Question

what were the different coures of the french revolution

Answer 1

Apart from the National
Assembly, the common people of
France, inspired by the ideals of
liberty and equality, had decided
to revolt against injustice.
Thousands of people gathered in
the streets of Paris on July 14,
1789, and broke into the Bastille,
the state prison. They entered the
prison and released the
prisoners. The Bastille, the
symbol of a despotic monarchy,
was destroyed.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The fall of the Bastille is an
important landmark in the
history of the French Revolution.
France observed 14th July 1789
as the Independence Day. On
August 12, 1789, the National
Assembly adopted the
“Declaration of the Rights of
Man”. It declared, “Men are born
and remain free and are equal in
rights.” The drafting of the
Constitution was completed by
the end of 1791.
In 1792, the French monarchy
was abolished and France
became a republic upholding the
principles of liberty, equality and
fraternity. A provisional
government was set up. In 1793,
executive authority passed into
the hands of a radical political
group called the Jacobins.
Their leader was Robespierre. He
passed orders to execute
thousands of “enemies” of the
Republic. During this ‘Reign of
Terror’ thousands of innocent
Robespierre people were also
guillotined on the suspicion of
treason. King Louis XVI and
Queen Marie Antoinette were
also guillotined (1793) as traitors.
The execution of Emperor Louis
XVI and his Queen came as a
rude shock to the monarchical
countries of Europe. The
European powers formed a
coalition against France (1793).
In France, after the death of
Robespierre, the moderate
leaders gained ground. A
Directory comprising five
directors exercised power
(1795-1799). During this period
France went through great
turmoil due to lack of efficient
governance.
The Directors depended on the
military genius of Napoleon to
fight the European coalition and
earn the confidence of the
people. Finding himself popular,
Napoleon overthrew the
Directory. In December 1804,
Napoleon declared, himself the
“Emperor of the French”. The
legal veil of republicanism was
dropped.