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The Old Order
In 1770s, the people of the France were divided into three large social classes, or estates. The first estate was clergy. And the second estate was made up of rich nobles. They both had exemption of paying taxes and included only 2% of population. About 97% of the people belonged to the third estate and there were divided into 3 groups, the bourgeoisie, the city workers and the peasants. They had to pay taxes and they couldn't participate in politics because they didn't have political rights. -
The National Assembly
The National Assembly made by the third estate were eager to make changes in the government. First, the king and nobles made third estate to pay more taxes because they had less money. The third estate wanted to change that rule and made the national assembly to oppose them. -
Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly wanted to meet and argue about their opinion but every meeting room was locked. They broke down a door to an indoor tennis court, pledging to stay until they had drawn up a new constitution. They also pledged not to go out this meeting and not to follow the king. -
Storming the Bastille
People attacked the Bastille to make more army because in Bastille, there were only prisoner that hated king. It was hard to win the guard with gun but they tried. They brought their weapons to fight. Finally they won and they brought prisoner out. The fall of the Bastille became a great symbolic act of revolution to the French people. -
The Rights of Man
The Rights of Man was reflecting the declaration of Independence and stated that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights." This rights included liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression, and guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. -
Louis tries to escape
Because of the Fall of the Bastille, King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette felt scared of the people. Some of his advisers warned him that he and his family were in danger. Many supporters of the monarchy thought France unsafe and left the countries. In 1791, King, queen and their royal family tried to escape to the Austrian Netherlands. However, they were apprehended and return to Paris. -
A Limited Monarchy
The National Assembly completed the new constitution, which Louis reluctantly approved. The constitution created a limited constitutional monarchy. It also created the legislative Assembly. This made people to create the laws but the king still held the power. -
France at War
When Austria and Prussia saw how people treat their king, they thought their citizens maybe follow them. They wanted to stop France citizens. On August 10, about 20,000 men and women invaded theTuileries, the palace the royal family was staying. The mob massacred the royal guards and imprisoned Louis, Marie and children. They raided the prisons and murdered over 1,000 prisoner. They made king Louis to be beheaded by a machine called the guillotine. Finally they won the war, but enemy increased. -
Robespierre Assumes Control
In early months of 1793, one Jacobins leader, Maximilien Robespierre slowly gained power and In July 1793, He became a leader of the Committee of Public Safety. His rule was known as the Reign of Terror, it means giving fear to the people to show the power. -
End of the Terror
The terror end when Robespierre went to the guillotine because people wanted his arrest and execution. Everybody didn't like Reign of Terror. In 1795, moderate leaders in the National Convention drafted a new plan of government, the third since 1789.
