The French Revolution
was a period of violent political and social change
the abolition of the absolute monarchy
the end of the estates system of the Ancien Régime
began in 1789
he first European bourgeois revolution
THE CAUSES
related factors
The economic crisis
The social crisis
The influence of the Enlightenment
The political crisis
Louis XVI governed France as an absolute monarch
French intellectuals and the bourgeoisie supported Enlightenment ideas
demanded that all French subjects be free and equal before the law
French monarchy was heavily in debt
court's excessive spending
France's participation in military conflicts
the clergy and the nobility were able to maintain their income
Poor harvests after 1770
an increase in the price of grain
the Third Estate suffered from rising taxes
the privileged estates should pay tax
suggested by Louis XVI's ministers
nobility and clergy refused
the king call the Estates General
THE ESTATES GENERAL
The spread of Enlightenment ideas
The cahiers de doléances
peasants wanted to abolish tithes and end feudal privileges
clergy and nobility were opposed to losing their privilege
enlightened bourgeoisie wanted to end absolute monarchy
EVENTS
Unequal representation
The Constituent Assembly
The National Assembly
The Third Estate asked for a new voting system
the king refused
representatives would vote individually
they met at a tennis court nearby
not leave it until France had a constitution.
the king agreed to the Third Estate's demands
new Constituent Assembly was formed
to write a constitution
troops were sent to Versailles
the monarchy was no longer absolute
a riot in Paris on 14 July 1789
people attacked the Bastille
revolt in the countryside
the Grande Peur
legal reforms
abolished feudal privileges
tithes
equality in the payment of taxes
In 1790
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
discontent the clergy and to the emigration of many nobles
Louis XVI
his actions caused an increase in popular opposition
asked Austria for support
In 1791 the assembly approved the constitution
stabilished
limited male suffrage
a constitutional monarchy
powers of the monarch limited by the constitution
only men with a certain amount of property could vote
the separation of powers
monarch had executive power
assembly had legislative power
courts had judicial power
The Legislative Assembly
2 main political groups
The Convention
The Directory and the Consulate
Jacobins
Girondins
wealthy bourgeoisie
limited suffrage
supported the constitutional monarchy
dominated the Legislative Assembly
petite bourgeoisie
establish a republic
introduce universal manhood suffrage
abolish the monarchy
France's defeats
attacked the Tuileries Palace
August 1792 the people of Paris
Louis XVI was imprisoned
France became a republic
most radical phase
new assembly
In 1793 agreed to execute Louis XVI
Jacobins took control of the government
a dictatorship
the Terror
led by Robespierre
supported by the sans-culottes.
popular revolutionary army
widespread repression of counterrevolutionaries
Constitution of 1793
Law of Maximum
new constitution
new form of government
Directory
re-established limited male suffrage
5 menbers
army increased
General Napoleon Bonaparte
In 1799 organised a military coup
new form of government called the Consulate
aimed to restore peace
In 1802, Napoleon was named First Consul for Life
introduced reforms to end France's political and economic instability.
In 1804
Napoleon had absolute power
the French Revolution had ended