French Revolution: Key Events, Figures, and Concepts

The French Revolution: Key Phases and Concepts

Phases of the French Revolution

The Estates General

In France under the Old Regime, the Estates General was a legislative and consultative assembly of the different classes of French subjects. It had a separate assembly for each of the three estates, which were called and dismissed by the king.

The National Assembly (1789)

The Third Estate demanded a new voting system where each representative would vote individually. When the king locked the National Assembly out of the Estates General, they began to meet at a nearby tennis court.

The Constituent Assembly (1789-1791)

When the king agreed to the demands of the Third Estate, they formed a new Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution. News that troops were being sent to Versailles led to a revolt in Paris on July 14, 1789, when people attacked the Bastille.

The Legislative Assembly (1791-1792)

After the 1791 constitution, elections were held for a new Legislative Assembly, which included two main groups: the Girondins and the Jacobins. In 1793, after France was declared a Republic, a new calendar was created.

The National Convention (1792-1795)

This was the most revolutionary phase of the revolution. Louis XVI was executed by guillotine. The Jacobins took control of the government and imposed a dictatorship known as the Terror.

The Directory and The Consulate (1795-1804)

The Jacobins were overthrown, and a new constitution was adopted, creating a new form of government called the Directory. In 1804, Napoleon gained absolute power, marking the end of the French Revolution.

Key Political Groups

The Girondins

The Girondins were a political group representing the interests of the wealthy bourgeoisie. They held moderate views, supported a constitutional monarchy, and advocated for limited suffrage. They dominated the Legislative Assembly.

The Jacobins

The Jacobins were a political group representing the petite bourgeoisie. They held more radical views than the Girondins. They sought to abolish the monarchy, establish a republic, and introduce universal manhood suffrage.

Significant Events and Concepts

The Reign of Terror (1793-1794)

When the Jacobins took control of the government during the Convention, they imposed a dictatorship known as the Terror. It was led by Maximilien Robespierre. Their aim was to suppress internal revolts led by counter-revolutionaries.

Notable Historical Figures and Policies

Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon was an enlightened man who declared himself Emperor of France. He was ambitious and sought glory, spreading the revolutionary principles of liberty and equality across Europe. His most significant failure was his attempt to invade Russia. He was defeated in 1815 at the Battle of Waterloo.

The Continental Blockade

The Continental Blockade was Napoleon I of France's foreign policy against the United Kingdom, implemented in 1806 during the Napoleonic Wars. It aimed to weaken the United Kingdom, which was a central force in encouraging and financing alliances against Napoleonic France.

George Washington

George Washington was a landowner (tobacco) and the leader of the colonial army in 1775 when they decided to fight for independence. In 1789, he became the first president of the United States.