Prior to the revolution that would change the system of governance in France, the people had suffered under the mismanagement of King Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette, who, along with the aristocracy, refused to acknowledge the economic plight of the lower classes.

The first phase of the French Revolution started in 1789 when representatives of the noble, clergy, and common classes convened in a meeting of the Estates-General to address the economic duress of the population and institute reforms. King Louis XVI, under the influence of the conservative nobles of his privy council had banished the reformist finance ministers Turgot and Necker and generally neglected discussions of reform. He banned the crucial meeting of the Estates-General, forcing them to meet outside where they drafted the famous Oath of the Tennis Court on June 20, 1789. By July of 1789 the people of Paris were clamoring for change and began taking to the streets in protest. They stormed the Bastille on July 14, 1789, tearing down what had been a symbol of monarchical and aristocratic abuse of power for years.
The slogan of the French Revolution was “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” and aimed to elevate the rights of the impoverished lower classes and mitigate the inequalities that had existed for centuries in the French feudal system.

Both political and socioeconomic factors contributed to the French Revolution as the ambitions of the rising bourgeoisie were allied with aggrieved peasants, wage-earners, and individuals of all classes. The influence of the ideas that rounded out the revolutionary movement, rooted in Enlightenment philosophies were also paramount to the desire for change in what was felt to be a stagnant system of government.

The poor economic situation, peaked by high national debt due to Louis XVI’s involvement in foreign causes and war on the North American continent, aggravated the inequality between the classes in France. The feudal peasants and the enlightened liberals resented royal absolutism and aspired for a republican government that would represent the rights of individuals. In the months before the revolution, high unemployment and high bread prices resulted in strife for the lower classes who could not afford to purchase food and led to a general dissatisfaction and upheaval among the population.

The King, his wife Marie Antoinette, and their children attempted to escape from Paris in 1791 after months of popular dissatisfaction and the increasing threat to the monarchy. The King and his family did not make it out of Paris and were instead captured and held in Paris and in 1792 the King was sent to the guillotine. For three years, between 1792 and 1795, a committee was established to rule the country headed by Georges-Jacques Denton, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre. They ruled in what became known as the Reign of Terror, sending thousands of Royalists to the guillotine including Marie Antoinette and other Royalists, dissidents of the Revolution, and even moderate thinkers who sought to mediate the excesses of the revolutionary movement. The Revolution succeeded in overturning generations of autocratic monarchic rule but became a symbol of excessive force and revolt without sufficient stabilizing elements to fundamentally change conditions for the French people. In 1799 a young General named Napoleon Bonaparte helped overthrow the government, called the Directory, and by 1804 had risen to such power that he etablished himself as “Napoleon I, Emperor of the French.”

History Collectors: We offer a wide selection of museum quality replicas and authentic items representing nearly every century of the Common Era and the most significant civilizations of ancient history. Once you browse through our online catalogue, we are certain you’ll find the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one with an interest in history.

History Store 1779-1780 Authentic Journal De Paris Newspaper French Revolution Sword The French Revolution CD-ROM Lesson Plan Set with DVD Double Barrel Flintlock Pistol - French

Tags: 1779-1780 Authentic Journal De Paris Newspaper, 1789, 1791, 1792, 1793, Double Barrel Flintlock Pistol - French, Enlightenment philosophies, equality, fraternity, French Revolution, French Revolution Sword, Georges-Jacques Denton, guillotine, History Store, Jean-Paul Marat, July 14, June 20, King Louis XVI, liberty, Marie Antoinette, Maximilien Robespierre, Napoleon Bonaparte, Necker, Oath of the Tennis Court, Reign of Terror, revolutionary movement, Royalists, Run on the Tuileries, Storming of the Bastille, The Directory, The French Revolution CD-ROM Lesson Plan Set with DVD, Turgot