Page 2: Revolutionary Actions and Early Reforms

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, marked a crucial turning point in the revolution.

Highlight: Though only seven political prisoners were held there, the Bastille's significance lay in its arms cache and its symbolism of royal authority.

Quote: "The governor of the Bastille had a standoff with the troops and called a cease fire. Once the revolutionaries got to him, they cut his head off and put it on a pike."

Key developments followed:

• August 1789: Declaration of Rights of Man
• October 1789: Women's March to Versailles
• 1791: Failed royal escape attempt and Constitution

Example: The Women's March demonstrated the power of popular action, as citizens forced the royal family to relocate from Versailles to Paris.

Page 3: War and Escalation

The revolution entered a more radical phase in 1792, marked by war and increasing political tension.

Highlight: Louis XVI declared war on Austria in April 1792, seeing it as a win-win situation: victory would boost his popularity, while defeat might restore his absolute power through foreign intervention.

Key events:

• Prussia joined Austria against France
• The Brunswick Manifesto threatened Paris
• Jacobins took control of the Paris Commune
• Storming of the Tuileries led to royal imprisonment

Vocabulary: The Brunswick Manifesto was a threatening declaration by Prussia's military commander that intensified revolutionary fervor.

Page 3: War and Political Developments

In 1792, Louis XVI declared war on Austria, creating a strategic dilemma:

• Victory could restore his popularity and acquire wealth
• Defeat could lead to monarchist intervention and his restoration

Highlight: The Brunswick Manifesto, issued by the Prussian army general, threatened to overthrow the revolutionary government and restore the monarchy.

Example: France's initial attack on the Austrian Netherlands failed, leading to Prussia's entry into the war on Austria's side.

Page 4: Radical Revolution and Military Reforms

1793 marked a radical turn in the revolution with Louis XVI's execution in January. The National Assembly expanded the conflict by declaring war on Britain and the Dutch Republic.

Definition: The Levée en masse was France's first military draft, requiring all able-bodied unmarried men to serve in the army.

Highlight: This military reform created Europe's largest army, dramatically changing the war's dynamics.

The Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre, became the de facto government, initiating a period of intense political persecution.

Page 1: The Origins and Early Stages

The French Revolution emerged from a perfect storm of social, economic, and political factors. France's support of the American Revolution and the Seven Years War had left the government in severe debt, while King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette maintained their lavish lifestyle at Versailles.

Highlight: While nobility lived in luxury, 98% of the French population suffered from famine and bore the burden of taxation.

The Convocation of the estates general brought together France's three social classes:

• The Clergy (0.5% of population)
• The Nobility (1.5% of population)
• The Third Estate (98% of population)

Definition: The Estates General was France's general assembly representing the three social classes, called by Louis XVI to address the nation's financial crisis.

Example: The voting system was inherently unfair - despite representing 98% of the population, the Third Estate's 600 representatives were easily outvoted by the combined 600 representatives of the clergy and nobility.

Vocabulary: The Tennis Court Oath was a pivotal moment where members pledged to create France's first constitution.