The French Revolution
The French Revolution had many different factors that effected it. It was caused by many years of oppression and mismanagement from the French society that began to revolt.At this point in time France was thought of as one of the most advanced countries of Europe. They had a large population and were very prosperous in trade. France was the center of the Enlightenment. France was praised and intimidated by the world. Although France seemed to be successful it was actually in a bad state. This was due to bad harveests, high prices, high taxes and disturbing thoughts and questions that had risen from the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers of Locke, Rousseau, and Voltaire.
France's Social and Political System
France's social and political system was called the Old Regime. In this system, the people of France were divided into 3 social classes which were called estates. Two of the three estates were very privileged. These privileges were not offered to the third estate. The clergy of the Roman Catholic Church made up the First Estate. They owned 10 percent of the land in France and made up about 1 percent of France's population. The Second Estate was made up of rich nobles. They made up 2 percent of the population and owned 20 percent of Frances land. The Third Estate was made up the rest of France's population. This estate made up 97 percent of the population. The Third Estate was divided into 3 groups; the Bourgeoisie, the Urban Middle Class, and Peasant Farmers. A majority of the clergy and the nobility opposed the Enlightenment ideas because they threatened their status and power as privileged people but, the Third Estate was eager for change.
Change in France
Along with the change in the estates France had many other contributors to its revolution. The new ideas about government, economic problems and weak leadership helped to create a desire for change. As the ideas of government began to spread around the Third Estate, people of this social class began to question the structure of society. They began to demand equality, liberty, and democracy.
France's economy was declining. This alarmed merchants, factory owners, and bankers of the Third Estate. To a blind eye, the economy seemed to be fine but taxes made it hard to profit about of products. In the 1780s bad weather caused crop failure and this led to a shortage of grain. Later the price of bread doubled and may people began to face starvation.
France's government started to sink deeply into debt during the 1770s and 1780s. The extravagant spending of King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette were part of the problem. There was also a considerable amount of debt that was inherited from previous kings. Louis XVI borrowed a large amount of money to help out the American revolutionaries against Great Britain. This doubled the governments debt. In 1876, the bankers refused to lend the government anymore money; Louis began to face many problems.
If the French had strong leadership at this time then things may have been different. King Louis XVI was very indecisive; he paid little attention to his governmental advisers, and was very impatient with his details of governing. King Louis's wife, Marie only added to his problems. Marie was given the name "Madame Deficit". for spending so much money on gowns, jewels and other miscellaneous things. Having to later deal with the spending problems, all the king did was impose taxes on the nobility. This caused the Second Estate to force the king to call a meeting of the Estates-General.
France's economy was declining. This alarmed merchants, factory owners, and bankers of the Third Estate. To a blind eye, the economy seemed to be fine but taxes made it hard to profit about of products. In the 1780s bad weather caused crop failure and this led to a shortage of grain. Later the price of bread doubled and may people began to face starvation.
France's government started to sink deeply into debt during the 1770s and 1780s. The extravagant spending of King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette were part of the problem. There was also a considerable amount of debt that was inherited from previous kings. Louis XVI borrowed a large amount of money to help out the American revolutionaries against Great Britain. This doubled the governments debt. In 1876, the bankers refused to lend the government anymore money; Louis began to face many problems.
If the French had strong leadership at this time then things may have been different. King Louis XVI was very indecisive; he paid little attention to his governmental advisers, and was very impatient with his details of governing. King Louis's wife, Marie only added to his problems. Marie was given the name "Madame Deficit". for spending so much money on gowns, jewels and other miscellaneous things. Having to later deal with the spending problems, all the king did was impose taxes on the nobility. This caused the Second Estate to force the king to call a meeting of the Estates-General.
The Revolution
The clergy and the nobles dominated the Estates-General throughout the Ages and expected to do so in the meeting..The Third Estate delegates saw the rules of the Estates-General to be unfair and were happy to make changes in the government. They insisted that all three estates meet together and each delegate have a vote. The king sided with the nobles but the Third Estate didn't quit. They became more determined to gain power.The delegates of the Third Estate became known as the National Assembly. When they couldn't get into their meeting room they broke into an indoor tennis court and stayed they until they made up a new constitution. This became know as the Tennis Court Oath.
Many people thought that Louis was going to use military force to dismiss the National Assembly. In reaction to this thought, people began to gather weapons in order to defend the city. On July 14, a mob searching for gunpowder and arms stormed the Bastille(a Paris prison). The fall of the Bastille became a symbol of revolution to the French.
Many people thought that Louis was going to use military force to dismiss the National Assembly. In reaction to this thought, people began to gather weapons in order to defend the city. On July 14, a mob searching for gunpowder and arms stormed the Bastille(a Paris prison). The fall of the Bastille became a symbol of revolution to the French.
The Great Fear
Rebellion spread all the way from Paris to the countryside. A wave of senseless fear know as the Great Fear came through France. Peasants soon became outlaws armed with pitchforks and farm tools. They broke into nobles' houses and destroyed legal papers that tied them to feudal lords.
Later on, Parisian women rioted over the price of bread. The women marched on to Versailles. They demanded the National Assembly help to provide bread. The women then stormed the palace and demanded that the King and Queen return to France. Soon after, the King,, his family, and his servants left. This signaled the change of power and radical reforms about to overtake France.
Later on, Parisian women rioted over the price of bread. The women marched on to Versailles. They demanded the National Assembly help to provide bread. The women then stormed the palace and demanded that the King and Queen return to France. Soon after, the King,, his family, and his servants left. This signaled the change of power and radical reforms about to overtake France.
Reforming of France
The National Assembly adopted a statement of revolutionary ideals, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This was influenced by eh Declaration of Independence.The document also guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech , and freedom of religion. With these principles the leaders adopted "Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity".
Many of the National Assembly's early reforms were related to the church. The Catholic Church lost both its lands and its political independence.Money from the Church's land helped to pay off France's debt. The actions that the assembly took alarmed the French peasants. They believed that the pope should rule over a church independent of the state. Many of the peasants opposed the assembly's reforms.
Many of the National Assembly's early reforms were related to the church. The Catholic Church lost both its lands and its political independence.Money from the Church's land helped to pay off France's debt. The actions that the assembly took alarmed the French peasants. They believed that the pope should rule over a church independent of the state. Many of the peasants opposed the assembly's reforms.
The Legislative Assembly
The National Assembly completed the new Constitution, King Louis XVI approved. This constitution created a limited monarchy. It also created a legislative body - The Legislative Assembly. They had the power to create laws and approve or reject declarations of war. The king still held power to enforce laws though.
With the new government, old problems remained in the system. These problems caused the Assembly to split into 3 general groups- Radicals, Moderates, and Conservatives.
With the new government, old problems remained in the system. These problems caused the Assembly to split into 3 general groups- Radicals, Moderates, and Conservatives.
War and Execution
Many other European countries feared that revolts like the ones in France would break out in their own countries. Austria and Prussia urged France to restore King Louis to his throne, the Legislative Assembly responded by declaring ware in April.
The war began baldy. On August 10, 20,000 men and women invaded the Tuileries, the palace where the royal families were staying. . The mob massacred the royal guards and imprisoned Louis, Marie Antoinette, and their children. The French troops that were defending Paris were sent to help the French army in the field.
The new governing body, the National Convention, took its place on September 21. It abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.
A majority of the people who were involved in the governmental changes were members of the radical group, The Jacobin Club. The Jacobins tried Louis for treason. By the Convention he was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was beheaded on January 21, 1793 by the guillotine-a popular form of execution during this time period.
During this time, The National Convention were still at war with Austria and Prussia. When the Convention came to office the French had just won a battle against the Austrians and Prussians at the Battle of Valmy. Later Great Britain, Holland and Spain joined Prussia and Austria is the fight against France. Having so many enemies put the French in a hard position and led them to a long line of defeats.
The war began baldy. On August 10, 20,000 men and women invaded the Tuileries, the palace where the royal families were staying. . The mob massacred the royal guards and imprisoned Louis, Marie Antoinette, and their children. The French troops that were defending Paris were sent to help the French army in the field.
The new governing body, the National Convention, took its place on September 21. It abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic.
A majority of the people who were involved in the governmental changes were members of the radical group, The Jacobin Club. The Jacobins tried Louis for treason. By the Convention he was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was beheaded on January 21, 1793 by the guillotine-a popular form of execution during this time period.
During this time, The National Convention were still at war with Austria and Prussia. When the Convention came to office the French had just won a battle against the Austrians and Prussians at the Battle of Valmy. Later Great Britain, Holland and Spain joined Prussia and Austria is the fight against France. Having so many enemies put the French in a hard position and led them to a long line of defeats.
Terror
One Jacobin leader, Maximilien Robespierre began to gain power. He set out to create a "republic of virtue".Robespierre became leader of the Committee of Public Safety. He governed France as a dictator and his period of ruling became known as the Reign of Terror. Many of Robespierre's enemies were tried in the mornings and guillotined in the afternoon. Robespierre's terror suggested that all French citizens remain true to the ideals of the Revolution. Throughout 1793 and 1794 many of the leaders of the Revolution were sentenced to death. As many as 40,000 people were executed during this period of terror.
In July 1794 the National Convention turned on Robespierre and demanded his arrest and execution. The Reign of Terror was finally over on July 28, 1794. The moderate leaders in the National Convention created a new type of government. They put power into the hands of the upper middle class. It had a 2 house legislature and an executive body of five men, this was later known as the Directory. They were not revolutionary idealists. But during this troubled period they gave their country order; they put General Napoleon Bonaparte in command of France's armies.
In July 1794 the National Convention turned on Robespierre and demanded his arrest and execution. The Reign of Terror was finally over on July 28, 1794. The moderate leaders in the National Convention created a new type of government. They put power into the hands of the upper middle class. It had a 2 house legislature and an executive body of five men, this was later known as the Directory. They were not revolutionary idealists. But during this troubled period they gave their country order; they put General Napoleon Bonaparte in command of France's armies.