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Death of Louis XIV
Louis XIV also known as the sun king or Louis the great left France in debt for numerous reasons. The constant warfare and need for provisions for soldiers left mass amounts of debt that Louis ignored. In addition, he built the enormous palace of Versailles that cost grand amounts of money. This palace was not like any other, it is the world's biggest palace, it was about 17 acres of land. The cost of the palace and the constant warfare was extravagant and pit France in a lot of debt. -
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French Revolution
From the death of King Louis XIV to the creation of the directory, the revolution of France -
The Meeting of the Estates General
The Estates General was an assembly of representatives from all three estates. This was the first estate meeting in years Some economic problems included: the rising price in bread, living, and taxes. The raising in taxes was a burden for all French people and the raise in bread price also made it nearly impossible for some families to feed themselves. Louis XVI called the meeting to propose raising taxes because of the financial problem and the amount of money spent on war in previous years. -
The National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly was a formation of members of the third estate that wanted to end absolute monarchy in France by passing laws and reforms in the name of the French people. This assembly marked the end to absolute monarchy in France, but on June 20th 1789 members of the assembly were locked out of their room. They broke down a door going into a tennis court and vowed that they would not leave until a new constitution was made. Louis was scared so he put Swiss guards all around Versailles. -
The Storming of the Bastille
The storming of the Bastille marked the beginning of the French Revolution. A mob attacked a prison in Paris to symbolize revolution for the French people. The mob killed the guards and prisoners and gained weapons that they knew were in the prison. This is a very important day for the French people, not only did it mark a revolution in France but to this day it is a national holiday and is considered a day of inspiration for the French people. The capturing of the Bastille marked a revolution. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The Declaration of the Rights of Man was a statement saying that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights." It claimed that all men are born free and that men are guaranteed liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression. It also guaranteed freedoms in speech and religion and another guarantee in justice for all. The Declaration of the Rights of Man was a statement of Revolutionary Ideas for the French people. -
Women's March on Versailles
Women of France were also dealing with the rising expenses of taxes and living. The price of bread also had gone up and the women of France had enough. A mob of women with pitchforks and torches marched to the queen at Versailles and demanded that the royal family move out of the palace to Paris and lower the price of bread. They also demanded that the National Assembly do something on the matter. The royal family eventually had to move out of Versailles to Paris and they would never return. -
The Royal Family attempts to escape
When the royal family attempted to escape France they were immediately apprehended and taken to France under guard. They had not gotten past a small town called Varennes before they were spotted. After they tried to escape, Louis was brought to citizen status and put on trial for treason and sentenced to death. Marie Antoinette was also sentenced to death for being against the Revolution. Louis was sent to the guillotine nine months before the beheading of Marie Antoinette. -
France declares War on Austria and Prussia
European countries were already in fear of France, the overthrowing of Louis XVI had spurred fear that their countries may get revolutionary ideas. Monarch supporters supported declaring war because they thought the new government would be easily defeated by foreign powers. The Revolutionaries also supported the idea of war because they wanted to spread the ideas of enlightenment and revolution. -
September Massacres
The month of September in 1792 was filled with a wave of killings in Paris because of fear that the inmates of prisons would join the foreign enemies. Radicals called for action and declared that these prisoners should be killed before they are freed and turn on the french people. In about a week half of the inmates of a prison in France had been executed because of superstitions and fears that the royalist armies would be after Paris and the prisoners would be open to joining these armies. -
The Execution of Louis XVI
This execution was because of Louis and his family attempting to escape France. But he was sentenced to death because of his anti- revolution feelings and suspected treason against France. He was put to trial and was convicted of treason and sentence to death. -
The Reign of Terror
Robespierre was a ruler of France that ruled like a dictator in what is known as the Reign of Terror. The chief task of the Committee of Public Safety was to protect the Revolution from its enemies. Robespierre justified his rule by killing anyone who was an "enemy" of the revolution, he wanted everyone to be as radical as he was. The executions totaled in numbers of 40,000 and the ironic thing was that most of the executions were from the third estate which was to benefit from the revolution. -
The Execution of Robespierre and the end of the Reign of Terror
The leader of the Jacobins, the committee of Public Safety and the dictator of France is overthrown by the National Convention. Although he was a very popular figure for wanting the execution of King Louis XVI, his executions and chaotic massacres made him a deemed outlaw by the National Convention. He attempted to flee but he was soon captured by the National Convention and sent to death without a trial. Robespierre and twenty one other followers were beheaded and marked the end of the terror. -
The Directory
After the execution of Robespierre and the end of the Reign of Terror, a new government is formed in France. This government was a two house legislative and an executive body of five men. The Directory only lasted four years and was overthrown by Napoleon. Although it was a short government it was considered the first republic of France.
