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The Estates-General are a general assembly representing the French Estates of the kingdom: the First Estate, the clergy, Second Estate, the nobility, and Third Estate, the plebeians. -
The Third Estate who in 1789 declarate themselves representatives on the nation. Later known as National Constituent Assembly. -
The Batille was seized by a mob during the French Revolution, becoming an important symbol of the French republican movement. -
The moderate bourgeoisie tried to reach an agreement with the king, to do this, the National Constituent Assembly:
-Abolished feudalism and approved the Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
-Drew up a constitution (1791) based on the separation of powers, national sovereignty and legal equality.
After this, a legislative assembly was formed, this drafted new laws to implement liberalism, forced the nobility to pay taxes and abolished the guilds.
This was established in 1791. -
After the betrayal by the king and the military invasion the sans-culottes stormed Tuileiries Palece and imprisioned the royal family. A republic was declared.
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The Girondins, controlled the Republic. A new assembly was elected by universal male suffrag, Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoniette were execute (1793). In response to the king's death, monarchies in Europe formed absoulutist coalition against France. -
The moderate bourgeoisie took back the control of the Revolution. A new constitution granted executive power to a collegial govermen, know as the Directory. The Directory was permanently unstable. -
The Jacobins seized the power and create a new constitution that recognished popular sovereingnty and the right to social equality. this gave the power to Jacobin leader Robespierre.
Also, the Reign of Terror was imposed in which, the people opposed to the goverment were exection by guillotine. Finally, in 1794 Robespierre and other Jacobin leaders were executed by guillotine. -
Napoleon Bonaparte organised a coup that ended with the Directory -
France fought all the mayor European powers.
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He made himself sole consul for life. -
He was crowned as emperor in Rome -
Important reforms:
Made all citizens to pay taxes and created the National Bank of France.
Lyceé system of education.
Abolition of feudalism.
Freedom of religion.
Code Napoleon, this consist in a new law equal for everyone and based on the principles of the French Revolution.
Napoleon expanded this reforms in Europe. -
He defeated and won Austria and Russia. -
Napoleon set a maritime blockage against Great Britain
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He invaded spain and placed his brother Joseph, as king. -
Opposittion to Napoleon grew among the conquered and allied peoples of Europe, who were developing a sense of nationalism. for example, in Spain, that fought the Spanish War of Independence (1808- 1814).
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Napoleon sent an army of 500.000 men to Russia, less than 100.000 French returned from Russia.
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Napoleon was sent to exile into the island of Saint Helena.
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Great Britain and Prussia defeated Napoleon in the war of Waterloo.