FRENCH REVOLUTION

FRENCH REVOLUTION

1. MAIN STAGES

   • NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
     • - Summoned inAugust 1788. -Donde in 1789 (start of the Revolution) -Cahiers de doleánces. -National assembly: non-listened 3rd state complains=>declared themselves representatives and continue meeting until written Consitution.
     • -Estates General= way to face crisis by rising taxes to every person, without exception.
   • CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY
     • -Storming of the Bastille (14/7/1789) -New national guards. -Abolishion of feudal rights) -Declaration of Rights of the Man and Citizen. -Civil Constitution of the Clergy. -Flight to the Varennes (20-21/6/1791). -Constitution approved by Constituent Assembly (Sept. 1791). => Republicanism growth.
   • LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
     • *GIRONDINS   -Represented interest of bourgeoisie.   -Moderate.   -Liberalism.   In favour of limited suffrage.   -BRISSOT.
     • *JACOBINS:   -Radicals.   -In favour of expand suffrage.   -Abolish monarchy and judge king.   -Control prices.   -Labourers (sans-culottes).
     • *INTERNAL PROBLEMS:   -Noblemen weren't happy=> joined foreign army.  -Non-juror clergy also joined foreign army.
     • *EXTERNAL PROBLEMS:   -Austria+Prussia vs. France (April 1992).   -Valmy: victory for France (April 1992) after several defeats.
     • *TULLERIES ATTACK:   -Palace looted by them before Valmy and palace were Louis XVI was arrested.
   • THE CONVENTION
     • *GIRONDINS (1792-93).   -Republic porclamation.   -Louis XVI accused of treason, executed by the guillotine in January 1793.   -Republican Calendar from 22nd Sept. 1792.   -New war. France (300000 soldiers) vs. Austria+Prussia, due to Louis XVI's death.   -Internal counter-revolution (La Vendée) supported by nobility, part of catholics and some peasants+royal family remaining.
     • *JACOBINS (June 1793-1795).   -12 members led by Robespierre)   -Dictatorship "le Terror".   -Deal with European Wars and Internal Counter Revolution.   -Execution of Marie Antoinette, Girondists and 45000 more.   -Universal suffrage. -Controlled prices. -July 1794: Robespierre removed.
   • THE DIRECTORY & CONSULATE
     • *DIRECTORY (1795-99).   -5 directors.   -Moderate middle class.   -More conservative: censitary suffrage, Constitution of Year III (1795).   -Radicals wanted to gain power=> Napoleon=> Coup of 18 Brumaire.
     • *CONSULATE (1799-1804)   -· members led by Napoleon because of alphabetical order (Bonaparte, Siéyes and Ducos)..

2. MAIN CAUSES

   • ENLIGHTENMENT IDEAS
     • -Intellectuals+bourgeoisie -Ideas of equality & liberty
   • SOCIAL CRISIS
     • -Clergy and nobility didn`t want to pay any tax. -Bourgeoisie wanted no absolutism and to participate in politics. -Peasantry suffered many economic problems. *Middle class and peasantry angry because of the luxurious royal lifestyle.
   • ECONOMICAL CRISIS
     • -Bankrupted state (war appearances and royal luxuries). -Louis XVI ministers increased taxes even to privileged people.
   • POLITICAL CRISIS
     • -Estates General = 3 states:     *1st: nobility (1% of population)  300 representatives=1vote.     *2nd: clergy (2% of population)  300 representatives=1vote.     *3rd: middle class+peasantry(97% of the population) 600 representatives=1vote. UNFAIR SYSTEM.