The French Revolution: Key Events by Diana Maria Pineda Laguna

First Stage "Moderate Stage" of the French Revolution (1789-1791): Meeting of Estate General

valfaro9 — 2024-10-16 18:51:04 UTC

Meeting of the Estates General (1789): King Louis XVI called for representatives from clergy, nobility, and commoners to address financial crisis.

Second Stage "Radical Stage" of the French Revolution (1792-1794): Execution of Louis XVI

dianapinedalaguna — 2024-10-17 02:18:08 UTC

In December 1792, the former king, now referred to as Citizen Louis Capet, was tried and found guilty of numerous crimes that amounted to high treason, and he was sentenced to death by guillotine. Louis not only mishandled the French fiscal crisis exacerbating rather than alleviating national debt and economic instability but alienated both political reforms and traditional nobles through his half-hearted indecisive political reform projects. The first and only execution of a French king by his subjects, the death of Louis XVI marked the death of the Ancien Régime and ended a millennium of uninterrupted French monarchy. It greatly expanded the French Revolutionary Wars (1792-1802), led to the Reign of Terror.

Second Stage "Radical Stage" of the French Revolution (1792-1794): Rise of Maximilien Robespierre

dianapinedalaguna — 2024-10-17 02:36:19 UTC

Maximilien Robespierre began his political career in 1789, when he was elected to represent the Third Estate of Artois in the pre-Revolutionary Estates-General. As a representative of the Third Estate, Robespierre promoted the interests of the lower classes. He and other representatives of the Third Estate joined together to form the short-lived National Assembly, which was eventually replaced by the Legislative Assembly and, later, the National Convention. Robespierre reached the height of his power under the National Convention. Robespierre became increasingly popular for his attacks on the monarchy and his advocacy of democratic reforms.

First Stage "Moderate Stage" of the French Revolution (1789-1791): Fall of the Bastille

valfaro9 — 2024-10-17 02:42:04 UTC

Fall of the Bastille (1789): Revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, symbolizing uprising against monarchy and widespread action.
Development of a French Constitution and Bill of Rights: National Assembly created the French Constitution, laying the groundwork for a constitutional monarchy.

First Stage "Moderate Stage" of the French Revolution (1789-1791): Development of a Constitution and a Bill of Rights

valfaro9 — 2024-10-17 02:43:41 UTC

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen: Established principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, aiming for a more just society.

Second Stage "Radical Stage" of the French Revolution (1792-1794): Reign of Terror

dianapinedalaguna — 2024-10-17 02:52:32 UTC

The Reign of Terror was a climactic period of state-sanctioned violence which saw the public executions and mass killings of thousands of counter-revolutionary 'suspects'. The Terror was organized by the twelve-man Committee of Public Safety, which exercised almost dictatorial control over France. In the autumn of 1793, as the Revolution fractured and the War of the First Coalition (1792-1797) spiraled out of control, the National Convention deemed it necessary to implement Terror as the order of the day so that it could root out counter-revolutionary spies and conspirators. This led to the enactment of the Law of Suspects, which allowed for the arrests of between 300,000 and half a million citizens nationwide. 16,594 of these 'suspects' were formally executed after a trial, while around 10,000 died in prison, and thousands more were killed in various massacres staged across France. It is estimated that the total death toll during the ten-month Reign of Terror rests anywhere between 30-50,000.

Third Stage "Directory Period" of the French Revolution (1795-1799): A new constitution

mandino7 — 2024-10-17 04:36:34 UTC

During this period a new constitution was created after the fall of Roberspierre. A new council named the Directory appeared in a five member system. Also divided itself between the council of five hundred (lower house) and the council of ancients (upper house).

Fourth Stage "Napoleonic Phase" (1799-1815): Rise of Napoleon: Dictator to Emperor

marianalourdesmata — 2024-10-17 04:59:13 UTC

The rise of Napoleon Bonaparte to power through the Coup of 18 Brumaire, which saw him create the Consulate and become the First Consul of France, marked the start of the Napoleonic Phase (1799–1815). Important successes like the Battle of Marengo in 1800 and the Treaty of Amiens in 1802, which temporarily put an end to hostilities with Britain, solidified his military prowess. Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor in 1804, establishing the First French Empire. His astounding victory at the Battle of Austerlitz in 1805 and the implementation of the Continental System in 1806, which attempted to severely damage Britain's economy, further solidified his domination in Europe.

Fourth Stage "Napoleonic Phase" (1799-1815): France Builds an Empire

marianalourdesmata — 2024-10-17 05:09:36 UTC

France's journey to ethe building of an empire is pretty complicated. Through a series of military campaigns and strategic alliances, Napoleon expanded French territory across Europe. This period saw the establishment of the First French Empire, marked by Napoleon's crowning as Emperor in 1804. His influence and reforms left a lasting impact on the regions he conquered, spreading principles of the French Revolution and modernizing governance. Despite his eventual fall, this era significantly shaped Europe's political landscape. This is where France's empire begins to grow.

Fourth Stage "Napoleonic Phase" (1799-1815): Collapse of Napoleon's Empire

marianalourdesmata — 2024-10-17 05:14:22 UTC

Napoleon's empire colapsed due to a series of events, starting with the Peninsular War and the invasion of Russia in 1812, which weakened his army. His defeat at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813 marked the beginning of the end, leading to his exile to Elba in 1814. Though he briefly returned to power during the Hundred Days, his final battle at Waterloo in 1815 resulted in his exile to Saint Helena, where he spent the rest of his life. This marked the collapse of his once vast empire.

Third Stage "Directory" of the French Revolution (1797): Challenges in the council

mandino7 — 2024-10-17 05:23:12 UTC

France had a weak economy at the time and was really struggling to keep up. This new system was also having a hard time trying to keep, in addition to it the council of the Directory was filled with corruption.

Third Stage "Wars" of the French Revolution (1794-1799): Foreign Wars

mandino7 — 2024-10-17 05:27:07 UTC

Since at this times, France was in war with different countries. They had a difficult time trying to work their way up in the revolution. The Directory relied heavily in military success. Their only problem was the influence that Napoleon Bonaparte was gaining.

Third Stage of the French revolution (1799): The fall of the Directory

mandino7 — 2024-10-17 05:30:34 UTC

Due to the lack of support and the lack of efficiency in the council. The directory slowly started to fade, they had way too much economic problems that were unsustainable and political instability.

Napoleon along Emmanuel Jieyes staged a coup that overthrew the Directory.