The French Revolution: Causes and Estates

• The French Revolution was a period of social and political upheaval in late 1700's France, ultimately toppling the monarchy and establishing a republic
• It was influenced by Enlightenment ideals, and resulted in a series of wars

Causes of the Revolution

• Social inequalities existed within the three Estates and fueled discontent
• The First Estate was the clergy, which enjoyed privileges and wealth, and paid little to no taxes
• The Second Estate was the nobility, which also possessed privileges, land, and influence, and were exempt from most taxes
• The Third Estate was the commoners, which constituted the majority of the population, and bore the burden of high taxes and feudal dues
• Economic hardships included widespread poverty, famine, and rising bread prices
• Financial mismanagement by the monarchy and costly wars led to a huge national debt
• Political absolutism concentrated power in the hands of the king (Louis XVI), with little scope for political participation or representation for the Third Estate
• Enlightenment ideas questioned the divine right of kings and advocated for natural rights, such as liberty, equality, and fraternity, inspiring calls for reform and revolution

Key Events and Phases

• The Estates-General of 1789 was convened to address the financial crisis, but disputes over voting procedures led to deadlock
• The formation of the National Assembly occurred when representatives of the Third Estate declared themselves the National Assembly, asserting their right to represent the French people
• The Storming of the Bastille happened on July 14, 1789, when Parisians stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress and symbol of oppression, marking the beginning of the revolution
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted by the National Assembly in August 1789, proclaiming fundamental rights and liberties for all citizens
• The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) was a period of extreme violence and repression led by the Jacobins, during which thousands of perceived enemies of the revolution were executed
• The Thermidorian Reaction happened in July 1794, when Robespierre and other radical leaders were overthrown, ending the Reign of Terror and leading to a more moderate phase of the revolution
• The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte occurred in the late 1790s, and he seized power in a coup d'état, ending the revolutionary period and establishing the French Consulate

Key Figures

• Louis XVI was the King of France during the revolution, and his perceived weakness and indecisiveness contributed to the monarchy's downfall
• Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France, who was widely unpopular due to her extravagance and perceived foreign allegiances
• Maximilien Robespierre was a radical Jacobin leader who played a central role during the Reign of Terror
• Napoleon Bonaparte was a military leader who rose to prominence during the revolution and eventually became Emperor of France

Impact and Significance

• The end of feudalism occurred when the revolution abolished feudalism and aristocratic privileges, ending centuries of social inequality
• The rise of republicanism and democracy happened with the establishment of a republic based on the principles of popular sovereignty and representative government
• Nationalism spread throughout Europe, as the revolution inspired nationalist movements and contributed to the redrawing of national borders
• The French Revolution influenced subsequent revolutions and social movements worldwide, inspiring struggles for democracy, human rights, and national liberation
• The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) were triggered by revolutionary France, and reshaped the political map of Europe and spread revolutionary ideas across the continent