The French Revolution

• 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, particularly those concerning liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty

Causes of the Revolution

• Social inequalities existed in the form of the Estate System
• The First Estate was the clergy, who had significant wealth and privilege
• The Second Estate was the nobility, who also enjoyed exemptions from taxation and held high positions
• The Third Estate encompassed the vast majority of the population, including bourgeoisie, peasants, and urban workers, who bore the burden of taxation
• Economic hardship was widespread due to factors like poor harvests, rising food prices, and excessive government debt
• France's involvement in costly wars, such as the American Revolution, exacerbated its financial woes
• Lavish spending by the monarchy, particularly King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, fueled public discontent
• Political absolutism was in place, with King Louis XVI wielding absolute power and resisting calls for reform
• The Estates-General, a representative assembly, had not been convened for over 175 years, denying the Third Estate a voice in government
• Enlightenment ideas advocated by thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, promoted concepts of natural rights, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty
• These ideas challenged the legitimacy of the absolute monarchy and inspired calls for political and social change

Key Figures

• King Louis XVI was the King of France during the Revolution, his perceived weakness and resistance to reform contributed to the escalation of the crisis
• Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France, who was widely unpopular due to her extravagant lifestyle and perceived foreign influence
• Maximillian Robspierre was a radical Jacobin leader who played a central role during the Reign of Terror
• He advocated for extreme measures to suppress counter-revolutionaries
• Georges Danton was a prominent figure in the early stages of the Revolution
• He was known for his charisma and role in the overthrow of the monarchy
• Jean-Paul Marat was a radical journalist and politician whose inflammatory writings fueled revolutionary fervor
• Marquis de Lafayette was a nobleman and military officer who fought in the American Revolution and became a key figure in the early stages of the French Revolution
• He advocated for constitutional monarchy

Major Events

• The Estates-General Convened in May 1789, marking the first time the assembly had met in over 175 years
• Disputes over voting procedures led to the Third Estate forming the National Assembly
• The Tennis Court Oath happened in June 1789, where members of the National Assembly pledged to not stop until a constitution was established
• The Storming of the Bastille happened in July 1789, during which a state prison was attacked which was seen as a symbol of royal authority
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted by the National Assembly in August 1789, which outlined fundamental rights and liberties
• The Women's March on Versailles happened in October 1789, where a crowd of women marched to Versailles and forced the royal family to relocate to Paris
• The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was enacted in July 1790, which aimed to subordinate the Catholic Church to the state
• The Flight to Varennes happened in June 1791, when the royal family attempted to flee Paris but were apprehended
• September Massacres happened in September 1792 when vigilantes murdered perceived enemies of the revolution in Paris
• The Monarchy was Abolished in September 1792, and France was declared a republic
• The Execution of Louis XVI happened in January 1793, which marked a turning point in the Revolution and deepened divisions within France
• The Reign of Terror happened from 1793-1794, which marked a period of extreme violence and repression led by the Jacobins
• Robespierre's Execution happened in July 1794, which ended the Reign of Terror
• The Directory was established in 1795, which was a new government structure that proved ineffective and corrupt
• Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in 1799, bringing an end to the revolutionary period and establishing a new era in French history