French+Revolution

[]Above link : French Revolution Timeline __ A Summary of the French Revolution __ The French Revolution was a time of great confusion and chaos in the French history. It began in the year 1789 and ended in the year 1799. During the Revolution, the previous absolute monarchy and the entire three estate system were abolished. People in the Third Estate had neither privileges nor rights. They were tired of being treated like a slave, and so they demanded a change right away. But of course, the government did not listen to them. Between those years France was demolish by a Revolution which radically changed the whole government, administration, military and culture of the nation. Louis XVI was the king at that time because his father had already died, and he had took over his place. He was the first king that came into power at the start of this Revolution. He was a very weak and hesitant rule, which was really terrible for the country. He barely had any idea on what he was supposed to do. He married a woman named Marie-Antoinette from Austria, whom he is going to rule the country of France with. They put France into debt with over 2 billion. They spent money that didn’t even belonged to them, it was the country`s money. This put the country of France into an abominable state, and eventually they were executed and were put into the guillotine. The Third Estate was surely tired of being treated how they were. They wanted more respect from the higher classes, and from the Government. Also, they wanted a say in the government. They wanted to have privileges like the others. They get charged for their crops, which caused them starvation and malnutrition. They couldn’t afford bread because the government had increased its price. While they were all working so hard trying to earn money to buy some bread for their family, others feasted away. Finally, this people began violent revolts. They became rebellious. In the year 1794, after Louis XVI’s execution, a new ruler named Robespierre came into power. He was worst than Louis XVI. He was such a terrible ruler. He killed more than a thousand of men in the guillotine. There weren`t fair trials, anyone suspected would get killed, even if they hadn’t done anything to harm Robespierre or the country. A year later he was arrested and executed. After such many changes, and new enlightened ideas, the French Revolution was finally over. With all of these new changes, the Third Estate was happy because they had gotten exactly what they wanted and succeeded in the Revolution. There had new ideas such as enlightenment, citizenship, nationalism, and absolute rights. After these years of chaos and disturbance, the new, modern France was finally formed. **__ Initial Equilibrium __**

~ **King Louis XVI** (May 10 1774) ruled as king of France. ~ French society consisted of three groups called //estates.// // ~ // Members of the clergy made up the first estate, nobles the second, and the rest of the people the third. ~ The clergy and nobles did not have to pay most taxes. The third estate, especially the peasants, had to provide almost all the country's tax revenue. // ~ // French writers called //philosophes// and philosophers from other countries raised new ideas about freedom. **Jean-Jacques Rousseau** suggested that the right to govern came from the people. ~ France had gone deeply into debt to finance fighting in the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) and the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783). ~ In 1778, the government was almost bankrupt. **King Louis XVI** could borrow more money or raise taxes only by calling a meeting of the **Estates-General**.

**__ Imbalance __**

~ The king had almost unlimited authority. ~ There were some checks on the king, but these came mainly from the //parliaments.//  ~ The Third Estate declared themselves the National Assembly and made the Tennis Court Oath.  ~ The king started to raise an army ~ The people captured the bastille. ~ The National assembly announced the end of feudalism and serfdom in France. In August4, 1789.

**__ Counter-Balance __**

 ~ ** King ** ** Louis XVI ** and his family tried to flee France but were arrested .. ~ France declared war on Austria.  ~ In January 21, 1793. Louis XVI sentenced to the guillotine. ~ During the **Reign of terror**, **Marie Antoinette** was beheaded to the guillotine. ~ In July 28, 1794. **Robespierre** was beheaded.

**__ Equilibrium __**

 ~ The revolution ended when Napoleon Bonaparte, a French general, took over the government. powerpoint.