasants to riot, attack nobles, and destroy feudal documents.
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This document outlined many different rights that the people of France should have. For example, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and separation of powers. This event was very important because it was the first step towards France having a Constitution.
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In this event, thousands of women marched from Paris to Versailles in order to express their anger to the King. People marched for different reasons, but the most common was anger over the high price of food and high unemployment.
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The National Assembly created a constitution. They allowed a monarchy to exist, but supreme power rested in the Legislative Assembly. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was the introduction to the Constitution.
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This time period was filled with violence and fear. In Paris, large numbers of people were executed for being enemies of the Revolution. The Committee of Public Safety controlled the government and was responsible for the death and destruction seen during this time.
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Revolutionaries in the Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria in order to unify their country. They believed war would support nationalism. Another goal they had was to spread the ideas of the French Revolution all over Europe. The people of France also supported the idea of war because they believed that he new Legislative Assmebly would fall and the Old Regime would be restored.
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Louis XVI was convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers and sentenced to death by the French National Convention. One day after being convicted, Louis XVI was executed at the guillotine.
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A French constitution, called The Constitution of the Year III, established the Directory. The Directory had 2 parts: The Council of Five Hundred (Conseil de Cinq-Cents) which proposed legislation and The Council of Ancients (Conseil des Anciens) who could veto or accept the proposed legislation. The Council of Ancients also selected the five Directors. The Directors had the power to choose government ministers, ambassadors, army generals, tax collectors, and other officials.
