HIS102Y1 Lecture : Session #17 - The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era
Document Summary
The turning point in european history, the beginning of modernity. The traditional way of governing was to be destroyed (pyramid-like structure) Introduced a new idea that people should govern themselves. The 7yw was very hard on the country it had lost many of its colonies and was in financial ruin. Louis xvi"s reign was plagued by these problems from the beginning. He decided to call the estates-general to solve the financial problem. Three estates the 3rd estate proclaimed itself a national institution (demanded a written constitution and one person, one vote . The storming of the bastille (july 24th, 1789) 1791 the assembly accepted the constitution, louis was caught in 1793 and executed. Initially foreigners did not care too much about the french affairs especially eastern europeans. Counter-revolutionary movements started in europe 130,000 frenchmen escaped the country, landing in neighbouring countries such as russia.