Summary of the French Revolution

Take a brief journey through the tumultuous events of the French Revolution with this meta description. Discover the key stages, from the storming of the Bastille to the Reign of Terror, when the people of France sought to dismantle the old regime and establish a new order based on the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. Explore socio-political changes, including the rise and fall of revolutionary leaders, the establishment of the First French Republic, and the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. This meta-description provides a snapshot of a pivotal period that reshaped the political, social, and cultural landscape of France and left a lasting legacy that reverberates through history.

Summary of the French Revolution

Historical Facts	Summary of the French Revolution
1789	Estates-General convenes; the National Assembly is formed; and the Bastille is stormed.
1791	Constitution adopted; Louis XVI attempts to flee; Legislative Assembly established
1792	France became a republic. Louis XVI was executed. The reign of Terror begins
1793	Execution of Marie Antoinette; Committee of Public Safety gains power
1794	Robespierre’s Reign of Terror intensifies; he is later executed
1795	Thermidorian Reaction; the Directory established
1799	France became a republic. Louis XVI was executed. The reign of Terror begins

Introduction

The French Revolution was a watershed event in human history that lasted approximately ten years, from May 5, 1789, to November 9, 1799. It was primarily caused by a financial crisis, that began with the storming of the Bastille and ended with a coup. 18. Brumaire. Many important events took place during it, including the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of the republic in France. The French Revolution had a large and long-lasting impact. Among other things, he changed the course of modern history, starting the global decline of absolute monarchies and replacing them with republicans and liberal democracies. Get a general idea of ​​the causes, events, and consequences of the French Revolution through this summary.

French society at the end of the 18th century

Louis XVI ascended the French throne in 1774. France’s finances were depleted because of the war. France under Louis XVI helped the thirteen American colonies gain independence from Britain. Taxes were raised to cover current expenses such as the cost of maintaining an army, court, and running government offices or universities. The country of France was divided into three dominions in the eighteenth century. The feudal system was part of the estates of society dating back to the Middle Ages. 90 percent of the population was dominated by peasants, but only a small portion of them owned the land they cultivated. 60 percent was owned by the nobles, the church, and other wealthier members of the third estate. The clergy and nobility, members of the first two estates, enjoyed certain privileges from birth. These groups of members were exempted from paying taxes and enjoyed feudal privileges. All members of the Third Estate had to pay taxes to the state, which included a direct tax, called the taille, and a number of indirect taxes that were levied on items of daily consumption such as salt or tobacco.

What is the third state?

18th century France was ruled by a monarch and was divided into three estates: The first was the clergy, the second was the nobility, and the third was the rest, which included merchants, lawyers, workers, and peasants. Although the Third Estate made up about 98% of the French population, it was used by the other two estates. In 1789, just before the French Revolution, Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès wrote a pamphlet entitled What is the Third Estate? In it, he argued that the third estate wanted real representatives in governing the nation. The pamphlet caused an uproar in France and played a key role in shaping the revolutionary mindset that drove France to revolution.

Struggle for survival

The increase in population led to a rapid increase in cereals. Grain production was not enough to keep up with demand, causing the price of bread to rise rapidly. Because of the low wages paid to workers, the gap between the rich and the poor widened. The situation worsened whenever drought or hail reduced crops.

A growing middle class presupposes the end of privilege

Peasants participated in revolts against taxes and food shortages. The Third Estate began to prosper and had access to education and new ideas. In the eighteenth century, new social groups emerged, called the middle class, who earned their wealth through expanding overseas trade and the production of woolen and silk textiles, which were either exported or purchased by the wealthier members of society. The third estate included professions such as lawyers or administrative officials. A person’s social status depends on his merits. All of these were educated and believed that no group in society should be privileged from birth. A person’s social position must rather depend on his merits. Rousseau proposed a new form of government based on a social contract between the people and their representatives. Similarly, Montesquieu proposed a division of power in government between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. In the US, this model of government was enacted. Louis XVI planned to impose additional taxes to cover the expenses.

Outbreak of the Revolution

In France, the monarch did not have the power to impose taxes. They had to call a meeting of the estates-general, a political body to which the three estates sent representatives to approve proposals for new taxes. Louis XVI called an assembly on May 5, 1789, to approve proposals for new taxes. Representatives of the first and second estates were present, and the third estate was represented by its prosperous and educated members. By principle, each state had one vote. However, representatives of the third estate demanded that each member have one vote. The request was denied, so members of the Third Estate walked out in protest. They swore not to break up until a constitution was drawn up for France that would limit the powers of the monarch. Because of the harsh winter, bread prices rose and people had to spend hours in long queues. Rumors spread that the lords of the estate had hired bands of robbers to destroy the ripe crops. In fear, the peasants began looting the accumulated grain and burning documents containing records of manorial fees. The nobles fled their homes. Louis XVI recognized the National Assembly (1789–91) and accepted the principle that its powers would henceforth be controlled by the Constitution. The Diet passed a decree abolishing the fief system of obligations and taxes on August 4, 1789. Tithes were abolished, and lands owned by the Church were confiscated.

Rising bread prices

France faced a financial crisis in the 1780s. This was mainly due to French involvement in a series of costly wars. In addition, drastic weather and poor harvests caused the price of flour to rise dramatically, which in turn raised the price of bread. Bread was a staple food for most French citizens, and it is estimated that the French working class spent more than 90% of their daily income on bread alone. The population of France at that time was hungry, unemployed, and angry. The royal family’s spending on luxury goods caused further frustration among the masses.

Storming of the Bastille

On June 20, 1789, in what is known as the Tennis Court Oath, the Third Estate pledged not to secede until it gave France a constitution. At this time, soldiers, mostly foreign mercenaries, began to arrive in Paris. Parisians interpreted this as an attempt to shut down the National Constituent Assembly. They responded on July 14 with an attack on the Bastille fortress, which fell within hours. The storming of the Bastille is considered by many to be the beginning of the French Revolution. Because of this, July 14th is called Bastille Day and is celebrated as France’s national day.

Women’s March on Versailles

On October 5, 1789, a large crowd of protesters, mostly women, marched from Paris to the Palace of Versailles. They were angered by the high price of bread and frustrated when the king did not seem to pay attention to their problem. They attacked the palace, killed several guards, and asked the king to “live among the people”. Louis XVI finally acceded to their demands and agreed to go with the mob to Paris.

France becomes a constitutional monarchy

3 days workers’ wages were entitled to vote. The Constitution began with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. In 1791, the National Assembly completed the draft constitution and its main aim was to limit the powers of the monarch. These powers have now been separated and allocated to different institutions. Legislative, executive, and judicial branches. France became a constitutional monarchy. Citizens elected a group of voters who in turn elected the council, but unfortunately, not every citizen had the right to vote. Men over 25 who paid taxes equal to at least the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, and equality before the law were established as “natural and in lien rights—that that is, they belonged to every human being at birth and could not be taken away.

Execution of the monarch

On the night of June 20, 1791, the royal family, disguised as servants and their servants disguised as nobles, tried to escape to Austria. The public, already opposed to King Louis XVI, now viewed him as a traitor who wanted foreign intervention to restore the monarchy. He was accused of treason and found guilty on August 10, 1792. On January 21, 1793, Louis XVI was driven through the streets of Paris to the guillotine and beheaded. His wife Marie Antoinette was executed by guillotine on October 16.

Reign of Terror

By this time, feudalism was abolished, the nobility and clergy lost their privileges, equality was established, and France was declared a republic. In March 1793, the National Convention (1795), the first government of the French Revolution, created the Committee of Public Safety. Consisting of 12 members, the most prominent of whom was Maximilien Robespierre, the committee became the de facto executive government in France during the period from 5 September 1793, to 28 July 1794 known as the Reign of Terror. In the name of ridding the nation of enemies of the revolution, an estimated 40,000 people were executed during the Reign of Terror. In mid-1794, Robespierre became the target of a plot as members feared they might be executed by guillotine next. He was arrested and guillotined on July 28, 1794, ending the Reign of Terror.

Revolutionary Wars

Externally, revolutionary France was seen as dangerous by other European monarchies, who viewed it with both fear and anger. This led to the French Revolutionary Wars, a series of military conflicts lasting from 1792 to 1802. They pitted the French Republic against Great Britain, Austria, and several other monarchies. Although it initially suffered various setbacks, France, under the leadership of Napoleon Bonaparte, was able to conquer a wide range of territory by 1802. Success in the French Revolutionary Wars allowed revolutionary principles to spread across much of Europe.

18 Brumaire Coup

Internally, in 1795 a new constitution came into effect, establishing the Directory, a committee of five to govern France. The directory became involved in corruption, political conflicts, and financial problems. Moreover, it relied more and more on the military in foreign and domestic affairs, as well as in finance. Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, one of the directors; a politician named Roger Ducos; and military hero Napoleon Bonaparte; overthrew the Directory on 9-10 November 1799 and replaced him with three consuls who ruled over France. This coup, known as the 18th Brumaire coup, is considered by many to be the end of the French Revolution.

Did women have a revolution?

Women were active participants from the beginning, which brought about important changes in France. Women from the third estate had to work for a living and had no access to education or job training. Daughters of nobles of the third estate were allowed to study in a convent. Working women also had to take care of their families. Compared to men, their wages were lower. Women also started their own political clubs and newspapers. The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women was. one of the most famous women’s clubs. They demanded the same political rights as men, the right to vote and hold political office. The revolutionary government introduced laws to improve the lives of women. School became compulsory, divorce was legal and they could run small businesses. During the Reign of Terror, the government shut down women’s clubs banning their political activities. After a long struggle, women in France won the right to vote in 1946.

Abolition of Slavery

The most revolutionary social reform of the Jacobin regime was the abolition of slavery in the French colonies. In the seventeenth century, the slave trade began. Slaves were brought from local chiefs, tagged and shackled, and packed tightly into ships for the three-month voyage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. Slave labor met the growing demand in European markets for sugar, coffee, and indigo. There was little criticism of slavery in France during the eighteenth century. In 1794, a convention enacted the emancipation of all slaves in France’s overseas possessions. Napoleon introduced slavery after ten years. In 1848, slavery was abolished in the French colonies.

Revolution and Everyday Life

France during 1789 saw changes in the lives of men, women, and children. Censorship was abolished in the summer of 1789. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen declared freedom of speech and expression a natural right. Freedom of the press meant that opposing views on events could be expressed. Games, songs, and festive processions attracted large numbers of people.

Age of Revolutions

The French Revolution changed the course of modern history, triggering the worldwide decline of absolute monarchies and replacing them with republicans and liberal democracies. It ushered in what is known as the Age of Revolutions, a period in which a number of major revolutionary movements emerged in many parts of Europe and America. It had many other consequences, including the end of feudalism, the reduction of the importance of religion; the destruction of oligarchies; economic growth in Europe; the rise of modern nationalism; and the spread of liberalism. The French Revolution is thus considered one of the most important events in world history.

Conclusion

Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of France in 1804 and introduced many laws, such as the protection of private property and a uniform system of weights and measures provided by the decimal system. Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo in 1815. The ideas of freedom and democratic rights were the most important legacy of the French Revolution. Colonized nations reworked the idea of ​​freedom to create a sovereign nation-state.

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