French Revolution
Causes of the French Revolution Bad Harvests High Prices (Inflation) High Taxes Enlightenment Ideas Debt Ineffective leadership of Louis XVI
Events after the Fall of the Bastille
Great Fear Rebellion spreads to countryside Peasants attack nobles homes Bread Riot March to Versailles Let them eat cake Royal Family imprisoned
Beginning of Radical Changes End of feudal privileges Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen State-controlled church
Divisions Develop 2 years of arguing over constitution Limited constitutional monarchy King stripped of many powers Legislative Assembly Created laws and approved declarations of war King still enforced the laws Louis attempted escape
Factions Split France Radicals, Moderates Conservatives Emigres Nobles who fled France and wanted the Old Regime back Sans-culottes those without knee breeches
War Austria and Prussia pushed for restoration of the king. Why????? Royal family imprisoned Fear causes massacres
Changes in government (again?) yes again Constitution set aside, king deposed, dissolution of assembly and election of new legislative body National Convention Republic is created
Jacobins Radical political organization takes control Jean-Paul Marat Writer of LAmi du Peuple (friend of the people) Georges Danton Lawyer, speaker
Trial of Louis XVI Treason Close vote GUILLOTINE
Reign of Terror Maximilien Robespierre Get rid of past Get rid of religion Get rid of opponents of revolution Committee of Public Safety 40,000 dead
End of Terror Robespierre executed Another new government Power in Upper Middle class 2 house legislature Executive body of five moderate men- DIRECTORY