Key Milestones of the French Revolution and Its Impact

Key Achievements of the Early Revolution

• Abolition of Manorial Rights: All manorial rights were abolished, declaring the equality of all citizens before the law.
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen:
  • Natural rights including free property, security, and resistance to oppression.
  • Inviolable freedom of speech, press, and religious tolerance.
  • Sovereignty resides in the people; those who abuse power will be punished.
• Ecclesiastical Reform: Church lands were seized by the state and paper money (assignats) was issued.

The Constitution of 1791 and State Reform

• Division of Powers: Established the Executive (the King), the Legislature (Legislative Assembly), and the Judiciary (chosen judges).
• Administrative Division: France was divided into departments, districts, and communes.
• Voting Rights: Implementation of the right to vote.

Second Phase: The Republic and the Terror (1792-1794)

Causes of the Radicalization

1. Unfulfilled promises from the initial revolutionary phase.
2. In April 1792, France entered a war against Austria and a coalition of European states, pitting revolutionary France against traditional monarchies.

Key Characteristics and Facts

• Real power disappeared, and France was declared a Republic.
• The nation was governed by the National Convention.
• In August 1792, the people assaulted the Tuileries Palace, and Louis XVI was taken prisoner.
• The September Massacres occurred.
• The Reign of Terror lasted nearly a year, resulting in the execution of many, including Marie Antoinette.

The National Convention and Political Factions

The Convention was divided into three main groups:

• The Girondins: Led by Brissot and Vergniaud.
• The Mountaineers: Grouped with the Jacobins under the leadership of Robespierre, Marat, and Danton.
• The Plains: A moderate middle group.

The Mountaineers exercised power through the Committee of Public Safety, the National Security Council, and the Revolutionary Tribunal. These agencies allowed Robespierre to exercise a virtual dictatorship, eventually leading to the execution of Danton.

Achievements of the Convention

• The abolition of slavery in the colonies.
• The creation of civil and criminal codes.
• The founding of libraries and museums.
• Establishment of peace with some states.
• The birth of the Republic on September 22, 1792.
• An attempt to replace Christianity with the Cult of Reason.

Third Phase: The Directory (1795-1799)

The excesses of the Jacobins led to the end of the National Convention. A bicameral legislature was established, prolonging its life from 1795 to 1799.

Characteristics of the Directory

• It was a moderate regime.
• The period was marked by a serious economic crisis.
• Increased corruption and abuse of power.
• Growing discontent as the Directory proved to be totally inefficient and corrupt.