French Revolution Notes
1789
May: King Louis XVI calls a meeting of the Estates General
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the purpose of this meeting was: to get 1st & 2nd Estates to vote in favor of a tax that would
help bring France out of debt
„ the significance of this meeting was: the Estates- General had not met in 175 years
„ the result of this meeting was: 1st & 2nd Estates did1 not vote to increase taxes. 3rd Estate
realized they would not make progress & broke away fro E-G and formed National
Assembly
June: The National Assembly is formed
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The Assembly was formed because: 3rd Estate had unequal voice in Estates General
The Assembly was made up of : representatives of 3rd Estate. Louis XVI also asked 1st & 2nd
Estate reps to join.
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The Assembly made a vow called: Tennis Court Oath – swore to keep meeting until a fair
constitution was written
July: Bastille is stormed
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The Bastille was: a prison in Paris
It was stormed because: it had weapons that the 3rd Estate needed in order to defend
themselves & protect national Assembly . The Assembly fared Louis XVI would send
troops to break up the meeting.
„ It lead to violence called the Great Fear: riots, rumors of attacks on towns & peasant fields
spread, some violence against nobles who were trying to collect taxes on land
August: France’s First Constitution is written
„ The document was called The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
„ It made the following changes: Stated that all men are equal, all men can
participate in government regardless of wealth or landownership
„ King Louis XVI’s reaction: The King refused to accept the new Constitution
October: The King & National Assembly move to Paris
„ Economic changes made by the Assembly: confiscated some church lands to pay
down the debt
1791
September: A new Constitution for France
„ Changes made by the new Constitution: Limited King’s powers, but kept the
monarchy, Unicameral legislature, members to be chosen by voters, voters had
to pay a tax
„ Limitations of the new Constitution: favored the wealthy, kept the monarchy
French Revolution Notes
„ Reactions to the new Constitution: for the peasants, the new constitution was not
good enough, for the Clergy and nobility, the new constitution had gone too far
1792
April: France Declares war on Austria
„ France’s connection to Austria: Louis XVI’s brother in law is Emperor of Austria
„ France declares war because: Austria may help restore Louis XVI to the throne
„ In August Louis XVI & family: are arrested and imprisoned
September: National Convention
„ Members of the National Convention all men, mostly wealthy, professional middle
class
„ France’s new Constitution: One national legislature, universal male suffrage, no
property restriction
„ France’s new form of government: a republic
„ Fate of Louis XVI: Tried for treason, executed by the guillotine