French Revolution Info -

• French flag did not become French flag until 1794.
• End of revolution exchanged a authoritarian regime for an authoritatian regime.

France in the 18th century had a problem collecting taxes because of how society was structured. Had a system of kings and nobles, that we now call an 'Ancien Regime'. The people with the money (nobles and clergy) never paid taxes. By 1789 France was deeply in debt thanks to their funding of the American revolution. King Louis the 16th was spending half the natioanl budget to service the national debt. Louis tried to fix it by using various ministers and calling for local democracy. France declared bankruptcy. This happened at the same time that hail-storms ruined the years harvest, thereby raising food prices and causing widespread hunger. Which pissed the French off. The King was not broke, and he and Marie Antionette (his wife) lived in a very nice palace in Versailles. Kant challenged the whole idea of religion. The peasants were hungry; the smart people wondered God could or should save the king; the nobility were doing nothing, whatsoever. Louis 16th called a meeting of the Estates General, which was the closest thing France had to a parliment. The Estates General was like a super-parliment, made up of representitives from the 1st estates: the Nobles, the 2nd estates: the Clergy, and the 3rd estates: Everyone else. The 3rd Estate showed up with about 600 reps. The 3rd Estate left and became its own National Assembly. King Louis locked the 3rd Estate out because he's a fucker. The 3rd Estate found a indoor tennis court to assemble in, and they agredd not to give up until the French Constitution was established. Louis sent troups into Paris, and in retaliation the peasants sent troups in to seize the Bastille Prison, on July 14th. Bastille was stormed to free prisoners (although, there were onyl 7 prisoners there at the time...) but mostly to get guns.
Really radical move on National Assembly cam on Aug. 4th, when they abolished most of the Ancien Regime. All bad laws abolished in favor of writing a new constitution. Aug 26th, proclaimed the Decloration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. DoRoMaC ensured that everyone would have rights that the French Revolution would do a particularily bad job of protecting.
In Oct. of 1789, a rumor started to spread the Marie Antionette was hoarding grain somewhere inside the palace. And in what became known as the 'Women's March', a bunch of armed women stormed the palace and demanded Louis and Marie move from Versailles to Paris - (they did).
Jacobins, were the most radical and called for a decleration of a new republic. Jacobins led a rally, that got out of hand when National Assembly troops showed up and they started to fight.
Decleration of Pilnitz promised to restore the French Monarchy. Louis and the National Assembly (NA) developed a plan: Let's invade Austria! The idea was to plunder Austria's wealth and steal their grain. Prussia joined Austria in fighting the French. Louis encouraged the Prussians, which made him look like an enemy of the revolution (which he was). National Assembly created a new Republican Const. Louis wa tried; found guilty and beheaded.
The death of Louis the 16th marked the start of the Terror, which is the most sensational part of the FR. Marie was excecuted.
After the Terror, a new constitution was put in place, giving more power to wealthy people. France was still at war with Austria and Britain. France won thanks to Napoleon.

French names -

• Absolon - French form of Absalom
• Alain - French for om Alan
• Helen
• Eileen
• Annette
• Aurele - Last name that is French and means gold or gilded
• Beatrice
• Benedict
• Cosette