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INTRODUCTION
The French Revolution is a remarkable event in French history. During this period of time, French citizens managed to overthrow monarchy and feudalism, which had been present in the country for centuries. -
CAUSES
French society in the 18th century was extremely unfair. A small group of people lived in luxury while up to 98% of the population struggled to survive. People were infuriated because France had spent a lot of money supporting the American Revolution and the country on bankruptcy. Bread was tremendously expensive and people couldn’t afford it anymore. People rioted, looted and went on strike to protest about the situation. -
THE MONARCHY’S CRITICAL STATE
In 1789 Louis needed to reform the tax system of the country to pay his debt. He couldn’t solve France’s problems by himself and had to summon the Estates General. -
ESTATES GENERAL
It was an assembly formed by members of all states. Each body had a vote, so the clergy and nobility could easily cooperate to outvote the bourgeoisie. The delegates of the third state thought that this was unfair, because they represented almost all the population. -
THE RISE OF THE THIRD ESTATE
The third estate wanted to change the unfair situation regarding the votes of the Estates General. They mobilized support for the abolishment of the voting by status. Instead, they wanted votes to be individual. -
CREATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
The debate about the voting system ended up in hostility between the estates, so when the Estates General met, they were unable to reach an agreement. The third estate met on their own and decided to create the National Assembly to write a constitution for the nation. They invited the other estates and the clergy joined. -
THE TENNIS COURT OATH
One day, soldiers stopped the Assembly from meeting in the usual room. The delegates moved to a nearby tennis court and vowed not to leave the place until they had written a constitution they agreed on. This is called the Tennis Court Oath. -
THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Within a week, most of the clerical deputies and 47 liberal nobles had joined them, and on June 27 Louis XVI resentfully accepted the new National Assembly. -
CAUSE OF THE STORMING OF THE BASTILLE
Although Parisians were enthusiastic about the recent events that occurred, the situation was still tense. Food prices rose each day and the King had brought more soldiers to Paris to maintain order. Parisians panicked as rumors about a military coup started to circulate. -
STORMING OF THE BASTILLE
Rioters stormed the Bastille, a prison that symbolized the abuse of power of the absolute monarchs, looking for gunpowder and weapons. Soldiers left the army and joined the protests. They killed the prison governor and freed prisoners. -
THE NEW GOVERNMENT SYSTEM
After the storming of the Bastille, Louis and the National Assembly shared the power. The Assembly wanted a constitutional monarchy. -
END OF FEUDALISM
Peasants were starving in the countryside due to poor harvests and cattle disease. There were rumors that nobles planned to attack them, so they formed a militia to protect themselves, and attacked nobles. To calm things down, the National Assembly abolished the feudal privileges of the nobles and clergy. -
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS OF MAN AND THE CITIZEN
In 1789 Marquis de Lafayette wrote the Declaration of Rights of Man and the Citizen. It was inspired by the Enlightenment. The declaration was included in the constitution of 30 September 1971. -
WOMEN'S MARCH TO VERSAILLES
Thousands of women marched to Versailles to complain about the price of bread and many people joined them. The Royal family had to go to Paris with them and they were forced to stay at the Tuileries Palace. -
THE FLIGHT TO VARENNES
Louis tried to escape from Paris to form an army and take back power. The whole Royal Family escaped and almost succeeded. However, they were seen at Varennes and taken back to Paris. -
LOUIS IS ACCUSED OF TREASON
By trying to escape, he showed that he didn’t support the Revolution. Many people changed their point of view and now wanted a republic. Louis XVI was accused of Treason. -
THE FRENCH CONSTITUTION OF 1791
The new constitution of France created a constitutional monarchy based on popular sovereignty and separation of powers. However, citizens without property and women had much less rights. -
POLITICAL CLUBS
Many people joined political clubs during the Revolution. The Jacobins were radical, and their main rivals were the Girondins, who were more moderate. -
THE REVOLUTION BECOMES RADICAL
The Revolution became much more radical. Mainly because France was at war with many European countries that didn’t want the revolution to spread to their territory. -
PRUSSIAN INVASION OF FRANCE
Prussia invaded France to defend Louis. In response Parisians demanded Louis to abdicate. They attacked Tuileries, and the National Assembly took away his power. -
THE JACOBINS TAKE CONTROL
Ordinary Parisians thought that there was a plan to restore the monarchy. They blamed the Girondins. The Jacobins took control over the situation with the help of ordinary people. -
END OF THE MONARCHY
The monarchy was abolished and France became a republic. Louis was found guilty of treason and executed. -
THE REIGN OF TERROR
The Reign of Terror started in 1793. Maximilien Robespierre led the Jacobins. During a year, over 40,000 people were killed for opposing the revolution or criticizing it. In 1794, Robespierre was executed for being a tyrant and the Reign of Terror ended. -
THE DEATH OF MARAT
The Jacobins wanted to eliminate the Girondins, so they accused them of murdering the Jacobin Leader Jean-Paul Marat. They were charged for treason and executed. The Reign of Terror started. -
EXECUTION OF LOUIS XVI
Louis XVI was found guilty of treason and executed with the guillotine on 21 January 1793. -
EXECUTION OF ROBESPIERRE
Robespierre was executed on 28 January 1794, which ended the Reign of Terror. -
THERMIDORIAN REACTION
The death of Robespierre marked the beginning of the Thermidorian Reaction, a moderate phase in which the French people revolted against the Reign of Terror’s excesses. -
THE NEW CONSTITUTION
On August 22, 1795, the National Convention, composed largely of Girondins who had survived the Reign of Terror, approved a new constitution that created France’s first bicameral government. Executive power lied in the hands of a five-member Directory appointed by the parliament. -
NAPOLEON’S RISE
Napoleon was disgusted with the government, so he staged a coup to become leader. His plan succeeded, and no one was hurt. He appointed himself France’s first consul. -
END OF THE REVOLUTION
With Napoleon’s rise to power, the French Revolution came to an end. The Napoleonic era had started.