Summary History 3.2, 3.4 and 3.7
3.2 Causes of the French Revolution
Louis XVI had debts because of expensive wars he wanted to introduce new taxes and needed
permission from the States-General. All three Estates were in the States-General. They met in May 1789
for the first in 175 years. 3 causes:
1. Enlightenment
2. Inequality of the Ancien Régime.
3. France’s lack of money.
3.2 The national Assembly
The States-General met in May 1789 and the third Estate demanded that the vote should be personal,
not one vote for each estate. They left and started their own meeting = the National Assembly / People’s
Parliament. They were not going to leave until France had a constitution. When rumors started that
Louis XVI had sent soldiers to imprison the National Assembly, the poor Parisians revolted on 14 July
1789: they attack the Bastille prison.
3.2 French Revolution
The French Revolution spread and Louis XVI had to recognize the National Assembly, who:
1. Stopped the privileges of the First and Second Estate.
2. Made the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the citizen: a document that said all French
were given fundamental rights.
3. Made a new constitution in 1791: wealthy citizens could vote, the king loses absolute power and
has to obey the National Assembly.
3.2 Death of Louis XVI
Noblemen and the king didn’t like the new changes and tried to flee to foreign countries: they all had
family there.
Then in 1792, a war broke out between Franca and Austria + Prussiathe revolutionaries blamed Louis
XVI and said he had asked foreign countries to help him. He was beheaded in 1793France was a
republic.
3.2 Robespierre
In the National Assembly, the bourgeoisie split into two groups: the Girondists (moderates) and Jacobins
(radicals). Girondists first had the power but people were unhappy:
1. Wars were unsuccessful.
2. Poverty didn’t improve.
3. People didn’t have enough political influence.
Jacobins wanted voting rights (suffrage) for all men. The Jacobin leader Robespierre seized power and
started the Great Terror (1793-1794): if you disagreed you were beheaded by guillotine.
3.2 Causes of the French Revolution
Louis XVI had debts because of expensive wars he wanted to introduce new taxes and needed
permission from the States-General. All three Estates were in the States-General. They met in May 1789
for the first in 175 years. 3 causes:
1. Enlightenment
2. Inequality of the Ancien Régime.
3. France’s lack of money.
3.2 The national Assembly
The States-General met in May 1789 and the third Estate demanded that the vote should be personal,
not one vote for each estate. They left and started their own meeting = the National Assembly / People’s
Parliament. They were not going to leave until France had a constitution. When rumors started that
Louis XVI had sent soldiers to imprison the National Assembly, the poor Parisians revolted on 14 July
1789: they attack the Bastille prison.
3.2 French Revolution
The French Revolution spread and Louis XVI had to recognize the National Assembly, who:
1. Stopped the privileges of the First and Second Estate.
2. Made the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the citizen: a document that said all French
were given fundamental rights.
3. Made a new constitution in 1791: wealthy citizens could vote, the king loses absolute power and
has to obey the National Assembly.
3.2 Death of Louis XVI
Noblemen and the king didn’t like the new changes and tried to flee to foreign countries: they all had
family there.
Then in 1792, a war broke out between Franca and Austria + Prussiathe revolutionaries blamed Louis
XVI and said he had asked foreign countries to help him. He was beheaded in 1793France was a
republic.
3.2 Robespierre
In the National Assembly, the bourgeoisie split into two groups: the Girondists (moderates) and Jacobins
(radicals). Girondists first had the power but people were unhappy:
1. Wars were unsuccessful.
2. Poverty didn’t improve.
3. People didn’t have enough political influence.
Jacobins wanted voting rights (suffrage) for all men. The Jacobin leader Robespierre seized power and
started the Great Terror (1793-1794): if you disagreed you were beheaded by guillotine.
