The French Revolution, also known as the Revolution of 1789, was a revolutionary movement that shook France between 1787 and 1799 and ended the old French system. But we need to note that the event was distinguished from the later French Revolutions of 1830 and 1848.
Revolutionary origins
The French Revolution had a specific historical background, such as the changes in the social structure of Western countries at that time, the most typical of which was the gradual weakening of feudal power and even the demise of parts of Europe.
With the awakening of democracy, more and more civilian elites, such as businessmen, manufacturers, and professionals, began to aspire to political rights, a group of people often referred to as the bourgeoisie.
At the same time, when the peasants acquired land, especially with the improvement of education level, in order to obtain more rights and wealth, there began to be resistance to feudalism.
In addition, as people's living standards improved and mortality rates decreased, the Population of Europe began to grow in a spurt. Between 1715 and 1800 alone, the population of Europe doubled.
An increase in population means greater demand for food and consumer goods. However, with the frequent emergence of economic crises after 1770, the debate over social reform began to accelerate.
Inspired by the European philosophical thought of the time, intellectuals began to put forward completely different views on the original operating system of society.
More importantly, in order to make up for the huge deficit caused by the war, the European royal family began to frequently expropriate and tyrannically in their own areas of rule, which further aroused the dissatisfaction of the nobles and the people.
Aristocratic revolt
In order to defend their own interests, in February 1787 the French dignitaries began to hold rallies, including bishops, grand nobles and representatives of the bourgeoisie.
Their demand was simple, to oppose the decision to eliminate the state budget deficit by imposing taxes on the aristocratic class, but their demands were rejected by the rulers of the time.
In the spring and summer of 1788, riots broke out in Paris, Grenoble, Dijon, Toulouse, Pau, Rennes, and other places. Faced with a grim form at home King Louis XVI had to succumb.
He reappointed reformist Jacques Necker as Minister of Finance and promised to convene a trilateral council on May 5, 1789.
The so-called tertiary council was the french medieval council of hierarchical representatives. Participants included representatives of the three classes of priests (first class), nobles (second class) and citizens (third class), hence the name three levels of the council.
Events in 1789
On 5 May 1789, the Tertiary Council was held at Versailles. They immediately disagreed on a fundamental question: whether they should vote by head, with the third estate dominant, or by rank.
Due to the intransigence of the privileged class, the representatives of the third estate declared themselves to form a national assembly and threatened to proceed without the orders of the other two classes if necessary.
The third estate was supported by many parish priests, who outnumbered the upper clergy of the nobility among the ecclesiastical representatives.
When royal officials locked delegates outside their regular conference hall on June 20, third-class delegates occupied the king's indoor tennis court.
In order to ease the situation, the King of France made a compromise and urged the nobles and remaining clergy to join the Assembly, which was officially named the National Constituent Assembly on July 9.
But as the "aristocratic conspiracy theory" spread and news of Necker's dismissal came, the populace, in a state of panic and anger, revolted.
On July 14, 1789, the Parisian masses captured the Bastille, which seemed to be a symbol of royal tyranny.
In other parts of France, peasant revolts blossomed, and the rapid momentum frightened the French nobility and bourgeoisie.
In order to quell the unrest, the aristocracy issued a declaration of human and civil rights, declaring freedom, equality, inviolability of property and the right to resist oppression.
But because the content hurt the interests of the ruling class, the French king refused to approve them. The consequence was another uprising of the people of Paris.
The establishment of a new regime
The National Constituent Assembly completely abolished the old feudal system, established civil equality among men, and qualified more than half of adult men to vote
The complex administrative system of the old system was swept away by the National Constituent Assembly and replaced by a rational system based on the division of France into provinces, districts, states and communes administered by an elected parliament.
The basic principles of judicial administration have also undergone fundamental changes, and the system has adapted to the new executive branch. Importantly, judges are elected.
The Constituent Assembly of Nationals sought to establish a monarchy in which legislative and executive powers were shared between the king and parliament.