French Revolution: Causes, Events, and Key Figures

Causes of the French Revolution

The French Revolution was triggered by several factors:

• Economic Issues: High economic benefits were not reaching the common people. Rules interfered with free trade and production. The inability to attain political power and the influence of Enlightenment ideas also played a role.
• Severe Economic Crisis: Poor harvests led to rising agricultural prices and widespread hunger, causing discomfort among the population. Royal finances were in bankruptcy.
• Estates-General Crisis: The nobility refused to pay taxes, leading to a political crisis. The voting system within the Estates-General, where each estate had one vote, was perceived as unfair by the Third Estate.

Key Events of the Revolution

Formation of the National Assembly

The Third Estate formed the National Assembly, joined by members of the nobility and clergy. This assembly aimed to create a new constitution.

Storming of the Bastille (July 14)

Popular unrest led to the storming of the Bastille, a symbol of royal authority, marking a turning point in the revolution.

National Constituent Assembly (1789-1791)

The Assembly:

• Abolished feudalism.
• Approved the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, establishing national sovereignty and the right to resist oppression.
• Established a constitutional monarchy with separation of powers.
• Banned unions and worker associations.
• Granted the king the right to veto.

Escalation of the Revolution

Conflicts arose with those who wanted to restore the old regime. Constitutionalists sought to halt revolutionary demands, while radical bourgeois elements demanded a more democratic organization. The King's attempted escape to Varennes heightened tensions.

Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly consisted of:

• Right-wing Feuillants.
• Left-wing Girondins, Jacobins, and Cordeliers, who advocated for a republic.

The storming of the Tuileries led to the arrest of the King and elections with universal male suffrage.

National Convention

The National Convention abolished the monarchy and proclaimed the Republic. The Girondin government faced pressure from European anti-revolutionary forces and royalist armies. The Jacobins then took control, implementing a policy of terror through the Committee of Public Safety, which held extensive powers. Social reforms, including minimum wages, were introduced, along with radical dechristianization efforts.