3 Phases of the French Revolution Pre-Revolutionary Events (mid 1789) May 5, 1789 – Louis XVI...

3 Phases of the French Revolution Pre-Revolutionary Events (mid 1789)

May 5, 1789 – Louis XVI calls a meeting of the Estates General (to raise taxes)

June 17, 1789 – The 3rd Estate declares itself the National Assembly

June 20, 1789 – Locked out of the meeting hall by the King, the National

Assembly goes to an indoor tennis court and swears the “Tennis Court Oath” (an agreement to never separate until France has a new constitution)

July 14, 1789 – Storming of the Bastille (symbolic start of the French Revolution)

Phase 1 –

National Assembly takes over – 1789 – 1792

Type of Government: Constitutional Monarchy (King and Legislative Assembly)

Leaders: 3rd Estate – Followers of Enlightenment principles

August 27, 1789 – The Declaration of the Rights of Man is adopted. A statement of natural

rights based on U.S. Declaration of Independence.

A constitution is written (although not completed and accepted for some time)

Fear of revolution spreading to other countries brings a war with Austria

National emergencies – food shortages, war losses, invasion

Jacobins Girondins

Disagreements between political parties – radical Paris Jacobins and moderate Girondins from the countryside.

King Louis XVI tries to flee to Austria with his family, but they are recognized and captured.

Phase 2 –

Creation of the National Convention (1792 – 1794)Type of Gov’t –

Republic (but it became a dictatorship under Robespierre)

Leaders: Radical Jacobin political party, led by Danton, Marat, and Robespierre

Radicals rally mobs in Paris , say the Revolution hasn’t come far enough - run out the Girondins (moderates)

September Massacres-

Mobs storm Paris prisons and violently murder many who were innocent of any wrongdoing.

King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and many others are executed, resulting in world-wide condemnation of the revolution.

Robespierre suspends liberties – takes dictatorial control and begins the Reign of Terror

Reign of Terror: persecution of all opposition, sending anyone who complains to the guillotine

NEW GOALS: To win the war, remodel society, erase any symbols of the monarchy

Violent rule and thousands of deaths leads to fear of Robespierre by everyone.

Despite this fear, many join together to end Robespierre’s rule – he is beheaded.

Robespierre tried and failed to take his own life before he could be executed by the guillotine

Phase 3 –

Creation of the Directory (1795 – 1799)

Type of Gov’t:

Republic

Leaders: 5 moderate bourgeoisie

“directors”

War begins to go well for the French, but life is still not fully stabilized

Military force is used to maintain order and some rights are restored

Government leadership is moderate, but weak

Weakness, corruption, and a coup d’ etat by Napoleon ends the Directory