Crane Brinton's 7 Stages of Revolution
1. Normalcy
France was an absolute monarchy with three class divisions under King Louis XVI:
- The First Estate (the Clergy)
- The Second Estate (the Nobility)
- The Third Estate (Workers & Peasants).
Due to its involvement in the American Revolutionary War and foreign wars, plus the extravagant lives of the nobles, France was soon facing a serious financial crisis. This, had caused about 98% of the French population to live under heavy taxation, inequality and even poverty during the time. [King, G., & Leung, K., 2010] Many of the peasants were to also pay taxes to their landlords and the Christian Church.
- The First Estate (the Clergy)
- The Second Estate (the Nobility)
- The Third Estate (Workers & Peasants).
Due to its involvement in the American Revolutionary War and foreign wars, plus the extravagant lives of the nobles, France was soon facing a serious financial crisis. This, had caused about 98% of the French population to live under heavy taxation, inequality and even poverty during the time. [King, G., & Leung, K., 2010] Many of the peasants were to also pay taxes to their landlords and the Christian Church.
2. Criticism of Existing Regime
The financial crisis led to the first calling of the Estates-General in May 1789, who had not met fore more than a hundred and seventy years. The meeting involved representatives from each of the three estates, each of the states had only one vote. The First and Second Estates both had about 300 representatives, but the Third Estate had about 600 representatives. This was viewed by the representatives of Third Estates as an unfair method of voting, and their suggestion for allowing every one of the representatives to vote, had been rejected by the First and Secondary Estates. [King, G., & Leung, K., 2010]
With concerns, disagreements and questions towards the King and the other estates, the representatives of the Third Estate left the Estates-General and declared their own National Assembly.
With concerns, disagreements and questions towards the King and the other estates, the representatives of the Third Estate left the Estates-General and declared their own National Assembly.
3. Widespread Dissatisfaction
The National Assembly soon took action for reforming new constitutions. Having known that the king had closed their meeting hall, the members of the National Assembly had therefore taken an oath at a tennis court nearby, promising of not giving up until there was a new constitution for France.
The reformation of a new regime continued to spread countrywide. King Louis XVI decided to break up the National Assembly with troops, but his plan was very soon broken. Those who had suffered in hunger, anger and unemployment were extremely dissatisfied. They then gathered together in Paris, and started an attack on the Bastille (an old prison and fortress for political prisoners) on 14th July 1789. The peasants also took action in revolting against their landlords because of the Great Fear caused by the famine and anger, and the release of August Decrees of abolishing the feudal contracts. [Wilde, R., 2014]
The reformation of a new regime continued to spread countrywide. King Louis XVI decided to break up the National Assembly with troops, but his plan was very soon broken. Those who had suffered in hunger, anger and unemployment were extremely dissatisfied. They then gathered together in Paris, and started an attack on the Bastille (an old prison and fortress for political prisoners) on 14th July 1789. The peasants also took action in revolting against their landlords because of the Great Fear caused by the famine and anger, and the release of August Decrees of abolishing the feudal contracts. [Wilde, R., 2014]
4. Transfer of Power
Continuing with the Great Fear and the Declaration of the Rights of Man by the National Assembly in August 1789, Parisian women marched to Versailles and forced the kings and his wife, Marie Antoinette to move to Paris.
The king eventually gave in due to the discontent caused by the National Assembly and people. The National Assembly therefore reformed the country with new constitutions and a new Legislative Assembly. [SparkNotes, 2014] Under the new constitution drawn by the National Assembly in July 1791, France became a constitutional monarchy. Louis XVI remained as the king, but the power to rule was given to the National Assembly elected by the people. [King, G., & Leung, K., 2010]
5. Civil War
With the success of forming a constitutional monarchy, many other European monarchies such as Austria and Prussia were worried that the revolution would affect their own countries. Austria and Prussia created the Declaration of Pillnitz along with the help from the French king. This act had triggered extreme anger from the people from France. The revolutionaries soon declared a revolutionary war against Austria and Prussia to stop them from helping Louis XVI. [King, G., & Leung, K., 2010]
In the same year of 1792, the National Assembly was forced to be replaced by a National Convention, led by the Jacobins and sans-culottes of lower class people. The constitutional monarchy was abolished by the National Convention, France was then declared a republic. King Louis XVI was executed as a traitor of the country in January 1973. [Wilde, R., 2014]
In the same year of 1792, the National Assembly was forced to be replaced by a National Convention, led by the Jacobins and sans-culottes of lower class people. The constitutional monarchy was abolished by the National Convention, France was then declared a republic. King Louis XVI was executed as a traitor of the country in January 1973. [Wilde, R., 2014]
6. Reign of Terror
The new republic caused revolts throughout the country. In order to control the counterrevolutionaries, a Terror began as a result of rebelling against the new government. Louis XVI's wife, Marie Antoinette was executed in October 1793. The reign of terror led by Maximilien Roberspierre resulted in the execution of about 16,000 people using the guillotine, a device for beheading. [HistoryWiz, 2014]
The Reign of Terror ended in July 1794 after the execution of Robespierre himself. [King, G., & Leung, K., 2010]
7. Thermidorian Reaction
Despite continuous revolts and invasions, a new legislative system called the Directory was set up in October 1795. It brought back law and order to France. Napoleon Bonaparte, a famous French general gained power as the consul of France in 1799, and declared himself consul for life. This ended the French Revolution happened from 1789 to 1799, and France was gone back under the rule of absolute dictatorship. [King, G., & Leung, K., 2010]