French Revolution (1 janv. 1789 – 1 janv. 1799)

Description:

Genesis:
- Unable to pass new taxes, the king calls for the States General to convene for the first time in 175 years (1789)

- The Third State (represented by wealthy townspeople, the bourgeoise) demands a vote is counted separately for each candidate rather than per each state. The request is rejected.

- Outraged, they assemble as National Assembly to work out a new constitution and a new form of government. They are joined by most of the clergy and a part of the nobles.

- Louis XVI collects troops around Paris, which sparks rumours about a possible shelling from the Bastille.

Outbreak:
- 14th July 1789: The Parisians create a militia that storms the Bastille under marquis de La Fayette.

Developments:
- The revolution spreads throughout the country

- The Declaration of the Rights of the Man and of the Citizen is written

- The National Assembly takes over the power; they need funds, so they confiscate Church grounds for resale and do away with some Church institutions as contrary to human rights (e.g. monasteries)

- 1791: A new constitution is enacted, turning France into a constitutional monarchy; citizens gain rights according to a wealth qualification

- During Legislative Assembly's proceedings, the constitutionalists were sitting on the right (no more changes), while parties advocating for further changes were sitting on the left (Jacobins, Cordeliers, Girondins).

- 1792: France goes to war with Austria, scoring grave losses. The Legislative Assembly lead by the Girondins suspends the monarchy, imprisons the king and a new assembly known as the National Convention announces France is now a republic. Soon after, the king is guillotined for treason.

- Appaled at the developments, European rulers plan an attack on France. The government takes a series of unpopular decisions. Counter-revolution of the royalists begins.

- 1793: The Jacobins and Cordeliers push for centralisation of power and introduction of terror measures to save the revolution. They take over the rule and sentence the Girondins to death for treason.

- 1794: A rift in the government leads first to the guillotining of extremely radical Hebertists, and then the moderate Dantonists, leaving only Robespierre's Jacobin faction.

- The Reign of Terror: increasingly more radical measures are introduced; countless people are murdered. Authoritarian rule.

- Fall of Robespierre: feeling threatened, the centrists in the National Convention decide on a coup d'etat, attacking Robespierre and other Jacobins on 9 Thermidor (27 July). They are guilotinned the next day.

- 1795: Inauguration of the French Directory as a new governmental body. Corruption is rampant. A strong opposition is formed.

- The Directory sends the unsettlingly popular general Napoleon Bonaparte on a far mission to push out England from India.

- 1798: Bonaparte reaches Egypt, which sparks the creation of another anti-French coalition.

Ajouté au bande de temps:

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