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Third Estate declares themselves the National Assembly.
The French Revolution initially occurred when the Third Estate, or the Commoners, felt they weren't getting as much representation as they deserve in the Estates General. Three social ranks existed in France; The Clergy, Nobility and the Commoners. The Clergy and Nobility were given special privileges and were exempt from most of their taxes, leaving the Commoners to pay it all. They left the Estates General and started the National Assembly to write a new constitution for France. -
The Bastille is raided.
Peasants and workers expected relief from taxes and poverty when the Estates General met but nothing occurred, leaving the citizens a bit angry. King Louis brought in troops and many people feared he was going to try to take down the National Assembly, so they stormed the Bastille. This attack represented the injustice that the French citizens have endured and inequality of the Old Regime or old style of government. -
The Constitution of the Clergy is written.
The Constitution of the Clergy was written by the National Assembly to take away some of the Clergy's privileges. This document gave the government control of the Church and gave citizens the right to elect their bishops and priests.Because of this, The Church lost money and started selling their land; This leveled the playing field for the Commoners and was the stepping stone to getting the Third Estate equal rights. -
The Constitution of 1791 is written.
The National Assembly finally finished their work on a new constitution for France. This constitution made France a limited monarchy and set up separation of powers. It also granted equal rights and erased all distinctions between the Estates. -
Napoleon because the First Consul of France.
Napoleon found that many people were dissatisfied with the current government and set out to change that. Napoleon, and the help of loyal troops and some directors, overthrew the Directory which was a government established in 1795. Napoleon and his people already created a new constitution and Napoleon was named First Consul. Over the next few years, Napoleon would gain almost absolute power and continue reforms from the Revolution. -
The Revolution of 1848
Louis Philippe was chosen to become king once Charles X fled to England during the July Revolution. adopted the same policies that got Charles X abdicated. Louis favored the wealthy and most citizens didn’t earn the right to vote. Socialism became a rising theory, but Louis rejected it. Francois Guizot cancelled an important banquet and people became belligerent. Louis dismissed Guizot, but the rioting continued. Louis fled to England soon after. This revolution led to the Second Republic. -
The Congress of Vienna restores balance of power.
The Congress of Vienna rebuilt the balance of power and in doing so also prevented future French aggression. To do this, the congress reduced France to its 1790 borders and gave power back to the royal families that lost their thrones when Napoleon conquered Europe. -
The July Revolution
Once Louis died, Charles X inherited the throne. He supported the clergy and nobles, and issued laws that dissolved the legislature, ended freedom of press, and put new restrictions on the right to vote. On July 28th, workers, middle-class liberals and college students broke out into riots. They set up barriars in the streets, and the soldiers refused to fire at them but instead they joined the rebellion. Charles X fled to England. This lead to Louis Philippe being chosen as France's new king. -
Germany's attempt in unification
Delegates from the German states met in
Frankfurt as a national parliament to work on German unity. Soon after they issued a constitution that stated that german states would have to give up their individual powers to a central government. The delegates offered the crown to Frederick William Iv but he rejected it because it wasn’t offered to him by a prince but instead by the people. Frederick William then sent an army to disband the parliament and ended the attempt of German Unification. -
The Second Republic
After Louis fled to England like Charles X, Leaders of the revolution created the Second Republic. This new government created workshops that provided jobs for the unemployed, but in 1848 the National Assembly abolished them due to high taxes. After that day almost 10,000 workers freaked out and revolted against the change. The N.A. issued a new consititution afterwards that guaranteed luberty and established an elected legislature and president. It also added that all men could vote.