French Revolution Research Paper

Before the French Revolution, there was a large divide between all the citizens in France. They were spit up into three classes, the first estate known as the clergy, the second estate known as the nobility, and the third estate (“Abbé Sieyes: What Is the Third Estate?”). The clergy was made up of many aristocratic families and priests (Spielvogel 421). The nobility consisted of many military leaders, people higher up in the government, the law courts, and high church offices (Spielvogel 421). The third estate consisted of the very large amount of commoners that lived in France (Spielvogel 421). In order to destroy this administration, major changes would need to be made. One of those changes was the creation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man in 1789 ("Avalon Project - Declaration of the Rights of Man - 1789."). This stated that all men are born, and will remain free and equal in their rights ("Avalon Project - Declaration of the

The National Convention created the “Reign of Terror” in response to the domestic crisis; during the Reign of Terror anyone that opposed the radical activities were executed by the guillotine (Spielvogel 430). In nine months around 16,000 people were put to death (Spielvogel 430). Maximillian Robespierre had a very large part in issuing so many people to the guillotine. In fact, he was not in favor of the Revolution at all; he issued multiple threats to the National Convention ("Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of Terror."). No one felt safe with Robespierre in power; there was even an anti-Robespierre group within the National Convention (Spielvogel 433). He was arrested and guillotined in July of 1794, as a victim of the Reign of Terror that he enjoyed so much ("Maximilien Robespierre: Justification of the Use of