French Revolution: From Estates-General to Napoleon's Consulate

Period of French Revolution

Increasing economic and political problems led Louis XVI to call the Estates-General in 1789 to increase taxes, sparking the revolution.

The National Assembly (1789)

The Third Estate proposed a system where each representative had a vote. The King refused, so members of the Third Estate declared themselves the true representatives, forming the National Assembly and demanding a constitution. The Oath of the Tennis Court (89) saw the Third Estate enclosed until France had a constitution.

Constituent Assembly (1789-1791)

The King agreed, and a Constituent Assembly was elected to write a constitution. Riots began in Paris streets, and on July 14, 1789, the Bastille (a political prison) was attacked. More riots started across France, including an assault on Versailles, leading to the capture of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

The Constituent Assembly abolished feudal rights and approved the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (all men are free and equal in rights, with the freedom to do anything that does not harm others). Louis XVI tried to flee to Austria for support but was discovered. In 1791, the Constituent Assembly adopted a constitution establishing a constitutional monarchy, popular sovereignty, separation of powers, and limited male suffrage (based on wealth).

Legislative Assembly (1791-92)

The Legislative Assembly was elected to implement legal changes. Two political groups dominated:

• Girondins: Revolutionaries with bourgeois interests, moderate political ideas, favoring liberal economic policies and limited suffrage. They wanted to spread the revolution to Europe.
• Jacobins: More radical revolutionaries who aimed to abolish the monarchy, put the King on trial, expand suffrage to universal male, and control price rises to help workers. They gained support from Parisian laborers known as sans-culottes and focused on revolution within France. Leaders included Robespierre, Danton, and Marat. They were republicans.

Louis XVI opposed the Legislative Assembly's reforms and sought Austrian support. In response, the Assembly imprisoned him in the Tuileries Palace in Paris, abolished the monarchy, and declared the First Republic (1792-1804). Louis XVI attempted to escape in 1791 but was discovered. The Republic created a new calendar without Christian dates.

The Convention (1792-1795)

A new assembly, the Convention, declared Louis XVI guilty of treason and executed him and Marie Antoinette in 1792. A coalition of European countries declared war on France to stop the revolution's spread. Under Robespierre's leadership, the Jacobins took control and instituted the Reign of Terror, a dictatorship aimed at coordinating the war and suppressing counter-revolutionaries. A new constitution was adopted in 1793.

• Jacobin (1792-1794): Reign of Terror, radical republic, universal suffrage.
• Girondin (1794-1795): Execution of Robespierre in 1794.

The Directory and Consulate (1795-1799)

In 1795, the middle class took control. The Directory was established to end the executions and violence. It was a more conservative government with five members (including Napoleon), removing universal suffrage.

Consulate: In 1799, with France still at war and radical revolutionaries attempting to regain control, General Napoleon Bonaparte organized a military coup and established the Consulate. This consisted of three leaders known as consuls, with Napoleon as head of state and First Consul.

Coalitions against France:

• 1792-1797: Revolutionary France vs. Austria, UK, Prussia, and Spain.
• 1798-1802: Napoleon's rise to prominence.