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The meeting with the Estates-General consists of representatives from the first, second, and third estates gathering several times to disclose concerns and ideas. Initially, the group was to reform France’s political and economic systems. Usually, the clergy and nobility would vote, followed by the commoners. This would automatically give them a disadvantage in voting, which would initiate the start of the National Assembly and play a big role in the birth of the French Revolution. -
Because of the various disputes that went on during the convention with the estates, Louis XVI closed down the area where representatives of the third estate, or the national assembly, met for discussion. This led to the group finding a tennis court where they would devise a plan and a new constitution. -
The National Assembly was initially made up of the third estate but grew to include clergy and nobles. The group focused on limiting the power of the king, fixing taxation, and governed the area as a collective. However, constant threats from opposing nations were detrimental to the reformation of France. Additionally, the economy was in horrendously terrible conditions. These factors led to the termination of the National Assembly on September 30, 1791. -
Citizens of France were beginning to grow impatient with the royals because of the incompatibility with the reformation. The death of Jacques Necker, a minister who favored the National Assembly, fueled the third estate resentment towards the monarchs. On July 14, the Bastille Prison was raided by townspeople who captured weapons, such as muskets, for protection in the city. The event enabled France’s citizens to gain the courage to overthrow the monarchy and aid the French Revolution. -
Commoners' main source of profit was plummeting due to terrible harvesting conditions. Since the economy was going down in shambles, the price of bread went up in hopes of solving the problem. A group of women grew restless of the high price of bread and the limited amount of resources. After the countless protests, on October 5, women marched to Versailles from Paris and attacked the guards to target the monarchs. As a result, the monarchs came back to satisfy the needs of the people. -
In response to the violent protests from the townspeople, Louis XVI plotted a plan to protect his family: going to Austria to live with assistance from Marie’s family since they were royalty. Disguised, Louis and his family fled to Varennes after exiting the Tuileries Palace on June 20. They were spotted and sent back to Paris. The revolutionaries found that the monarchs weren't trustworthy and even more growing tensions within the city produced. The constitution and the king's fall would arise. -
The French Revolutionary War was powered off by the revolutionist desires of a politically stable government and the monarch's betrayal. The revolutionist felt that Austria had aided them and wanted to take it to the battlefield. Other European countries such as Prussia and Brunswick all eventually engaged in the decade-long battle. The war concluded when Napoleon defeated Austria during his few campaigns. The coalition had been dissolved after previously causing more violence in the nation. -
The French national anthem titled “La Marseillaise” was written during the perilous period of the Revolution held in France. It came about as France decided on its conflict with Austria. Strasbourg’s Mayor requested a marching song for the soldiers, which was when Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle crafted the song in a single night. This song represented France’s and would later become one of the most known war songs by all.
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The hatred for Louis XVI grew substantially for the king. As the people of France found out about his “connections” with Austria, he was put on trial for treason. He was put on the death penalty as a result of the majority rule vote. On January 21, he faced the walk of shame to the guillotine, while the townsfolk cheered him on. People became more ambitious and aggressive as the constraints of the monarchs were no longer present. -
On April 6, the Committee of Public Safety was created as a reaction to the various wars. This group was formed by several elected individuals that were picked by the National Convention each month. The sole purpose of this committee was to ensure the security of France and to organize the government. Among the several men, Maximilien Robespierre would make the greatest impact on the counter-revolutionist by making the city a bloodbath. -
Marie Antoinette encouraged the acts of the counter-reformation, as well as played a significant role in the debt of the nation. Since she was associated with the king, she was also resented greatly. Jacobins and Robespierre both heavily influenced the opening of her trial. On October 16, Marie Antoinette was beheaded assuring the freedom of the people. -
Prior to the rain of terror was the government takeover by the National Convention. A difference in ideas developed warlike procedures as France was controlled by bloodthirsty officials. Robespierre was the leader of the Committee of Public Safety at the time, so he supported the decision to initiate terror to all opposing the Revolution. In hopes of completing the Revolution, dictatorial control over the government was implemented. Thousands of people were executed and mercilessly murdered. -
Robespierre was a strict, unsympathetic leader who revolved around politics. He believed that a man had to act as a superior figure to further strengthen the Revolution, which started the “Reign of Terror”. During a period in the summer, Robespierre went missing in action and the convection devised a plan to get him out of the group. After many disputes in the office, he would get the death penalty. On July 28, Robespierre gained cheers from people as he was positioned under the guillotine. -
The French directory was a 5-member section of government formed by the new constitution enacted in November of 1795. It was made up of several selected men that chose government officials and protected the revolutionaries. Because of their similarity to the previous National Assembly group, there were inadequate funds that developed into a more serious problem financially. Still, France’s economy was restored, education systems were advanced, and the Napoleonic period was to come. -
After the fall of the Directory, the group was very weak in power due to witnessing several financial disadvantages. Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the consulates at the time, overthrew the group as a response to the failing system. He implanted a coup d’état in France’s government as well as a system of despotism, which was also controlled by Emmanuel Joseph Sieyés and Roger Duclos. This marked the end of the French Revolution.