1. French Revolution 1789

2. At the end of the eighteenth century France was ruled by King Louis XVI. He had absolute power. He could make laws, raise taxes and go to war without asking permission from his people.

3. Life for many people was very unfair
Life for many people was very unfair. The clergy and nobles paid no taxes and got the best government jobs. The peasants were very poor, yet they had to pay taxes to the king, clergy and nobles.

4. The middle class had some money
The middle class had some money. They could afford to pay taxes but they objected because they had no political power. People who protested were sent to a huge jail in Paris called the Bastille.

5. In 1789 representatives of the peasants and middle class met and formed a French National Assembly. They invited the nobles and clergy to join them. The king was against the assembly but had to agree.

6. A rumour spread that King Louis was sending soldiers to close down the assembly. People began to search for weapons to stop him. The people knew that weapons were stored in the Bastille. On 14th July 1789 a mob attacked the Bastille and released all the prisoners. This was the start of the French Revolution.

7. One of the biggest French national holidays is Bastille Day which celebrates the storming of the Bastille.

8. Many people were killed during the French Revolution
Many people were killed during the French Revolution. The weapon of choice for the king and his soldiers was the guillotine.

9. After much fighting France became a republic in September 1792
After much fighting France became a republic in September The assembly wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man and announced that Louis was no longer king.

10. The slogan of the new assembly was ‘liberty, equality and fraternity
The slogan of the new assembly was ‘liberty, equality and fraternity.’ All French were free, equal and brothers. The new flag was red, white and blue. Red and blue were the traditional colours of Paris. The royal colour of white was in the middle to show that the king was under control of the people.

11. Republic of France

12. Louis tried to get help from other kings across Europe
Louis tried to get help from other kings across Europe. The Assembly found out and he was beheaded by guillotine in Nine months later his wife Marie Antoinette was also guillotined.

13. Marie Antoinette

14. Execution of Marie Antoinette