Creating+a+new+France

**__Creating a New France__**
=//The French Revolution has been divided into four phases by historians://=

=**__The Moderate Phase of the National Assembly (1789-1791)__**= Famine was spreading throughout the countryside in 1789. Peasants feared the government would take their crops and rumors began to spread like wild fire. Soon, peasants were attacking the homes of nobles and stealing grain from storehouses in desperate attempts for food. Paris was also in great distress. Government officials were needed to lead the city. The Paris Parliament had a hard job to do leading up to the Revolution. They set up three estates with the Estate-General as head. The first estate was made up of clergy, the second of nobility, and the third estate consisted of common people and peasants. Each estate had an equal number of representatives and would recieve exactly one vote in government. Arguments broke out after the establishment of the estates, and many people believed that the third estate should be doubled in size. The third estate voted, and declared themselves the National Assembly. Other estates were invitied to become part of the National Assembly, but there was no need, they were an Assembly on their own. King Louis tried to keep control over the National Assembly, by locking their meeting room so that they could no longer hold meetings. This did not stop them, they held meetings on a tennis court, and joined together in the Tennis Court Oath. This oath stated that the National Assembly would convene until they had developed a Constitution by which to govern France. They wrote The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen as a step toward establishing a constitution. Stated in it, was that all men were born free and were to remain free, and are equal in their rights. They had their own natural rights to liberty, security, property, and resistance to oppression. All men were equal before the law.


 * The Tennis Court Oath**

= =

=**__The Radical Phase (1792-1794)__**=

-During this era, there was an increase in violent actions that eventually led to the Reign of Terror. The Sans-Culottes demanded an increase in wages, an end to food shortages, and punhisment for hoarders. They wanted government to be a democracy. On August 10, 1792 men and women from Paris bombarded the King's palace. As a result of this attack, the Revolution became extremely radical. King Louis and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee. They were caught escaping, and were then placed under house arrest. The King could no longer preform his duties. On September 22, 1792, the monarchy was officialy removed of power, and replaced with a republic. The King stood trial for violating the liberty of his people. King Louis and Marie Antoinette were found guilty and executed.

Sans-Culottes means "No Pants" in French.**
 * The Clothing of the Sans-Culottes.

=__The Directory Phase__= - A year later, in 1795, a third Constitution was established among the moderates. Called the Constitution of 1795, it was made up of a five-man Directory and had a legislature with two houses. The Directory remained in power for four years. As time passed, the members had increasing problems with leaders on important decisions that were not being resolved, so many turned to Napoleon Bonaparte for help.

=**__The Age of Napoleon__**= - Napoleon Bonaparte was in favor of republican rule in the government. He was a respected military leader, and during the time of the revolution, his power increased dramatically. He won many victories while he was in the army, and was soon elected to be a political leader. Once in power, he removed the Directory and instead set up the Consulate, a board of three men who helped to govern. Heading the board, was Napoleon himself. Over the course of two years, Napoleon gained enough support and power to become the French Emperor. Napoleon did away with liberty, equality, and fraternity, and instead used the slogan order, security, and efficiency. During his reign, Napoleon made peace with the Catholic church, gave peasants their right to land, and restored order. However, Napoleon undid a few of the reforms that the revolution had made. Women lost rights they had earned, and males gained complete control over them. This action was called the Napoleonic Code. Napoleon gained territory for France, and continued to win military battles. His victories were a great boost for the French during the revolution, and Napleon would continue to rule until he stepped down from power in 1813.
 * Napoleon as a young man**


 * __Sources__**: Kreis, Steven. "The French Revolution: the Radical Stage." 13 May 2004. 16 Oct. 2007 http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture13a.html.

"French Revoltuion." 15 Oct. 2007 <[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution>.]

18 Oct. 2007 <[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_(French_Revolution)>.]

Ellis, Elisabeth G., and Anthony Esler. __World History: Connections to Today.__ Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1997.

"Napoleon." 18 Oct. 2007 <[|http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_I_of_France>.]