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Unfair Social Classes
During this time, there were 3 social classes or “estates”, and the lower ones were treated very unfairly and had to pay taxes. Their unfair treatment and the new ideas of the Enlightenment caused them to become enraged and they complained, eager for change. In addition to the unfairness of the treatment of lower class estates, economic problems, new ideas about the government and weak leadership all led to the people wanting a change. -
Declining Economy
By this time, France’s economy was severely declining, and this was alarming to the people, especially factory owners, merchants, and bankers. Businesses were interrupted by the high taxes, and that led to the decline of the economy. Because of this, living was becoming very expensive. In addition, bad weather had caused the failure of crops and a shortage of grains, causing the price of bread to double, and many people faced starvation. During this time, the government also had a huge debt. -
National Assembly
The estates got together and (voted) created the National Assembly. This proclaimed the end of absolute monarchy and started a representative government. This was the first act of revolution. -
Fall of Bastille
Although, French citizens were attacked in an attempt to dismiss the National Assembly. The citizens were undefeated. The fall of the Bastille was a very important act of revolution, and is now celebrated in France, similar to the Fourth of July in America. -
New Revolutionary Ideas
Noblemen gave speeches declaring liberty and equality. the Old Regime was dead, and the privileges of the first and second estates were gone. A few weeks later, the National Assembly adopted a statement of revolutionary ideals, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. -
Rising Prices
People were mad at the rising price of bread. First, they demanded that the National Assembly takes action to provide bread for the people. The people turned their angle on the king and queen, braking into their palace, killing some guards and demanding that Louis and Marie return to Paris, and after some time Louis agreed. -
Legislative Assembly
The National Assembly completed a new constitution. The constitution created a limited constitutional monarchy and took away some authority from the king, and created a new legislative body (Legislative Assembly). This was created to make laws, but the king still held the power to enforce laws. -
War
The Legislative Assembly declared war.The French began the war badly, Prussian forces were advancing and threatening Paris. They attacked the royal family and were a big threat to France. Because of this, the Legislative Assembly declared the king deposed, dissolved the assembly and then called for a new government. This new government would be the National Convention, which declared France republic. -
Radical Political Organization
There were government changes, and most of the people involved in these were members of a radical political organization, the Jacobin. They wanted to kill all of those who still supported the king. The club also had speakers, for example Georges Danton, who also supported the rights of poor people. -
Reign of Terror
Great Britain, Holland, and Spain joined Prussia and Austria against France. The French were being defeated constantly, so, the government ordered a draft of 300,000 French citizens. By 1794, the army had grown tremendously (it grew to 800,000). Afterward, Maximilien Robespierre gained power and built a “republic of virtue” by wiping out traces of France’s past. Robespierre, later on, governed France as a dictatorship, and the era became known as “the reign of terror”.