French Revolution
The Early Stages
The National Assembly
The National Assembly adopted revolutionary ideas. They made The Decloration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which is where we got ideas for the Decloration of Independence. The ideas and rights were "men are born and remain free and equal in rights" and "liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression" It guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
Limited Monarchy
In September of 1791 the National Assembly created a new constitution which had the idea of Limited Monarchy, which was reluctantly approved. The royal family was stripped of its power but the king still had the executive power to enforce laws.
The Terror
Maximilien Robespierre
He set out to build a republic of virtue to wipe out every trace of France's past. He changed the calendar, it had no Sundays because he thought religion was "old-fashioned and dangerous"
Georges Danton
He was sentenced to death because he was an enemy of the revolution. His friends would not defend him and on the scaffold he told the executor "Don't forget to show my head to the people. Its well worth seeing"
Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was not well liked among the French people, one because of her beauty, and her new fashion the elders thought she was scandalous. Eventually she was executed.
The Third Estate over takes France
Results
Because of the new Constitution the National Assembly was much more conservative. To control the executive aspect to the government a group called the Directory was formed. They eventually abused their power and rivaled any tyranny revolutions that France would eventually face.