Question :
Give a startup summary of the French Revolution. (400+ words) Also with the ancient Europe map before 1789.
Note :
• There should not be any gaps of the events happened.
• Kindly don't give explanation of the events, just mention them with the causes and effects.
• Draw the map neatly and label the cities and kingdoms.
Answer if you're 100% sure to make the summary meaningful.
All the best!
Answers
The required summary is as follows ::
________________
French Revolution
• Conditions before the French Revolution :
The French Society was divided into Three Estates which were as follows :-
- First Estate : Royal Family
- Second Estate : Nobilities and Kings
- Third Estate : Poor Peasants, Merchants, Lawyers, etc.
The first two estates didn't pay the tax to the state and church. But the whole tax was levied on the third estate to pay to the government and church. These taxes were known as Tithes and Tailles. Before 1789, France and other major parts of Europe had the system of Monarchy that is they were ruled by government. During this time the monarch was King Louis XVI. He found the royal treasury empty because of the following reasons :-
- Previous kings lavishly spent money on their lifestyle.
- They helped other countries financially to wage wars.
- They gave many loans to ither countries and church people in huge amounts .
The condition was becoming worse since there wasn't money for state development. The the kind called for a general meéting of three Estates known as Estates General where from each estate only one person was to represent that estate. Third Estate didn't like this opinion. In the Estates General it was decided to increase the tax in order to gain back the lost amount of treasure. This hardened the condition of people as the prices of things went up. This brought the thinking of revolution in the minds of people of France who aimed to have a good political rule by people themselves.
• Conditions during the French Revolution ::
Third Estate people were suppressed by the above two. But third estate consisted of writers like Jean Jacques Rosseau, Montessquie, John Locke, etc. who transformed the ideologies of people to get freedom and constitution. On 5th May, 1789 people of France especially the Third Estate people stormed the royal prison of Bastille in Paris which stood for the despotic power of the king. Peopke freed the revolutionary prisoners and hoarded the ammunitions and weapons. Similarly other such symbols were destroyed. Finally the king Louis XVI and his wife were guillotined. The most popular of the revolutionary groups were the Jacobins whose leader was Maximilian Robespierre. Now the Third Estate people renamed the Estates General to National Assembly and started forming the Constitution. Meanwhile there was situation of turmoil in other parts of France. As the news of revolution spread, the second estate people afforded the police to face the terror of middle class people. Even there was a rumour spread that these police are burning crops of farmers. So farmers revolted against the nobilities and made them flee to different countries.
• Robespierre's Reign ::
After forming up the constitution, Maximilian Roberspierre was made the monarch of country heading the newly formed Constitutional Monarchy. Robespierre himself didn't like the system of monarchs but slowly he turned as among them. He started taking up decisions on his own instead he was supposed to take advice from constitutional team. All his decision were too strict and futile that even his friends started opposing him. He introduced many laws like ban of production of white bread, conversion of church to school, etc. He used to give the punishment of being guillotined for any crime. Later he himself was guillotined by his fellowmates.
• Rule of Directory and Rise of Napoleon ::
Now in order to govern France, A Directory wad formed. This worked along with constitutional cheifs. The constant lags between directory snd chiefs led to decrease in efficiency of government. This eventually led to rise of rulers like Napoleon. Napoleon ascended the French Throne in 1798.
When did it take place?
The French Revolution lasted 10 years from 1789 to 1799. It began on July 14, 1789 when revolutionaries stormed a prison called the Bastille. The revolution came to an end 1799 when a general named Napoleon overthrew the revolutionary government and established the French Consulate (with Napoleon as leader).
The French Estates
Before the French Revolution, the people of France were divided into social groups called "Estates." The First Estate included the clergy (church leaders), the Second Estate included the nobles, and the Third Estate included the commoners. Most of the people were members of the Third Estate. The Third Estate paid most of the taxes, while the nobility lived lives of luxury and got all the high-ranking jobs.
Revolutionary Government
The French Government was in constant turmoil throughout the revolution. At the start of the revolution, representatives from the Third Estate established the National Assembly where they demanded that King Louis XVI give them certain rights. This group soon took control of the country. They changed names over time to the Legislative Assembly and, later, to the National Convention. After the Reign of Terror, a new government was formed called the Directory. The Directory ruled until Napoleon took control.
Reign of Terror
The darkest period of the French Revolution is called the Reign of Terror which lasted from 1793 to 1794. During this time, a man named Robespierre led the National Convention and the Committee of Public Safety. He wanted to stamp out any opposition to the revolution, so he called for a rule of "Terror." Laws were passed that said anyone suspected of treason could be arrested and executed by guillotine. Thousands of people were executed including Queen Marie Antoinette and many of Robespierre's political rivals.
Political Clubs
Many of the new political ideas and alliances of the French Revolution were formed in political clubs. These clubs included the powerful Jacobin Club (led by Robespierre), the Cordeliers, the Feuillants Club, and the Pantheon Club.
Outcome
The French Revolution completely changed the social and political structure of France. It put an end to the French monarchy, feudalism, and took political power from the Catholic church. It brought new ideas to Europe including liberty and freedom for the commoner as well as the abolishment of slavery and the rights of women. Although the revolution ended with the rise of Napoleon, the ideas and reforms did not die. These new ideas continued to influence Europe and helped to shape many of Europe's modern-day governments.