The French Revolution

Summary

The French Revolution, a pivotal late 18th-century upheaval, overthrew the absolutist monarchy and established a new order with the bourgeoisie in power. Triggered by Enlightenment ideas and economic hardship, it led to the National Assembly, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, and the Reign of Terror. Despite radical shifts and the rise of Napoleon, the revolution's principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity continue to resonate.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The French Revolution was a pivotal political and social upheaval in late 18th-century Europe, leading to the overthrow of the old regime and the rise of the bourgeoisie.
• 💡 Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu influenced society, advocating for human knowledge to combat ignorance and tyranny.
• 📚 The Encyclopedia, a collaborative project by Diderot and d'Alembert, played a significant role in spreading Enlightenment ideas and discrediting the old regime.
• 👑 France was ruled by an absolutist monarchy, with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette at the helm, exacerbating economic and social crises through their lavish lifestyle.
• 🗳️ The Estates-General was convened in 1789, marking the beginning of the revolution, with the Third Estate demanding equal representation and eventually forming the National Assembly.
• 🏰 The storming of the Bastille on July 14 symbolized the people's defiance against monarchical absolutism and boosted the revolutionaries' confidence.
• 📜 The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted, abolishing feudalism and establishing principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.
• 🔄 The revolution radicalized, leading to the execution of the king and queen, and the rise of figures like Robespierre and Danton, who implemented the 'Reign of Terror'.
• 🗓️ The National Convention abolished the monarchy, established the First French Republic, and introduced a new calendar to further distance from the old regime.
• 🛑 The Directory, a more moderate government, replaced the National Convention, ending the Reign of Terror, but internal strife and economic crises persisted.
• 👑 Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power marked the end of the revolutionary period, as he declared himself Emperor, consolidating control and ending the era of radical change.

Q & A

What was the French Revolution?

The French Revolution was a period of radical political and societal change in France during the late 18th century, which led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a new regime where the bourgeoisie became the dominant political force.

What were the main ideas of the Enlightenment that influenced the French Revolution?

The Enlightenment ideas that influenced the French Revolution included the belief in the power of human knowledge to combat ignorance, superstition, and tyranny, and the principles of reason, equality, and freedom.

How did the economic situation in France contribute to the revolution?

The economic situation in France, characterized by military spending, poor harvests, and a severe budget deficit, created a social crisis where the people were starving while the king and nobility continued their luxurious lifestyle, oblivious to the suffering.

What was the role of the 'Third Estate' in the French Revolution?

The 'Third Estate', which comprised 97% of the population and included the bourgeoisie, artisans, and peasants, played a crucial role in the revolution as they demanded more political power and rights, leading to the formation of the National Assembly.

What was the significance of the storming of the Bastille?

The storming of the Bastille was a pivotal event in the French Revolution as it symbolized the overthrow of monarchical absolutism and gave the radicals and the people of Paris a sense of self-confidence and power.

What was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and why was it important?

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was a fundamental document adopted by the National Constituent Assembly, which affirmed individual rights and freedoms and laid the groundwork for a new constitutional monarchy.

Why did the king and queen of France attempt to flee the country?

The king and queen attempted to flee the country because they were in fear of an imminent attack and sought to regain power with the help of a foreign army.

What was the Reign of Terror, and how did it come about?

The Reign of Terror was a period of extreme violence during the French Revolution where thousands were executed on charges of counter-revolutionary activities. It came about as the revolution radicalized and the Jacobins, under figures like Robespierre, sought to consolidate power.

Who was Napoleon Bonaparte, and what role did he play in the aftermath of the French Revolution?

Napoleon Bonaparte was a military general who gained prominence during the French Revolution. He eventually rose to power, proclaiming himself First Consul and later Emperor, marking a significant shift in the political landscape post-revolution.

How did the French Revolution impact the concept of political ideologies such as 'left' and 'right'?

The French Revolution solidified the concept of 'left' and 'right' in political ideologies, with those advocating for a republic and the interests of the middle and popular classes sitting on the left, and those supporting a parliamentary monarchy on the right.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ The French Revolution: Origins and Early Stages

The French Revolution was a pivotal political and social upheaval in late 18th-century Europe, characterized by the violent overthrow of the old regime. Triggered by Enlightenment ideas from thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, these principles of reason, equality, and freedom began to permeate French society. Economic hardship, military spending, and poor harvests exacerbated social discontent. The Estates-General was convened in 1789, leading to the formation of the National Assembly, which pledged to establish a constitution for France. The revolutionaries, including the bourgeoisie and the masses, sought to dismantle the old order and establish a new political force.

05:01

🗡️ The Storming of the Bastille and the Rise of the National Constituent Assembly

The French populace, galvanized by the precarious economic situation and the perceived indifference of the monarchy, stormed the Bastille in July 1789, marking a significant act of defiance against royal absolutism. The National Constituent Assembly was formed, adopting the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, abolishing feudalism, and drafting a new constitution. The Assembly also saw the ideological divide between the right, supporting a parliamentary monarchy, and the left, advocating for a republic. The king's attempt to flee and regain power was thwarted, leading to his and the queen's eventual execution, signaling the radicalization of the revolution.

10:01

⚖️ The Reign of Terror and the Fall of Robespierre

The revolution took a darker turn with the rise of the Jacobins and the Reign of Terror between 1793 and 1794, where thousands were executed for counter-revolutionary activities. Figures like Robespierre and Danton emerged as prominent leaders, but internal strife and the pursuit of power led to their downfall. The Reign of Terror ended with Robespierre's execution, and the revolution continued to evolve. The Directory, a more moderate government, took control from 1795 to 1799, characterized by economic crisis and political instability. Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power marked a new phase, culminating in his self-proclamation as Emperor in 1804, which for many historians signifies the end of the revolution.

Keywords

💡French Revolution

The French Revolution was a period of radical social and political change in France that lasted from 1789 until 1799. It marked the decline of powerful monarchies and the rise of democracy and secularism. In the script, it is described as the most important political and social change in Europe during the late 18th century, which overthrew the old regime and established a new one where the bourgeoisie became the dominant political force.

💡Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that dominated the world of ideas in Europe during the 18th century. It emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority. In the script, Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu are mentioned as having a significant impact on French society, promoting ideas that would eventually lead to the revolution.

💡Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie refers to the social class of capitalists, including business owners, entrepreneurs, and merchants. In the context of the French Revolution, the bourgeoisie played a pivotal role in driving the revolution forward. They sought political power to protect and enhance their economic interests, as indicated in the script by their desire to manage a centralized state that would support their economic activities.

💡Old Regime

The term 'Old Regime' refers to the political and social system of France before the revolution, characterized by absolute monarchy, social hierarchy, and feudalism. The script describes how the Old Regime was overthrown during the revolution to establish a new political order.

💡National Assembly

The National Assembly was a revolutionary assembly formed during the French Revolution, consisting of representatives from the Third Estate. It played a key role in drafting a new constitution and abolishing the feudal system. The script mentions how the National Assembly was formed after the Third Estate broke away from the Estates-General, vowing to remain united until a constitution was established for France.

💡Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

This document, adopted by the National Constituent Assembly during the French Revolution, is one of the most important civil rights documents in history. It proclaimed a set of individual rights and freedoms. The script highlights its adoption as part of the work carried out by the Constituent Assembly.

💡Feudalism

Feudalism was a social, economic, and political system dominant in Europe during the early and central Middle Ages, in which the nobility held land from the Crown in exchange for military service. The script indicates that feudalism was abolished by the Constituent Assembly, marking a significant shift from a hierarchical society to one based on individual rights.

💡Reign of Terror

The Reign of Terror was a period during the French Revolution when the Committee of Public Safety implemented mass executions and other extreme measures to suppress opposition. The script describes this period as a 'jacobin dictatorship' where thousands were guillotined on charges of counter-revolutionary activities.

💡Directory

The Directory was the government of France from 1795 to 1799, consisting of five directors. It was established after the fall of Robespierre and marked a period of relative moderation. The script describes the Directory as a new republican regime that was more moderate in nature and was in control until Napoleon Bonaparte's coup in 1799.

💡Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoleon Bonaparte was a military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and its associated wars. He is a central figure in the script, depicted as a young general who would later become the First Consul of the Republic and eventually proclaim himself Emperor of the French, marking the end of the revolutionary period for many historians.

💡Guillotine

The guillotine was a device used for carrying out death penalties by beheading, which became a symbol of the French Revolution due to its widespread use during the Reign of Terror. The script mentions the guillotine in the context of the execution of the king and queen, as well as the device's inventor, Dr. Guillotine.

Highlights

The French Revolution was a pivotal political and social change in Europe during the late 18th century.

The Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu influenced the revolution with their ideas.

The Encyclopedia, a collaborative project, played a significant role in spreading Enlightenment ideas.

France was facing economic crisis and social discontent under the rule of King Louis XVI.

The Estates-General was convened in 1789 to address the financial crisis, leading to the formation of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly, representing the Third Estate, aimed to establish a constitution for France.

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, symbolized the people's defiance against monarchical absolutism.

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted, emphasizing principles of reason, equality, and freedom.

The National Constituent Assembly drafted a constitution, leading to France becoming a constitutional monarchy.

King Louis XVI's failed escape attempt led to his arrest and the further weakening of the monarchy.

The National Convention, elected by universal vote, abolished the monarchy and proclaimed the First French Republic.

The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) saw thousands executed for counter-revolutionary activities.

The Jacobins, led by Robespierre, imposed a radical dictatorship during the Reign of Terror.

The fall of Robespierre marked the end of the Reign of Terror, but the revolution continued.

The Directory, a five-member executive, was established under a new constitution in 1795.

Napoleon Bonaparte rose to prominence as a military general during the revolution.

Napoleon Bonaparte's coup in 1799 led to him proclaiming himself the First Consul of the Republic.

Napoleon's rise to Emperor in 1804 is considered by some as marking the end of the French Revolution.

The ideals of 'Liberty, Equality, Fraternity' from the revolution continue to resonate today.

Transcripts

the french revolution was the most

important political social change in

europe

in the late 18th century it was a

violent period

in which the old regime was overthrown

to establish a new regime where the

bourgeoisie

sometimes supported by the masses became

the dominant political force

let's look at the triggers that started

this revolution

it's the 18th century we're in france

the current of thought is the

enlightenment the ideas of people like

voltaire

rousseau and montaque have made a dent

in society

they argued that human knowledge could

combat ignorance superstition

and tyranny to build a better world

these ideas

spread through meetings held in the

homes of wealthy people intellectuals

were invited and talked about philosophy

politics

and literature the encyclopedia was read

these books were an initiative by deidre

and ellen bear that involved successive

publications with numerous

collaborations who wrote thousands of

articles

to illustrate enlightened thought and

knowledge the encyclopedia contributed

to the discrediting of the current

system a cultured society that thinks

for itself

was the best way to secure the end of

the old regime principles

based on reason equality and freedom

were injected into the mentality of the

french not just the french

the ideas illustrated had spread

throughout europe and its colonies

on the other side of the ocean this

enlightenment had served as an impetus

for the 13

american colonies to gain their

independence from england on july 4th

1776.

france at this time was under the rule

of an absolutist monarchy at the time

louis xvi reigned and he was married to

marry antoinette the power of the king

and the nobility were the basis of this

regime the state was in a rather

precarious economic situation

military spending and poor harvests

created a very serious

social situation the people were

starving as the luxury

and waste of the king and nobility

continued oblivious to the situation

and further adding to the debt of the

state coffers enlightened thought

and social discontent brought about the

perfect breeding ground

for revolution to break out but first

let's see how french society

was divided society was made up of three

social sectors

called states the first state was the

church it didn't pay taxes

it received a tithe from the peasants

that is one tenth of the product of

their crops only the church could

legalize marriages

births and deaths and education was also

in its hands

the second state was composed of the

nobility landowners

the nobility didn't pay taxes either the

peasants paid them a levy and could only

sell their crops to them it was a kind

of lifelong indentured servitude the

first

and the second state i.e the clergy and

the nobility totaled roughly three

percent of the population the third

state comprised 97

of the remaining population and its

composition was very varied on one side

was the bourgeoisie made up of wealthy

merchants and bankers

liberal professionals doctors lawyers

also of artisans and small traders on

the other hand

there were free peasants small holders

tenants and day laborers the third state

lacked power and political decision but

it paid all the taxes

had the worst jobs and had no rights the

bourgeoisie needed access to power to be

able to manage a centralized state that

would protect and boost its economic

activities

just as it had been doing in england but

let's go back to paris when the

precariousness of survival provoked

riots people went to complain to their

size

about hunger then there was a rumor that

the queen very high class

uttered the phrase let them eat cake her

response was made public and it was

quite provocative to lift the severe

budget deficit the king had declared the

state bankrupt

and convened the state's general in

1788. this was a medieval parliament

that had last been convened 174 years

earlier an assembly where the deputies

of the nobility the clergy and the

people

meet some 1 200 deputies were present

half of them represented the first two

states

and the other half represented the third

state that had managed to double its

representation the inaugural session was

presided over by king

louis xvi the nobility and clergy

demanded the vote for the stand which

assured them the majority without the

need for consensus the third state

called for the vote per head which

allowed for more equality in the vote

and the ability to open debates in the

face of the refusal of the first two

states

and the consequent blockade of any vote

the third state

invited unaffiliated members of the

nobility and the clergy to join them two

nobles

and 149 members of the clergy did faced

with this

revolutionary act king louis xvi ordered

the closing of the hall

and forbade entry to the representatives

of the third state

the deputies of the third state then

decided to form a new assembly and be

the true representatives of the people

of france they found another meeting

place

the versailles games room this assembly

took the name of the national assembly

promising to remain united

until a constitution was established for

france the king

tried to dissolve this assembly mr

murubo then uttered his famous phrase

we are here by the will of the people

and we will only leave by the force of

bayonets

on the 14th of july the people of paris

backed their representatives in the

streets

and in fear of the royal troops

arresting them they stormed the bastille

fortress

a symbol of monarchical absolutism but

also a strategic point of louis xvi

repression plan as the bastille's

cannons pointed to the surrounding

working-class neighborhoods

after four hours of combat the

insurgents stormed the prison returning

to the city hall

the crowd accused the prison governor of

treason he was stabbed

and shot to death his head was cut off

and displayed in the city impaled on a

pike

and the custom of displaying the heads

of the decapitated on pikes

was something that became very common

during the revolution the storming of

the bastille gave the radicals and the

people of paris a great deal of

self-confidence which was expressed in

the press

jean-paul marat a doctor who founded a

highly successful newspaper

became the voice of the revolution and a

kind of leader of the proletariat with

his continued harassment of the rich

the king ended up giving in and invited

the nobility and clergy to join the new

national assembly the assembly adopted

the name

of the national constituent assembly

among the work carried out by the

constituent assembly were the adoption

of the declaration of the rights of man

and the citizen the abolition of

feudalism the appropriation of the

church's assets the civil constitution

of the clergy

freedom of the press and of course the

drafting

of a constitution in this assembly those

who defended a parliamentary monarchy

sat on the right on the left sat

supporters of a republic

those representing the interests of the

middle class and popular class

thus was born the ideological definition

of the concept of being right or

left at the end of september 1789 there

was a rumor in paris that the king was

assembling his troops

and the journalists with marat at the

helm roused the people

in order for them to react people

marched to versailles camped out

organized riots on the outskirts of the

palace and one group of women even

entered the palace and beheaded members

of the royal guard

they then demanded the king move his

residence from versailles to paris

which he did a large crowd assembled in

paris and the king had to stay in

tuilarray palace

it was a way to control and subject him

to popular will

the constituent assembly which also

moved its chamber to paris

managed to approve the constitution in

1791. france would function as a

constitutional monarchy the constitution

stated that sovereignty resides with the

nation

and no longer with the king the king had

nothing left

but to accept the constitution with his

power greatly weakened the king begins

to pursue a plan to regain his power

he knows he can only do this with the

help of a foreign army his plan is to

escape the tuilare palace

to reach the nearest border the king and

queen disguise themselves as servants

and flee

during the night when they are about to

reach the border with austria their plan

is discovered

they're caught and apprehended at this

time

dr guillotine had proposed a

sophisticated method of beheading that

he presented at the assembly

journalist murat excited about this

invention nicknames the device

the gello teen it would end up playing a

very important role with the royal

family imprisoned and in fear of an

imminent attack

the assembly acts swiftly and declares

war on austria

the country of marie antoinette's family

soon prussia

joins austria on the 10th of august 1792

the masses stormed twila ray palace

and the legends assembly suspended even

the king's constitutional functions the

assembly ended up convening elections

with the aim of setting up

by universal vote a new parliament that

would be called

the national convention political and

social tension was increasing in france

which was also at war and was seeding

territories to its enemies the newly

elected parliament

composed mainly of the jacobins with

rose pierre at the helm

and the goan darns of more moderate

persuasion decided to abolish the

monarchy and proclaim

the republic they opened a trial of the

king for treason

he is eventually sentenced to death he

is killed by the guillotine queen mary

antoinette would end up following the

same fate

and was also executed the revolution had

become

radicalized during this period there was

retribution between radical jacobins and

moderate groundings

the bloodthirsty marat lashes out in his

newspaper against the gourond and

moderates and publishes lists of alleged

traitors to the revolution

this would end with marat being

assassinated while taking a bath in his

house the consequence

marat became a martyr an icon for the

radicals the national convention drafted

a new constitution it also created a new

calendar

according to which the year 1792 would

become year one of its new era they

changed the names of the month as well

floral brumari german the concept of the

week was removed in order to suppress

the religious connotations of sunday and

each month was divided into three 10-day

periods

the great speakers robespierre and

danton are the revolutionary figures who

took the most prominence at this time

the legislative power of the new

republic was in charge of the convention

while the executive power was the

responsibility of a newly created body

the committee of public safety set up to

safeguard the republic

this organization fell under the command

of the jacobin rose pierre the jacobins

unleashed what was known as the reign of

terror between 1793 and 1794

a kind of jacobin dictatorship the

french republican experiment ended up

evolving into a terrorist

regime between 10 000 and 40 000 people

were guillotined on charges of

counter-revolutionary activities

the ruthless people responsible for this

reign of terror served the ideals they

claimed to defend

priests and members of the nobility were

guillotined meanwhile

in the border war a young general was

beginning to win some battles for the

french republic

his name was napoleon bonaparte but at

home

a rebellion that turned into a real

civil war pitted supporters of the

french revolution

against counter-revolutionaries it was

called the war in the von d

collective madness caused the

revolutionary leaders themselves to

become

targeted they were accused and convicted

of jealousy of their rivals

or for aspiring to a personal

dictatorship robespierre

proposed more terror as a path to virtue

danton however

believed it was time to end the reign of

terror consequence

danton is guillotined the number of

execution increased

what became known as the great terror

robespierre's madness could only end one

way with his head cut off at the

guillotine with the fall of robespierre

terror ended but not the revolution

finally in an attempt at moderation in

1795

the new constitution of the year 3 that

had been drawn up and approved by the

convention during the previous months

was enacted it was a constitution very

different from that of 1793

and essentially returned to the

principles of the monarchical

constitution

of 1791. the two main developments it

presented was that the legislative

branch would be composed of two chambers

following the british model and that the

executive was made up of five people

who would form the directory the name by

which the new republican regime would

end up being known the directory was in

control between 1795

and 1799 and was more moderate in nature

this period is characterized by

dissension among the directors

and a serious economic crisis napoleon

bonaparte having returned from his

campaign in egypt found the motivation

to organize a coup

in 1799 on the 18th of bru marie he

proclaimed himself

the first consul of the republic the

political phase of the consulate began

at this stage he managed to restore

internal augur with great support from

the french people

the economy began moving again in 1804

he again made a move to take control and

after a plebiscite napoleon proclaimed

himself

emperor for many historians the

revolution ended here

but the cry of revolution still lives on

over all the world today

freedom equality and fraternity these

words change the history of the west

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forever

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