What happened during the meeting of the Estates General that set the French Revolution in motion: During the French estates general there are three estates called. The first estate involves the clergy and nobles, the second estate involves middle class citizens, and the third estate containing the lower class consisting mostly of lawyers. The third estate was sick of the estates general not being able to get anything done because if one estate tried to get more power they would be voted down by the other two. So they asked the king to make it so that the estates wouldn't matter and it would be democratic voting. It was turned down. So the third estate forms what was called the national assembly to from a constitution. Eventually the first estate joins them. And the second estate is ordered to join by the King. This deconstruction of the estates general is what really set the revolution in motion. …show more content…
The majority of the action taken by the revolutionaries was off of rumors and whispers of treason. Even the King was executed because rumors circulated that he was an opponent of the revolution even though he advocated for it. In fact in July 14th of 1789 a mob stormed a prison and released hundreds of killers and lunatics because they thought there might be “political prisoners” in the prison. The night of the Great Fear was when rumors spread that the nobility was looking for revenge. So the next logical step was to invite nobles to the national assembly and force them to give up their rights. After a few nobles released their rights to nobility the revolutionaries announce that the the regime had been removed. Overall it seemed like the revolutionaries wanted more government with more restrictions on
In 1789, the French people began to stand up to their current monarchical government in order to obtain rights and laws that they felt they deserved. The Reign of Terror followed after the Revolution and seemed to stand for the complete opposite of what the people had previously stood up for. The Reign of Terror began in 1793 and ended in 1794 due to the decapitation of Maximilien Robespierre. The Reign of Terror can be explained as a time period in France when many counter revolutionaries were killed because of their traditional beliefs. Counter revolutionaries believed in preserving the ways of the monarchy, but since the majority of people thought otherwise, these opposing beliefs led to death. The French government did not have good reason to conduct such drastic measures against those who challenged the Revolution.
This oppression of the Third Estate along with the financial problems that fell on the common people would lead to the French Revolution. Overall, the people of France revolted against the monarchy because of the unsuccessful estate system and the inequality it led to, because of the new enlightenment ideas that inspired them, and because of the failures of the monarchy.
The French Revolution, beginning in 1789, was a lengthy process in which the people of France took over the government and instituted a Republic (Chambers). The overarching goal of the Revolution was to place the power of government in the hands of the people. For two years, whilst France was facing internal disorganization and external wartime threats, the government was run by a war dictatorship under Maximilien Robespierre, the head of the Committee of Public Safety (“Reign of Terror”). Amid much internal suspicion and fear, the Reign of Terror began. Much of France was politically divided, and Robespierre’s method for keeping the government stable in a time of crisis involved severe penalties for any suspected of plotting against the new government (Chambers). Soon the accusations began to fly and a handful of people convicted and killed for treason became thousands. Many of the cases turned into the accuser’s word versus the accused, and a government preoccupied with bigger issues often did not care to look into these cases, simply convicting the accused, supposedly to promote a sense of unity and control to the citizens of France, and to forewarn anyone who did attempt treasonous deeds (Chambers). Eventually, Marie Antoinette, guilty of no crime other than marrying the former king, was executed on the grounds of treason (“French Revolution: The Reign of Terror”). Many thought this was taking a step too far. The former Queen was well-respec...
By 1791 their had been a constitutional monarchy with the revolutions mission complete, now major changes would have to be made to ensure that the country benefited from this change, but this would be hard, the church had already been abolished and its funds taken to resolve the spiralling debt problems. A lot of groups had been set up to fight the revolutionary committee including the Monarchiens and the Noirs. The main opposition came from ...
Unlike the leaders of America, the leaders of the French did not turn out to be as positive for the country. In fact, some of these leaders caused much more harm than good. These leaders taught the French people more about what type of government would be the best option for them. One of the most radical, and extreme leaders was Maximilien Robespierre. The duration of his dictatorship was known as "Reign of Terror." He demanded a republic and soon after his demands; the monarchy was overthrown. He also felt that a constitutional government would have to wait until all the enemies of the revolution have been eliminated. To accomplish this task, he murdered close to 40,000 people, most by guillotine, and some sentenced to life in jail. The Reign of Terror was one of the most controversial, and terrifying phases of the Revolution. Some French colonists thought it to be a path to democracy; others thought it was just a attempt for Robespierre to assume dictator. The other great leader was Napoleon Bonaparte. He believed that the only way to have control in France was to put a limit on democracy. Over a period of time Napoleon 's party overthrew Robespierre 's party. Soon enough, Napoleon was dictator of France. The French soldiers who fought in the American Revolution came back from the war with new ideas and reason for revolution. These ideas included the right to take up arms against tyranny, all men should
One cause of both Revolutions was that people from all social classes were discontented. Each social class in France had its own reasons for wanting a change in government. The aristocracy was upset by the king’s power while the Bourgeoisie was upset by the privileges of the aristocracy. The peasants and urban workers were upset by their burdensome existence. The rigid, unjust social structure meant that citizens were looking for change because “all social classes…had become uncomfortable and unhappy with the status quo.” (Nardo, 13) Many believed that a more just system was long overdue in France.
The French Revolution was a bloody civil war that lasted from the years 1789-1799. [1] The revolution arose out of hard economic times that had befallen France. Widespread famine and hunger, due to a grain shortage, rampaged through sections of the country. The economic crisis led to an increase in taxes on the lower classes, known as the third estate, to upkeep the lavish lifestyle of the nobility. [1] All of these are the known factors that led to the rise of the French Revolution.
The French Revolution started in 1787 because the country was going through financial difficulties and there was unrest between the classes of citizens in the country. The differences between the lower class citizens and higher classes, being nobles and the monarchy were great. The citizens had heard of the revolution that went on in the colonies and they also wanted freedom and independence. The real start of the French Revolution was on July 14, 1789, with the storming of the Bastille. Between 1789 1793, a constitution was written, feudalism was abolished, war had broken out, and King Louis XVI was put to death. In late 1793 and early 1794, Maximilien Robespierre became the head of the Committee of Public Safety in France. This was the new governing body in France; it could be compared to the executive branch of a government. Robespierre was a great leader, he ins...
The first underlying cause of the French Revolution was the Old Regime. The people of France were divided into three estates. The first estate was composed of the highest church officials. They held about ten percent of all the land in France. They paid no direct taxes to the royal government. The second estate was made up of nobles. They were only two percent of France’s population, but owned twenty percent of the land. They paid no taxes (Krieger 483). The third estate accounted for ninety-eight percent of France’s population. The third estate was divided into three groups; the middle class, known as the bourgeoisie, the urban lower classes, and the peasant farmers. The third estate lost about half their income in taxes. They paid feudal dues, royal taxes, and also owed the corvee, a form of tax paid with work (Krieger 484).
There were many causes and events leading up to the French Revolution in 1789. Before the Revolution, France had been involved in many expensive wars, especially the American War of Independence, causing financial difficulties and debts which were increased through the expensive upkeep of the Royal Family and their courts. At this time the Age of Enlightenment was occurring and new ideas, challenging the Ancien Regime and the Absolute right to rule, were emerging. The monarch of the time, King Louis XVI, was a weak monarch who was incapable of making decisions and sticking to them. King Louis XIV was also incapable of using his powers in a way to spark fear and gain control of those under his power. As a result of the high debts held by the French Government, the King decided to start taxing the First and Second Estates. They objected causing the Third Estate to question why the first two estates were given choice in paying taxes when the Third Estate, who were so heavily taxed, paid all their taxes. These were the major causes leading up to and, in some cases, triggering, the French Revolution.
Because of the war the king was fighting, the government were bankrupt.With food prices on the rise and the king with his hand out the people needed resolution. Robespierre enlighten the French people with his idea of a new Republic. On January 20,1793, the French government, led by the radical Jacobins, ordered that Louis the XVI be executed for treason The Jacobin leader executed the king..and a new revolution was born. Robespierre was on the rise. Robespierre promised the people Revolutionary, but instead gave them the Reign of Terror. In a remarkable reverse revolutionary suspend the new constitution. Police scattered across the country anyone suspected of counter-revolution were rounded up quickly tried and sent to the national razor. Reign of Terror was as emergency government. What they understood by terror was striking terror into the heart of the enemies of the Republic so that they would be either scared straight, as it were, or arrest and disposed of. The slightest suspicious
Different social classes wanted change during the French Revolution. Those with a lot of money and political say wanted little to no change. Those with less money and no voice in the government wanted more change. There were many different attitudes for change during the French Revolution: “ Radicals wanted to replace the monarchy. Liberals accepted the ideas of the Enlightenment and the democratic reforms of the French Revolution. Moderates wanted to maintain a monarchy but wanted to limit its powers. Royalist supported the king and wanted to maintain the monarchy. Reactionaries opposed change, and wanted to return things to way they had been” (Document 5). Many that were part of the radicals and liberals were part of the Third Estate since they wanted the most change. The Radicals wanted a republic which allows no king and citizens to elect representatives to vote for them. The Liberals wanted a democracy which allows the people to be represented by elected officials based on population. This would allow the citizens to have more say in government. Fraternity was expressed by the different who wanted or no change by sticking together on their opinions. It was time for change to be made for the
“Society was cut in two: those who had nothing united in common envy; those who had anything united in common terror.” The French Revolution was a painful era that molded the lives of every citizen living in France and changed their ways of life forever. Beginning in 1789 and lasting ten years until 1799, the people of France lived in a monarch society under King Louis XVI’s rule. He was a very harsh ruler and had many restrictions placed on his people. They eventually overthrow him and become a monarch society. Among his deceptive ways, the people also experienced “The Reign of Terror,” which was a period where many lives were taken by the guillotine. Other revolutionary events included rebellions, constitutions, and groups. One of the popular groups that contributed greatly to the French Revolution were the Jacobins who were led by Maximilien Robespierre.
The French Revolution changed France forever, France became a republic, they abolished the estate system, the burdens associated with it and the old régime in general. However, none of this could of been possible if the working class (or third estate) had not revolted. The French Revolution occurred based on several reasons. Firstly, “France struggled for hegemony and, Empire outstripped the fiscal resources of the state” (Schwartz). France was also under the rule of Louis XVI, who was an ineffective leader. Louis XVI had all the power, he controlled everything. He could make the laws and the jobs, he could also decide who paid taxes and who didn’t. “In August 1788, the parliaments insisted that the measures King Louis XVI's ministry sought to impose amounted to ‘royal des...
The French Revolution, which occurred from 1789 to 1799, was a time where the monarchy was overthrown, a republic was formed, and limits were put on the church. The French Revolution ended with the rule of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The French Revolution created France’s legislative assembly, which is still in place today. Many would argue that the Enlightment was a cause of the French Revolution, but the Enlightment was not one of the main drivers for the Revolution. The bad living conditions, France’s monarchy, and the involvement in the American Revolution and other wars caused the French Revolution.