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The French Revolution

In December of 1792, King Louis XVI was brought to trial in front of the National Convention, found guilty of conspiring against the people of France, and sentenced to death by guillotine.

The absolute monarchy in France under the rule of Louis XIV (1643-1715) was the envy of all European leaders. He successfully centralized the government and encouraged trade and industrialization. He and his successors Louis XV (1715-74) and Louis XVI (1774-1793) participated in many long and costly conflicts and suffered an agonizing defeat in the Seven Years War against Britain, which lasted from 1756-1763.

By the time of the French Revolution, the motherland had suffered a crushing blow by the Prussian army. France became involved in the American Revolution to strike a blow at Britain. It came time for a strong, stable monarch to uphold the dying absolutist system.

French women made important contributions to the cause throughout the revolution, as theorists, organizers, and activists. In October of 1789, with dire food shortages and exorbitant prices, a crowd of 6,000 Parisian women marched to Versailles to demand bread from the King and Queen.

Louis XVI was neither strong nor stable and was unable to maintain the strength of the Ancien Regime. All of the citizens of France were discontented with the old system. The nobles wanted power that had been seized by the monarch. The Bourgeoisie or middle class resented the privileges of the nobles. The Bourgeoisie and the peasants hated the existing tax system and the lingering effects of feudal society.

This growing discontent was compounded by economic troubles. The government was burdened with large debts and eventually went bankrupt. The nobles refused to pay taxes, so the bourgeoisie and peasants paid the largest portion of the tax.

France's financial troubles, class struggles, and social discontent led to the start of the revolution. The Ancien Regime had to be changed and the political, economic, and social aspects of French life needed reform. As a last-ditch effort to pull the country together, Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General. This was the first time since 1614 that the group met.

The function of the group was to contribute to the government of France. It was split into three estates based on class affiliation. The largest group, made up of commoners, was responsible for bringing about change in the way that the group and the government itself did business and succeeded in bringing rights to the common man.

As the country struggled to find a system of government that worked, it experienced massive amounts of violence and terror. The government was transformed into a constitutional monarchy, experimented with democracy, and experienced a Reign of Terror.

Death, destruction, and increased liberty and equality all resulted from the French Revolution. The powers granted to the common man through the various constitutions that were created and the improved economy are positive results of this long era of change.

Mass murders of counterrevolutionaries and royalists and mob violence were instrumental in bringing about these changes in 18th century France. All things considered, the French Revolution remains as one of the lasting stories of class struggle and civil disobedience that continue to excite readers today.

The Old
Regime

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