The French Revolution
Maximilian Robespierre
Early Life
born in Arras, France
Studied as a lawyer
Had a strong interest in enlightenment writers
Enlightenment Writers/Thinkers 🏁 was a movement of people who valued reason over religion
He was elected as a member of the third estates for the general estate and this began his involvement in French political and revolutionary matters
after the tennis court treaty 🏁 he joined the radical political group know as the Jacobins 🏁
after the tennis court treaty the third estate became known as the National Assembly/Convention 🏁
in April 1793 the national assembly set up the Committee Of Public Safety 🏁 as an attempt to "save the revolution and destroy its enemies"
it has 12 members and Robespierre was elected the president of this committee
under Robespierre rule the committee of public safety assumed divine right to rule 🏁 over France
they launched the Reign Of Terror 🏁
Problems the committee needed to solve:
the French upper classed opposed the revolution
outbreaks of violence ie Vandee
France was leading into a war with some of Europe's strongest countries (ie Austria) which the could not afford or had the resources to be doing
Cost of living (ie food prices) were continuing to rise - unhappy citizens
the Law Of Suspect 🏁 was passed - it was designed to punish anyone suspected of betraying the revolution
the Law Of Maximum 🏁 was passed - it was designed to control food prices
they largely promoted mass army enlistments
Causes Of The Revolution
Long Term
Short Term
Note: there was no singular cause to the revolution
France had previously been ruled on absolute monarchy 🏁
the popularization of the enlightenment 🏁
anger through social divisions ie the third estate being the only estate that had to pay taxes
influence of the American revolution
The tennis court oath 🏁 angered the third estate majorly - Note: the third estate represented the majority of Frances population (the lower class)
Storming of Bastille : 🏁
some reforms of the National Assembly were made quite quickly
they abolished the feudal system 🏁
In August 1789 the "Deceleration Of The Rights Of Man And Of Citizen were passed
the Civil Constitution Of The Clergy was passed
Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette
the monarchy of France obviously opposed the revolution
By October 1789 the revolution was at its peak so the royal family hid away in fear. Ordinary working class women of Paris forced the king and queen to return to central Paris where they were then confined in Tuileries Palace
In June 1791 the king and queen had planned to escape to Belgium but they got caught near the border in the town of Verennes. - This became known as the *Flight To Verennes 🏁
In April 1792, in fear, the national assembly - on behalf of France - declared war on Austria
The Execution
In September 1792 the national convention declared France a republic
The Sans-Culottes 🏁 suspected Louis XVI of working with French enemies - Later documents were found in Tuillerie Palace to prove this accusation true
King Louis XVI was then tried and convicted of treason by the convention
He was executed by guillotine in January 1793
His wife was executed 9 months later
these executions frightened the rest of Europe
Results of The Revolution
the ideals of the revolution spread across all of Europe ie influencing Ireland to rebel against British rule
Rise of the middle class
Symbols of the Revolution
liberty "all men are free
equality "all men are equal
fraternity "all men should treat each other as brothers"
the french tri-color was adapted during the time of revolution