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the enlightenment
the enlightenment was a cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century of europe, in order to reform society and advance knowledge. European writers during that time were also criticizing the monarchy, with their liberal, national, democratic ideas. It was sparked by philosophers, Isaac newton, Baruch spinoza, John Locke, Pierre bayle; and many others. -
Seven years war
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines. The war began from antagonisim revolving between great brittain, france, and spain. -
The moderate phase
Political crisis happened, causing a revolt. During this time it started the great fear, starving peasants in the country which took their frustration out on nobles and their property. They did this by stealing their food, and burning down their houses. The national assembly occurred later on, feudalisim is abolished, and nobles vote to end their own priveleges. The start of declaration for the rights of man began. -
national assembly
Estates-General had been called on May 5th 1789 to deal with France's financial crisis, but promptly fell to squabbling over its own structure. Its members had been elected to represent the estates of the realm: the First Estate (the clergy), the Second Estate (the nobility) and the Third Estate (which, in theory, represented all of the commoners and, in practice, represented the bourgeoisie). -
the third stage
The Third Estate, stood by their solemn oath and refused to yield to Louis demands. In an effort to reach some kind of compromise, on June 27, Louis ordered the clergy and nobility to join the Third Estate. Of course, some members of both Estates had already done so but the vast majority refused. I suppose Louis figured that he could control the Third Estate if it were simply a part of a larger body, but his plan clearly back-fired. -
the bastille
the beginning of July, Paris had reached a high level of tension. After all, the convocation of the Estates General had aroused hope for much-needed reform. But meanwhile, the price of bread was soaring. For example, in August 1788, 50%of a peasant or urban workers income went toward the purchase of bread. By July 1789, this figure had risen to 80%. To compound the situation, there was a growing fear of an aristocratic plot against the National Assembly. -
the constitution
The short-lived French Constitution of 1791 was the second written constitution of France. One of the basic precepts of the revolution was adopting constitutionality and establishing popular sovereignty, following the steps of the United States of America
In the summer of 1789, the French National Assembly began the process of drafting a constitution. The Declaration of the Rights of Man, adopted on 26 August 1789 eventually became the preamble of the constitution adopted in 3 September 1791. -
the royal escape
But on June 20, 1791, Louis XVI did something which earned him the general distrust of most French subjects. He planned to raise an army and crush the revolution. He appealed to Leopold II, the brother of Marie Antoinette, who promised Louis Austrian troops if Louis could reach Montmédy and mobilize a sizable French force. Louis did not intend to leave France except as a last resort. -
the radical stage
The National Convention, divided by the moderate Girondins
and the radical Jacobins, was the place where the future of
the country was to be eventually determined. It was the
premise of the Jacobins that they should eradicate the
"enemy within" and secure the destiny of the revolution
through the destruction of counter-revolutionary forces.
