Course of events of the French Revolution

In the beginning… Historians debate about the actual start of the French Revolution. Some use the Assembly of the Notables, some use the calling of the Estates General, some use the Tennis Court Oath, some use the Bastille. Others refer simply to the year 1789 without any specific date or event as a starting point.

Moderate Phase Estates General meet in May 1789 after a bitter six week stalemate over the issues of whether the Estates should meet separately or together and how they should vote, by head or by Estate, the Third Estate plus some members of the First and Second Estates vote to call themselves the National Assembly – take the Tennis Court Oath: the National Assembly declares it will not disband until a new constitution is written

Moderate Phase Louis makes a conciliatory speech, orders the Estates to meet together and calls in 18,000 troops –Rumors fly – the soldiers are there to attack the National Assembly, etc. July 14, 1789 – as unemployment grows in Paris and fears of military action spread, a mob storms the Bastille to seize weapons and gunpowder to use to defend the National Assembly

Moderate Phase soon thereafter, the king disperses his troops; king goes to Paris, gives public speech identifying with the urban poor, puts revolutionary cockade on his hat as a symbol of his acceptance of the new order and wins over the crowds; the people had “reconquered” their king the Great Fear, a massive peasant revolt, begins in the countryside the National Assembly abolishes feudalism August 27, 1789 – the National Assembly issues the Declaration of the Rights of Man October 5-6, 1789 – crowd of Parisian women marches on Versailles; the king is forced to go to Paris

Moderate Phase Church lands are nationalized King accepts, in principle, a constitutional government the National Assembly issues the Civil Constitution of the Clergy – clergy must now take an oath of loyalty to the government, are paid by the government, and are elected by the citizens guilds abolished unions and strikes prohibited

Moderate Phase attempted flight of the royal family; captured at Varennes; Declaration of Pillnitz issued by monarchs of Austria and Prussia King accepts constitution and a constitutional government is established; king will now share power with a Legislative Assembly the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by French males over the age of 25 who could pay a small tax (over 50% of all males), convenes (October 1791) – all members of this assembly are new since no member of the National Assembly was allowed to serve in it War breaks out with Austria and Prussia

Radical Phase the royal palace at the Tuileries is stormed and the king is relieved of his duties and imprisoned September 1792 – September Massacre of imprisoned aristocrats and priests due to fears of counterrevolution; the National Convention, a new form of government which assumed both legislative and executive powers, is elected by universal male suffrage; republic declared; Girondist and Mountain factions develop in the National Convention

Radical Phase January 1793 – Louis XVI is condemned and executed National Convention, already at war with Austria and Prussia, declares war on Britain, Spain and Holland Vendee, a counterrevolution in the Western provinces, begins the Committee of Public Safety is formed from representatives of the National Convention due to dire domestic and international crises 31 Girondist leaders are arrested for treason; Mountain gains control of the Committee of Public Safety new constitution is approved, but suspended indefinitely – Robespierre elected to the Committee of Public Safety

Radical Phase April 1793-July 1794 – the Committee of Public Safety saves France through a reign of terror and economic controls at home and military successes against its enemies; Levee en masse instituted in August 1793 July 28, 1794 – Robespierre executed Committee of Public Safety abolished; national Convention rules; terror ended; economic controls lifted

Return to Moderation April-May 1795: anti-government revolt suppressed by the forces of the National Convention August 22, 1795 – New Constitution approved; government now consists of a legislative assembly chose by electors not by direct ballot and a five man executive chosen by the legislative assembly known as the Directory September 4, 1797 – coup d’etat by the Directory November 9, 1799 – Napoleon seizes power

Near anarchy absolutist government/dictator Moderate government Causes of the revolution Factions in the Assembly; crisis of civil war and foreign war Counter revolutionary “witch hunts” during terror; end of crisis War with Britain; desire for stability after chaos absolutist government/dictator SecurityFreedom Rights of Individuals Rights of Society