French Revolution

What was the French Revolution?

The French Revolution was a period of social and political upheaval in France from 1789 to 1799 that led to the overthrow of the monarchy, the end of feudalism, and the establishment of a republic.

Social Structure of the Old regime

1st Estate 2nd estate and 3rd estate The first estate was comprised of the clergy, the second estate was comprised of the nobility, and the third estate was comprised of everyone else. The third estate was by far the largest and most diverse group but had the least amount of rights in France.

Taxes in france?

Taxes are high

costs of bread causes poverty and starts riots 

Poor third estate pays all the taxes while nobles and clergy pay nothing 

Cahiers 

notebooks of greivance

presented to Louis XVI

criticized government spending, taxation,corruption 

Violating human rights 

Majority

3rd estate

Financial crisis

Government was short of money

costly wars 

royal extravagance 

Had no central bank 

Enlightenment

The Enlightenment laid the intellectual groundwork for the French Revolution by promoting ideas like natural rights, individual liberty, and representative government, which challenged the existing monarchical system.

National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath

Gathers near a tennis court and goes until they get a new constitution. They had defied France’s king, Led by Maximillian Robesspeire and Seiyes

Storming of the Bastille

The people form a new national guard and storm the Bastille to get gunpowder for defense The tricolor flag of France is also born. Done as an act that the National Guard cant be dispersed. Found no gun powder and tore down the Bastille

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Class distinctions are abolished and all man are equal 

Sovereignty was for the people.

National assembly loses power 

Women march to Versailles October 5, 1789

Shortage of bread had led to them to march to versailles. They forced the Royal family to march to Paris after massacring the guards 

San Cullotes

Those without knee britches - General people or considered the true people of France, as they have a living, usually shopkeepers 

Robespeire and the reign of terror changes

• Reinstates censorship

• Kills King Louis after his attempted escape to Austria 

• Tried to destroy the power of Catholic Church 

• Christian Calendar renamed into months 

• Months named by temperature 

• Dentonists are sent to death 

• Great terror irritated- executions exponentially increases

New National Convention 1792

Its first act was the form obligation of the monarchy on September 22, 1792

Congress and Executive created 

Exec- Robespeirre 

Republic of Virtue

Use of terror was necessary to continue the Revolution 

Declaration of Rights of Man is suspended 

Virtue - God deeds for the nation 

End of Robespeirre and the Thermidorian Reaction 

Robespeire announce he has a new list of enemies 

Congress is afraid and arrests Robespeire claiming he is an outlaw.

Two of Robespeire’s allies are killed 

Robespeirre attempted suicide 

He is executed

Napoleon takes over 5 years later.

Napoleon

a French military and political leader who rose to power after the French Revolution, crowned himself Emperor in 1804, and conquered much of Europe, leading to the Napoleonic Wars. His rule is notable for spreading revolutionary ideals and the Napoleonic Code across Europe, but his overreaching ambition also sparked nationalism, ultimately leading to his defeat and exile.  

Napolean and Russia

Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812 to force Emperor Alexander I to comply with his Continental System against Britain. The invasion ended in a disastrous retreat after the Russians employed a scorched-earth policy, abandoned Moscow, and attacked the starving French army during the brutal winter. The campaign was one of the most devastating military campaigns in history, resulting in massive casualties for Napoleon's Grande Armée.