French Revolution Overview
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Short summary of the French Revolution
The French Revolution (1789 – 1799) was a series of revolutionary
movements that ended the Ancien Regime in France. It is considered a model
of bourgeois political revolution because it achieved the conquest of power by
the bourgeoisie. That political dominance allowed him to impose his criteria,
both economic (economic liberalism), social (classes) and political
(parliamentarism in its first two forms: liberalism and democracy).
Causes
Economically, France was experiencing a deep crisis , especially of
underproduction, the countryside did not produce enough and this would lead to
hunger. Furthermore, the French State was running a large deficit, and French
society was dissatisfied; they were aware that their situation had gradually
worsened and they wanted change.
The trigger for the revolution was mainly the nobility, when Louis XVI's ministers
asked for tribute from them.
The stages through which the French Revolution passes are :
– Convocation and meeting of the States General , June 1789.
– Constituent Assembly , June
1789 – October 1791, where a
constitution was made that
established four points: a
parliamentary monarchy,
national sovereignty, division of
powers and decentralization.
This Thus France was divided
into 83 departments. In addition,
the assembly abolished the
manor regime and the tithe, and
obtained the approval of the
declaration of the Rights of
Man and the Citizen, which
would establish the abolition of
the privileges of a few, the
limitation of the power of the
monarchy and would give a series of rights to citizens, especially freedom,
property, legal equality, security, conscience and expression. This defines the
basic ideology of the bourgeois revolutionary spirit. During this period the
Storming of the Bastille occurred (July 14, 1789)
– Legislative Assembly , October 1791 – September 1792.
– Convention , September 1792 – October 1795, where the first beheadings of
aristocrats, religious clerics and prisoners took place.
– Girondin Convention , September 1792 – June 1793.
– Mountain Convention , June 1793 – July 1794, the petite bourgeoisie takes
power in France. It was the period when Queen Marie Antoinette was
beheaded.
– Thermidorian Convention , July 1794 – October 1795, a coup d'état takes
place in Thermidor (July 27, 1794) and with it the big bourgeoisie returns to
power. The latest revolutions take place, but the army solves it in favor of the
government. France is in the midst of an economic crisis and great political
instability, which will lead to an intervention by the army, in this case at the
hands of General Napoleon Bonaparte .
– The Directory , October 1795 – November 1799, was the last form of
government of the French Revolution . In this period the foundations of the
regime of notables were laid. A series of coups d'état are carried out, which
culminate on November 9, 1799, with that of the 18th Brumaire , carried out by
Napoleon Bonaparte and with which he overthrows the Directory and
establishes the Consulate.
SHORT SUMMARY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
The French Revolution (1789-1799) is one of the most momentous events in Universal History.
It was a political and social movement that shook all of Europe and had worldwide
repercussions. The bourgeoisie and the popular classes put an end to the absolutist
monarchical regime in 1791 and implemented a republican regime in 1792.
Short summary of the French Revolution
It broke out in Paris in 1789 to end the privileges that the nobility and clergy enjoyed in the
"Ancient Regime." It was headed by the bourgeoisie, whose representatives were readers of
the philosophers of the Enlightenment.
It all started when King Louis XVI and his minister Necker convened the States General to
inform the three estates (nobility, clergy and people) about the economic crisis. But the Third
Estate demanded that the vote be "per capita" and, failing to achieve this, its members formed
the National Assembly. Here they proclaimed the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the
Citizen" (8-26-1789) and convened a Constituent Assembly.
The King dismissed Necker and an angry crowd stormed the Bastille Fortress (7/14/1789). The
Assembly abolished the privileges of the nobility and the clergy. The King and his family
attempted to escape from France, but were captured at Varennes. On September 3, 1791, the
first Constitution of France was approved, which established the Constitutional Monarchy.
Louis XVI remained king of France.
When the Legislative Assembly was installed (1-6-1791), two groups were formed: the
"girondins" (bourgeois) and the "Jacobins" (petty bourgeoisie). The lawyer Maximiliano
Robespierre stood out in this group. In mid-1792, Prussia and Austria invaded France, but were
defeated at Valmy (9-20-1792). Shortly after, the Assembly abolished the monarchy and
established the Republic.
The government passed into the hands of the Convention. Here Robespierre implemented a
"Regime of Terror", executing thousands of "enemies of the revolution", including Louis XVI.
But the Girondists carried out the "Coup of the 9th of Thermidor" (7-27-1794) and established
the Directory, which repressed the Jacobins. Anarchy spread until 1799 when General
Napoleon Bonaparte gave the "Coup of 18 Brumaire" (11-9-1799). He established the
Consulate, restored public order, supported the bourgeoisie and relieved the economy.
