Causes of the French Revolution

Causes of the French Revolution

• Financial Crisis: France was heavily indebted from the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.
• Social Inequality: The Estates-General system divided society into three groups: clergy, nobility, and commoners, with the burden of taxation falling on the common people.
• Enlightenment Ideas: The writings of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu inspired the French people to demand liberty, equality, and democracy.

Events of the French Revolution

• Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): A symbol of the absolute monarchy, the prison's seizure marked the beginning of the Revolution.
• National Assembly: Formed by the Third Estate, it adopted the Tennis Court Oath, vowing to create a new constitution.
• Great Fear (July-August 1789): Peasants and townspeople attacked and burned châteaux, leading to the abolition of feudalism.
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 1789): A fundamental document of the Revolution, enshrining individual liberties and human rights.
• Reign of Terror (1793-1794): A period of violence and executions, led by Maximilien Robespierre, aimed to purge France of perceived enemies.

Key Figures

• King Louis XVI: The monarch who was eventually executed by guillotine in 1793.
• Queen Marie Antoinette: The queen whose extravagance and Austrian heritage made her unpopular with the French people.
• Maximilien Robespierre: A leading figure of the Revolution, who dominated the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror.
• Napoleon Bonaparte: A military general who rose to power during the Revolution and eventually became Emperor of France.

Outcomes of the French Revolution

• Establishment of the First French Republic: The first republic in France, which lasted from 1792 to 1804.
• Execution of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette: The end of the absolute monarchy and the rise of the revolutionary government.
• Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte: The Revolution paved the way for Napoleon's coup d'état and his eventual rise to power.
• End of Feudalism: The abolition of feudalism and the establishment of a more equal society.

Causes of the French Revolution

• France was heavily indebted from the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) and the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), leading to a financial crisis.
• The Estates-General system divided society into three groups: clergy, nobility, and commoners, with the burden of taxation falling on the common people, creating social inequality.
• The writings of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu inspired the French people to demand liberty, equality, and democracy, spreading Enlightenment ideas.

Events of the French Revolution

• The Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, marked the beginning of the Revolution, as a symbol of the absolute monarchy was seized.
• The National Assembly was formed by the Third Estate, adopting the Tennis Court Oath, vowing to create a new constitution.
• The Great Fear (July-August 1789) saw peasants and townspeople attack and burn châteaux, leading to the abolition of feudalism.
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 1789) enshrined individual liberties and human rights, becoming a fundamental document of the Revolution.
• The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) was a period of violence and executions, led by Maximilien Robespierre, aimed to purge France of perceived enemies.

Key Figures

• King Louis XVI was the monarch who was eventually executed by guillotine in 1793.
• Queen Marie Antoinette was the queen whose extravagance and Austrian heritage made her unpopular with the French people.
• Maximilien Robespierre was a leading figure of the Revolution, who dominated the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror.
• Napoleon Bonaparte was a military general who rose to power during the Revolution and eventually became Emperor of France.

Outcomes of the French Revolution

• The First French Republic was established, lasting from 1792 to 1804.
• The execution of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette marked the end of the absolute monarchy and the rise of the revolutionary government.
• The Revolution paved the way for Napoleon Bonaparte's coup d'état and his eventual rise to power.
• The abolition of feudalism led to the establishment of a more equal society.