Phases of the French Revolution

Phases of the French Revolution:

The beginning of the French Revolution was heralded by two factors of convening a session of the Estates General in 1789, and the declaration of the National Assembly. During the next two years, the events of eradication of feudalism and establishment of democratic institutions took place in the National Assembly. The remarkable achievement of that period was the declaration of human rights, the drafting of a new constitution, an overall change in administrative and judicial structure, and the seizure of Church property by the state. In that period, the mob of Parisians led the French Revolution. The King tried to run away from France it fanned the spirit of the republic and the Jacobin party emerged in France. After the declaration of the new constitution in 1791 the National Assembly dissolved itself and was replaced by the Legislative Assembly (October 1, 1791 – September 21, 1792) elected under the provisions made by the new constitution. With the draft of the new constitution duly approved by the King, people (particularly the bourgeoisie) heaved a sigh of relief and thought that the revolution had ended. But their presumption proved to be short-lived. One year after the formation of the Legislative Assembly, the French Revolution entered its second phase in August-September, 1792.

During the second phase of the French Revolution monarchy was overthrown and a republic was established in France. In that period, France got entangled in foreign wars and it gave a new turn to the French Revolution. The Legislative Assembly was replaced by the newly-elected National Council (Convention) (1792-95), which pushed the Revolution into the third phase.

During the third phase of the French Revolution, France underwent “The reign of terror”. In that period the reins of the government were held by those militants and committed revolutionaries who were members of the public-safety committee. They defended the cause of the Revolution from its enemies by assuming unusual rights. Weeding out external and internal dangers relating to the revolution, they worked for the good of common people. But people were afraid of the extremities of terrorism. Hence the Revolution entered the next phase.

The Directory came into existence during the fourth and last phase of the French Revolution. In that system, five directors were endowed with executive powers, and legislative powers were attributed to a bicameral parliament. Napoleon, the great subverted that governing system in 1799.