France, 1789-1814

The French Revolution (1789-1792)

Financial crisis of late 18th century led to crisis in France, leading to the Estates-General being called in 1789.
Third Estate, representing commoners, broke away to form the National Assembly.
Storming of the Bastille prison in July 1789 marked the start of the French Revolution.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen in August, providing for equality, freedom of speech and other individual rights.
The Constitution of 1791 established constitutional monarchy in France.
Civil Constitution of the Clergy brought the Church under state control, causing religious conflict within France.

War with Austria and Prussia in 1792 led to the fall of the monarchy and the proclamation of the First French Republic.
King Louis XVI was executed in 1793, causing other European states to declare war on France.
The Reign of Terror took place from 1793-1794, where people seen as enemies of the revolution were guillotined in public.
Maximilien Robespierre was a key figure in Reign of Terror, but his execution ended this period.

After the fall of Robespierre, executive power was held by five directors in the Directory.
The Directory was unpopular and suffered from corruption and financial crises.
A bloodless coup in 1799, led by Napoleon Bonaparte, overthrew the Directory forming the Consulate.
The Napoleonic Code introduced in 1804, established the legal equality of all adult men and promoted civil liberties.

Napoleon declared himself Emperor in 1804, turning the French Republic into the French Empire.
Expansionist policies led to the creation of a large, though unstable, European empire.
Napoleon’s attempts to establish a continental blockade against Britain led to the downfall of his empire.
His disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812 marked the beginning of the end of his empire.
Following defeat at the Battle of Leipzig and Paris, Napoleon abdicated in 1814.
The fall of Napoleon paved the way for the Restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in the form of Louis XVIII.