Understanding the French Revolution: Key Moments and Influential People

Key Events & Figures of the French Revolution

The Storming of the Bastille

The storming of the Bastille represents the revolution, the end of the Ancien Régime, and the beginning of the French Revolution. The people (representing the 98% of the population) rose against the king's power, provoking a huge social movement in France. The Bastille, the king's prison, symbolized royal power. This event occurred on July 14, 1789, and its impact is still felt today, as the French celebrate their National Holiday every year on this date.

The Tennis Court Oath

This event, which took place on June 20, 1789, during the French Revolution, symbolizes freedom, equality, and fraternity. It represents an inverted social pyramid where the people (98%) have the same power as the nobility and clergy (2%). In the painting depicting this event, people from all walks of life appear at the bottom, with women and children at the top sides, contrasting with the original social pyramid where nobility and clergy held the highest positions. The famous motto “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité (ou la mort)” (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity or Death) originated here.

The Execution of the King

The execution of the King, painted in 1791-1792, represents the beginning of the republic and the essence of democracy – the power of the people. The removal of the king's statue in the picture signifies the end of the monarchy and a fundamental change in power. The French people in the painting are depicted at the same level, symbolizing the absence of a king and the empowerment of the people. The royal attitude led the Girondin Convention to proclaim the republic.

Montesquieu

Montesquieu, a nobleman, articulated the doctrine of the separation of powers in detail. His theory posited that liberty is best protected when government is divided into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch makes the law (Congress), the executive branch approves the law, and the judicial branch ensures the law is enforced. The people vote for the congress.

Rousseau

Rousseau was a significant figure during the French Revolution because he advocated for a social contract, emphasizing the people's social responsibility. He argued that a government can only obtain authority over the people if the people themselves consent to that authority. His most famous quote is: “Man is born free, and is everywhere in chains.”

Sieyès

Despite his noble status, Sieyès identified with the “common” people of France and made three famous demands against the obvious inequality. He advocated that the Estates General should be elected on a one-person, one-vote basis, creating an equal voting system. Sieyès also wrote the famous Declaration of the Rights of Man.