The French Revolution: Causes, Phases, and Key Events

Causes of the French Revolution

1. Taxation System: The complex system of administration and taxation prevented the government from raising necessary funds and limited the influence of the Third Estate.
2. American War: France's involvement in the American War of Independence, while resulting in victory against Britain, led to a financial crisis due to the high cost of fighting overseas. This economic strain contributed to the French Revolution.
3. Price Increases: Crop failures and harsh winters resulted in food shortages and price increases, impacting peasants and the urban poor. The rising cost of living, coupled with a financial crisis, led to increased unemployment and social unrest.

The Beginning of the Revolution (1789)

The privileged classes resisted tax reform, leading to the convocation of the Estates General, representing the three estates (clergy, nobility, and commoners). Disputes over voting procedures led the Third Estate to declare themselves the National Assembly. They took the Tennis Court Oath, vowing to remain assembled until a new constitution was drafted. The storming of the Bastille, a symbol of royal authority, and peasant uprisings in rural areas further fueled the revolution. King Louis XVI eventually recognized the National Assembly's legitimacy.

Phases of the Revolution (1789-1799)

The revolution transitioned through various forms of government:

1. Constitutional Monarchy (1789-1792): This phase introduced census suffrage, granting voting rights based on wealth, and aimed to dismantle the Ancien Régime while implementing moderate liberal reforms.
2. Democratic Republic (1792-1794): Universal male suffrage was established, granting all men over 25 the right to vote. This period saw the rise of radical politics and the Reign of Terror.
3. Bourgeois Republic (1794-1799): The moderate bourgeoisie regained power, leading to a more conservative approach to governance.

The First French Republic

The Democratic Republic (1792-1794)

Following the attempted escape and capture of Louis XVI, the Girondist Convention (moderate revolutionaries) proclaimed the First French Republic. The radical Jacobins, led by Robespierre, eventually seized power, establishing the Committee of Public Safety and initiating the Reign of Terror. A new constitution based on social democracy was implemented, along with social reforms and a new calendar.

The Fall of the Jacobins

Opposition to the Jacobins' violent methods led to a coup, ending the Reign of Terror and resulting in the execution of Robespierre and other Jacobin leaders.

The Bourgeois Republic (1794-1799)

The conservative bourgeoisie returned to power, establishing a new constitution with a strong executive branch. This period was marked by tensions between those who desired a return to monarchy and those who supported the more radical Jacobin ideals.