La REVOLUCIÓN FRANCESA | Draw My Life

The Setting

• In 1789, the French Revolution marked a shift from the modern age to the contemporary age.

• The revolution did not start because of Marie Antoinette's famous quote about cake, but it helps us understand the situation.

• The French Revolution was a significant political and social movement that led to bloodshed on the streets of Paris.

"La REVOLUCIÓN FRANCESA | Draw My Life"

The Three Estates

• French society was divided into three estates: monarchy, nobility, and the commoners.

• The monarchy, led by Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, had total control over the population.

• The nobles and clergy enjoyed economic and social privileges.

• The commoners, including peasants and the bourgeoisie, faced disadvantages such as high taxes and lack of land ownership.

"La REVOLUCIÓN FRANCESA | Draw My Life"

Enlightenment and Intellectual Movement

• The Enlightenment, an intellectual movement, played a crucial role in the French Revolution.

• Philosophers and writers aimed to bring rationality to society, countering the religious and absolutist control.

• The American Revolution served as inspiration, encouraging the French bourgeoisie to take action.

"La REVOLUCIÓN FRANCESA | Draw My Life"

Economic Crisis and Social Unrest

• France was facing an economic crisis with the monarchy's depleted finances.

• The privileged classes, including the nobles and clergy, did not pay taxes, burdening the impoverished commoners.

• The shortage of bread caused by harsh winters and droughts worsened the situation, leading to hunger and scarcity.

• The peasantry experienced misery, marginalization, and a sense of determinism.

"La REVOLUCIÓN FRANCESA | Draw My Life"

Formation of the National Assembly

• Seeking change, the bourgeoisie declared the Estates-General to discuss their concerns.

• The Third Estate demanded individual voting instead of the traditional hierarchical voting system.

• The higher classes rejected this request, prompting the bourgeoisie to proclaim the National Assembly on June 17.

• The revolution ignited when the Parisian people stormed the Bastille on July 14, 1789, symbolizing the overthrow of the old regime.

"La REVOLUCIÓN FRANCESA | Draw My Life"

Evolution of the Revolution

• The French Revolution progressed through three phases: the monarchical stage from 1789 to 1792, the republican stage from 1792 to 1804, and the imperial stage from 1804 to 1815.

• The Constituent Assembly gradually abolished feudalism, created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and established the first French constitution.

• Faced with political tensions and external invasions, culminating in the execution of Louis XVI, France transitioned to a republic and later an empire.

"La REVOLUCIÓN FRANCESA | Draw My Life"

The Reign of Terror and the Directory

• The period known as the Reign of Terror began to instill fear of foreign intervention by other European countries. The Jacobins, led by Robespierre, seized power and political violence became the norm.

"The Jacobins, with Robespierre at the helm, took power and political violence became the norm"

• Executions became a daily occurrence, with millions of people who were considered enemies of the regime or suspicious being guillotined.

"The guillotine claimed the lives of millions of people deemed enemies or suspects of the regime"

• In 1794, the people organized themselves to overthrow the radical rule of the Jacobins, and Robespierre himself was executed in July of that year.

"In 1794, the people organized to end the radical rule of the Jacobins, leading to the execution of Robespierre himself"

• In 1795, the National Convention promulgated a new constitution that established the Directory, a moderate republican government that gradually reversed the extreme measures taken by the Jacobins.

"In 1795, a new constitution was established, creating the Directory, a moderate republican government that repealed the extreme measures of the Jacobins"

• The Directory faced numerous problems, such as external threats, economic crises, and discontent among the population.

"The Directory faced challenges including external threats, economic crises, and public discontent"

Rise and Fall of Napoleon Bonaparte

• In November 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte led a coup d'état and formed the Consulate, a centralized and authoritarian regime with three consuls at the helm.

"Napoleon Bonaparte seized power in a coup and established the Consulate, a centralized and authoritarian regime with three consuls"

• Under Napoleon's rule, France aimed to become the leading nation in the world by promoting cultural, industrial, and commercial activities.

"Napoleon sought to make France the world's leading nation through cultural, industrial, and commercial advancements"

• The Napoleonic Wars played a significant role during this period, with notable battles such as Trafalgar, Austerlitz, and Leipzig.

"The Napoleonic Wars, including battles like Trafalgar, Austerlitz, and Leipzig, were significant events during this period"

• In 1813, the French army was defeated at the Battle of Leipzig, leading to the occupation of Paris by united European powers. Napoleon abdicated, and the monarchy was restored with Louis XVIII as the king.

"The French army suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Leipzig, resulting in the occupation of Paris and the restoration of the monarchy under Louis XVIII"

• However, Napoleon was not content with this situation and took advantage of the new king's unpopularity to regain power in March 1815. He had a brief reign known as the Hundred Days.

"Napoleon capitalized on the new king's unpopularity and regained power for a brief period known as the Hundred Days"

• European nations declared Napoleon an enemy and disruptor of world peace. They united their armies against him, leading to the Battle of Waterloo where the French troops were defeated. Napoleon was captured and exiled to the island of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.

"Napoleon was declared an enemy of peace and faced a unified European army at the Battle of Waterloo. He was defeated, captured, and exiled to Saint Helena, where he died"

Legacy of the French Revolution

• The French Revolution is considered to have ended in 1815, having created a new order in the Western world. Feudalism and the privileges of the clergy and nobility disappeared, and social classes became less differentiated.

"The French Revolution, which resulted in the disappearance of feudalism and the privileges of the clergy and nobility, created a more egalitarian society with less distinct social classes"

• The bourgeoisie gained more power and liberties, while the principles of freedom, equality, and fraternity became central. However, despite these changes, the most disadvantaged continued to suffer from their circumstances.

"The bourgeoisie gained power and liberties, and the principles of freedom, equality, and fraternity became central. However, the most disadvantaged still faced challenges"

• The desire for democracy spread to the rest of Europe and even reached the American colonies, leading to their own revolutions and the establishment of republics as a new system of government.

"The desire for democracy spread to Europe and the American colonies, leading to revolutions and the establishment of republics"

"The French Revolution had a profound impact on France and the world, transforming social and political structures and inspiring other nations to pursue their own paths towards independence and democracy."