Summary of the French Revolution(1789-1799)
On May 5th , 1789, the Estates-General (an assembly that represents the clergy, nobility, and the commoners) met at Versailles to discuss a very important issue; who was going to pay the taxes to get France out of debt? Should they vote by majority, giving the advantage to the commoners, or by power, automatically giving the advantage to the clergy and the nobility? On June 17th the fight over this issue caused the Third Estate (the commoners) to unify and announce themselves the National assembly; threatening to rule. When the commoners were locked out of the Estates-General meeting hall on June 20th, they swarmed the King’s tennis court and wouldn’t leave until the King had written a new constitution for France (Tennis Court Oath). The King eventually gave in and the assembly renamed themselves the National Constituent Assembly.
However, the King had started to build his own army to defeat the National Constituent Assembly. On July 13th a rumor spread that the King's army was going to attack the Assembly, and the day after a group of revolutionists decided to steal some weapons from the King to defend themselves. They stormed a fortress/prison in Paris called Bastille to steal weapons and gunpowder, freeing a couple prisoners while they were there.
However, the King had started to build his own army to defeat the National Constituent Assembly. On July 13th a rumor spread that the King's army was going to attack the Assembly, and the day after a group of revolutionists decided to steal some weapons from the King to defend themselves. They stormed a fortress/prison in Paris called Bastille to steal weapons and gunpowder, freeing a couple prisoners while they were there.
Storming of Bastille
The Great Fear
In 1789 the August decrees (19 decrees created by the National Assembly) freed peasants from their contracts with their landlords. The National Assembly also set out a law that declared the rights of the French people and named it the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. However the documents that were created- that were trying to promote equality- left some certain people out. The women were still thought of as being less important then men, and women such as Olympe de Gouges fought for for the rights of all the women in France. "This revolution will only take effect when all women become fully aware of their deplorable condition, and the rights they have lost in in society." (Declaration of the Rights of Women and the Female Citizen- Olympe de Gouges; Primary source.) Meaning that the only way that the revolution would be successful was if the women of France realized the terrible conditions they were in and the freedoms they have lost. Even though the women fought hard, their efforts were in vain. They still were viewed as little more then slaves and de Gouges was executed.
France was split into two groups- the Girondins, who were in favor of a constitutional monarchy and who ran the Assembly, and the Jacobins, who were in favor of executing the king and having a republic. Other monarchies in Europe were scared by the French Revolution, thinking that the people in their own countries would rise up against them just like the French did against their monarchs. So to prevent this, they made the Declaration of Pillnitz and demanded for King Louis XVI to return to the throne. In response to this, the National Assembly declared a war on Austria and Prussia.
France was split into two groups- the Girondins, who were in favor of a constitutional monarchy and who ran the Assembly, and the Jacobins, who were in favor of executing the king and having a republic. Other monarchies in Europe were scared by the French Revolution, thinking that the people in their own countries would rise up against them just like the French did against their monarchs. So to prevent this, they made the Declaration of Pillnitz and demanded for King Louis XVI to return to the throne. In response to this, the National Assembly declared a war on Austria and Prussia.
Olympe de Gouges (fought for the rights of women)
Reign of Terror
The National Assembly changed their title to the National Convention. They got rid of the King and his wife, Mary Antoinette, who they found trying to flee the country, and publicly executed them. France was officially a republic. But not all was perfect. Firstly, the war against Austria and Prussia was going very badly for the French. Secondly, the Jacobins managed to overthrow the Girondins and now controlled the National Convention. They executed anyone against the Revolution, including the mass murder of the Girondins, using a device called the guillotine. This was the start of the Reign of Terror.
Reign of Terror (guillotine)
Directory Stage
In 1794-1799 the Girondins returned and put a stop to the Reign of Terror. In 1795 another constitution was written. Now the power was held by 5 directors and they controlled the military. But this government was also corrupt, and they prolonged the war so that they would stay in power longer. In 1799 the people of France overthrew the government and a man named Napoleon took this opportunity to rise to power to lead the new government.
Age of Napoleon
Napoleon
Napoleon created the First French Consulate, with himself as leader. In 1804 Napoleon crowned himself emperor of the first French Empire and passed the Napoleonic Code; creating public schools, roads, bridges, waterways, tunnels, etc, as well as giving the people rights and freedoms. However, Napoleon wanted to go to the next level and decided that he wanted to take over Russia. Unfortunately, it went terribly wrong. The extremely cold winters, disease, and lack of discipline in Napoleon's army sealed his fate. After his death and defeat, the kings of Europe forced France to become a monarchy once again, which is called the Bourbon Restoration period. It would take decades before France became a republic again.
To see the French Revolution timeline, click on: http://homepages.gac.edu/~arosenth/160/French_Rev_Timeline.pdf