The French Revolution

He was the strongest King in French history, saying "L'état, c'est moi" and claimed to be related to the pagan sun god. He spent large amounts of money and ate large amounts of food. He also built the palace of Versailles.

His government had a lot of problems with debt, leading to serious problems. He was weak and indecisive, allowing these problems to grow worse. His eventual solution was to tax the nobility, who forced him to convene the Estates General. The third estate was not fairly represented in the estates general, causing them to break away and form the National Assembly. This led to the Storming of the Bastille after people were suspicious that he would dismiss the national assembly. This led to the Heroine's March, where mobs of angry women forced him and Marie Antoinette back to Paris. He tried to escape to Austria, but was eventually captured and executed.

Louis XVI's wife who was criticized for her extravagant spending.

The Radical Leader of the Jacobins. He originally was against execution and slavery and he defended the poor. He executed thousands of people who went against the revolution, because he believed it was necessary.

An assembly of representatives from all three of the estates in France to discuss how taxes should be paid and other details of the estates.

A pledge made by the members of France's National Assembly in 1789, in which they vowed to continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution.

A revolutionary political group that favored the ending of the monarchy. It had strong support from poor urban workers.

A political group that favored a limited monarchy backed by a constitution. It has strong support from the countryside.

Politicians who want the most change. They hate the King.

Politicians who want to "turn back the clock". They're most supportive of the King.

Politicians who want some change, but not too much.

Politicians who wan't to conserve the status quo, but not send it backwards.

Politicians who want a small amount of change; they are in the middle.

The first assembly, which included three groups, of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd estates. It was established by representatives of the Third Estate on June 17, 1789 to enact laws and reforms in the name of the French people.

The second assembly, which included the Jacobins, Girondists, Undecided, and the Royalists. It had the power to create laws and approve declarations of war and was established by the Constitution of 1791.

The third assembly, which included the Jacobins, New Undecideds, and the Girondists.

A committee set up by the government which initiated a draft for men 18-49 to fight against Austria and Prussia.

A period of terror, scaring people into agreeing with the revolution. It started in March 1793 and ended in July 1794. Soon after, the Jacobins took over the National Convention and millions of people were drafted to fight against Austria and Prussia. In September, the terror was increased with the Law of Suspects. This attempted to determine anyone who didn't agree with the revolution. Millions of people, including Marie Antoinette, became suspects. In November, the great terror began. France was winning their war with Austria and Prussia, so the Committee of Public Safety began to take on internal threats. By April 1794, Robespierre began to turn against his former Moderate allies. In June, France won the war. In July, Robespierre turned on his own allies and was killed. The Reign of Terror was now over.

A new republic formed by Robespierre. It was based on virtue and agreeing with the revolution. Terror was needed to achieve this society, and it was never fully achieved.

A group of five people nominated by the 500 and approved by the Ancients. They served two year terms. It got overthrown in 1799 after they canceled an election.

When a mob of poor, angry women descended upon Versailles to get revenge on Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

A declaration created by the National Assembly that states that all "men are born and remain free and equal in rights". This is just a declaration, and didn't make any real change.

A new constitution written in 1790 which governed the Catholic clergy. It created elections for bishops instead of the Pope choosing them. It also made the French clergy swear an oath to the government, making most of the church hate the revolution.

A reaction to the violence of the Reign of Terror in 1794, resulting in the execution of Robespierre and the loosening of economic controls.

People gathered weapons to defend Paris against a supposed attack by the government. A mob stormed the Bastille, and seized control of the building. This is the symbolic start of the French Revolution.

A wave of senseless panic that spread through the French countryside after the storming of the Bastille in 1789.

The three main goals of the French Revolution. They mean liberty, equality, and fraternity.

The three social classes in the Ancien Regime.

The Austrian and Prussian governments didn't want people to think that the revolution was OK, in order to maintain their own power.

This estate includes religious figures including bishops, cardinals, and priests. They pay 2% of the taxes, own 10% of the land, and make of <1% of the land.

This estate includes nobles and other royalty who support the king. They make of 2% of the population, 20% of the land, and pay almost 0% of the taxes.

This estate includes peasants, bourgeoisie, landless laborers, and urban workers. Almost everyone was a member of the third estate.

Before: There was the Enlightenment, the American Revolution, war in Europe. These things cost a lot of money. During: There was the threat of war, an early war, and the war that the CPS handled. The committee has power because of the wars. This allows them to do the Reign of Terror. After: There was another war, which caused problems and led to the return of Napoleon.

The French Revolution was both a success and a failure. It was a success in that it promoted the ideals of society such as liberty, equality, and fraternity. It was a failure because it inspired people to turn to violence during times of revolution, ultimately outweighing any positive results.

The French Revolution was caused by many different factors which were political, intellectual, economic, and social. The political factors included the King ignoring the needs of the people, and people not wanting an absolute monarchy. The intellectual factors included enlightenment ideas causing people to question a monarchy and demand rights. The economic factors included the taxation of the third estate more than the other estates and the corruption of the Catholic Church. The social factors included Marie Antoinette's wasteful and glamorous lifestyle, and the peasant killing nobles and burning castles during the Great Fear.

The three main goals of the French Revolution were liberty, equality, and fraternity. Liberty meant that everyone had all of their natural rights and freedoms. Equality meant that everyone would be equal in the eyes of the government. Fraternity meant that everyone would get along and respect each other's rights.

People were better off in some ways after the revolution. Most people had more rights than before the revolution, but the current government was corrupt. Also, only rich men could vote, there are still huge economic problems, and there is more war.

Robespierre could be both a hero and a traitor. He championed the equal rights of men, abolishing slavery, and defended the poor as a lawyer. He was also a ruthless leader who executed thousands of people for going against the revolution and turned on his own political allies for not being loyal enough.