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Birth of the French Revolution
The French Revolution officially started in the year of 1789 with the month and day unknown caused by the financial downfall and dissatisfaction of the French Monarchy. The ruling king at the time Louis XVI faced hostile opposition from provincial parlements who disagreed with the monarchy. The loss in political power led to deregulation of the grain market which led to a inflation of bread prices. The inflation led the revolt due to citizens not being able to feed their families and themselves. -
Calling of the Estates Genral
King Louis XIV was in a economic downfall and his citizens started a uproar so Kind Louis called the Estates General. All three estates came were summoned and no progress was made to the solution of the first item on the agenda. It would be decided as a vote for what would work and all was ended when the third estate (common folk) formed a nation assembly which invited the other 2 estates to join to overthrow the king which added fuel to the fire officially starting the French Revolution -
Jacques Necker's dismissal
King Louis XIV ordered troops to surround Paris and dismissed his popular finance minister Jacques Necker, The Parisians quickly assumed this was to overthrow the National Constituent Assembly. Which led them to the Bastille. -
Storming of the Bastille
The giant fortress which is also known as a political prison and armory was raided by Parisians Revolutionaries who tore brick by brick down until ruble remained of the symbol of abused monarchy known as the bastille. The National assembly formally known as the third estate was tired of being abused by the first and second estate by raised taxes and inequality that it took no weapons or formations for them to take down the monarchy due to the gigantic ratio of third estate to first and second. -
Formation of The Tennis Court Oath
The third estate which took the name Nation Assembly upon themselves swore a oath to "never separate and to reassemble wherever needed until the constitution of the kingdom is established" For the first time french families and citizens stood firmly against the kings commands and fought back. This is seen as a pivotal event of the French Revolution. The National assembly was led by a man named Comte de Mirabeau who became the voice of the people and listened to the concerns of the citizens. -
Declaration of The Rights of Men
In August 1789 the Declaration of the Rights of Men was passed by France's national Constituent Assembly. The declaration was heavily impacted by Thomas Jefferson who introduced it to the crowds. The document had articles stating new laws from 1-17. Many helped make everyone more equal and changed unfair laws to more American styled equality. The rights however did not change anything about slavery or women's rights -
Short Lived New Constitution
The French constitution of 1791 was the very first written constitution after the monarchy collapsed. The constitution members were quickly replaced after not progressing by 5 members of the Third Estate. The largest argument was the idea of citizenship which in the end was held between active citizens. The conclusion was not acceptable by deputy Maximillien Robespierre and others and so they could never be back on friendly terms to the constitution of 1791 -
Execution of the King
A major event of the French Revolution was when King Louis XIV was executed by the guillotine. After a majority was taken when he was captured. King Louis XIV was the first victim of the Reign of Terror. The queen Marie Antoinette was later executed on 16th October 1793. The Reign of terror which started after the execution of King Louis XIV was inflicted by two major political parties the Jacobins and the Girondins which held mass executions of the enemies of the revolution tolling 15000+ dead -
Committee of Public Safety
The committee of Public Safety was seen as the most lethal act in the french revolution. Georges Danton was the one who brought the idea forward as was so influential that it is seen as the Danton Committee. The point of the committee was to insure the safety of the people and put the committee in charge of the army. Danton and his men were replaced by more radical men among them maximillien. Under the committees those who opposed the revolution by execution by guillotine.Dissent led to problems -
Reign of Terror
Robespierre was firmly against the death penalty and defended the principle that the rights of man should extend to all men including the slaves and poor. Because of his place in politics many of the poor people who overwhelmed the richer in numbers stood behind Robespierre. After 1792 France was still recovering and many still tried to revolt against constitution and the people in power. Robespierre feared counter revolution and his statements started becoming unpopular and he was isolated. -
Reign of Terror Continued
By the summer of 1792 Robespierre realized the French army was far from victory and was disorganized and inexperienced. Many people thought Robespierre spoke for them and through events France became a republic in Sept 1792. The Jacobins in Pierre identified with violence as popular and used it often. King Louis XIV's death was justified by Robespierre to make and end. Robespierre was eventually overthrown due to unjustified actions and conspiracy's and him and his men were executed the next day -
The Directory
The directory was made of 5 men and replaced the committee of public safety until it was took down by Napoleon Bonaparte. The directory was at war continuously and conquered many enemies and took the treasures. The directory also focused on ending the mass executions and exiled priests and royalists were brought back. French military position was restored from many battles and when Napoleon came back he placed a coup from Nov 8-9 1799 and abolished the directory. -
Aftermath of French Revoluton
The French Revolution had many results, the bourgeois and landowning citizens came out as the dominant power. Military hierarchy died and social order remained. The Revolution helped unify France and increase general happiness and the power of the national state. The Napolenonic Wars took down the old structure of Europe and rushed the modern era. Most agree that The French Revolution had a impact of the making of the modern world -
Rise Of Napoleon
In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte came back from a defeat in a Egyptian mission. Bonaparte was already formally known from being a great strategist whom also gained a lot of respect through stories of his bravery and courage on the battlefield. Even though he lost many battles in Egypt he came back to a feast were he was praised, and with his army he put together a coup which abolished the directory and established the consulate. By 1800 napoleon was the First Consul of France and had total power. -
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Napoleonic Wars
(Napoleon overthrows the directory already explain) Napoleon built himself a empire conquering Europe. He was defeated in 1814 and he fought about 60 battles and only lost 7 which were towards the end on his defeat. Napoleon's army collapsed after the invasion of Russia the war of 1812. Napoleons army was defeated by Russia's winter and army. Napoleon will always be known as a great strategist who used unpopular ways to conquer his enemies in his battles. -
Defeat of the Great Genral
Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo which is known as Belgium today. Napoleons army was defeated by 2 armies of the 7th coalition (made of states that opposed him). Napoleon tried sending attacks before the armies could get organized and attack but all three of his desperate attacks failed. When the armies invaded Napoleons rule as emperor ended and Napoleon was exiled and died May 5th 1821 -
