French Revolution

What was the regime called prior to the French Revolution?

The Ancien regime - a system of kings and nobles

Why was the Third Estate in trouble?

Because it was taxed excessively since France was going bankrupt

What did the Third Estate do in response?

They tried to create their own National Assembly

What was the Tennis Court Oath?

An oath sworn in an indoor Tennis Court where the Third Estate met. The oath swore not to give up until a French constitution was established

How did Louis XVI respond to the uprisings over food shortages?

He sent troops to Paris to quell the uprisings

How did the revolutionaries respond to Louis XVI’s troops?

They seized the Bastille Prison on July 14th to free prisoners and get guns

What constitution did the National Assembly create?

Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen which stated that everyone has the right to liberty, property, and security. These were radical ideas at the time

How did the Reign of Terror begin?

The revolutionaries sentenced Louis XVI to death via guillotine

Who was the leader of the Reign of Terror?

Maximillian Robespierre

What did the revolution do after the terror?

They established a new constituition that gave power to wealthy people

How did Napoleon Bonaparte come to power

Through a coup in 1799. He became the first Consul of France

Did the French Revolution succeed?

After Napoleon, France restored the monarchy, so the revolution did not succeed in establishing a democracy or rebulic, but it did succeed in spreading Enlightenment ideas