How did the French government change during the French Revolution?

The French Revolution (1789-1799) brought about significant changes in the government of France. Prior to the revolution, France was ruled by an absolute monarchy, with King Louis XVI as the head of state. However, the revolution led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic.

The first major change in the government occurred with the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen in August 1789. This document served as the basis for a new constitution, which was adopted in 1791. Under this constitution, the French government was divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive, and the judiciary.

The legislative branch consisted of a National Assembly, which was elected by citizens who met certain property qualifications. The executive branch was headed by a president, who was elected by the National Assembly, and was responsible for carrying out the laws passed by the legislative branch. The judiciary branch was composed of a system of courts, which were responsible for interpreting and enforcing the laws.

However, this new government structure was short-lived. In 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and France became a republic. The National Convention was established as the new legislative body, and a Committee of Public Safety was created to deal with the crisis of war and internal rebellion. The Committee of Public Safety was led by Maximilien Robespierre, who was responsible for the Reign of Terror, a period of mass executions of those suspected of being enemies of the revolution.

In 1795, a new constitution was adopted, which established a new government structure known as the Directory. The Directory consisted of a five-member executive council and a two-house legislature. However, this government proved to be ineffective and corrupt, and was overthrown in a coup d'état in 1799.

Overall, the French Revolution led to significant changes in the government of France, and set the stage for the development of modern democratic institutions. However, the revolution was also marked by periods of violence and instability, and the establishment of a stable democratic government would take many more years to achieve.

The French government changed dramatically during the French Revolution. Prior to the revolution, France was an absolute monarchy, with the king having complete control over the government. However, the revolution led to the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a republic. The new government was based on the principles of democracy and equality, and it gave all citizens the right to vote and hold office.

The French government continued to change throughout the course of the revolution. In 1793, the National Convention, which was the legislative body of the republic, executed King Louis XVI. This event led to a period of great political instability, as different factions vied for control of the government. In 1794, the Reign of Terror began, during which the Jacobin Party, led by Maximilien Robespierre, executed thousands of people suspected of being enemies of the revolution. The Reign of Terror ended in 1794, and the Jacobins were overthrown.

In 1795, the Directory, a five-member executive body, was established. The Directory ruled France for four years, but it was plagued by corruption and instability. In 1799, a coup d'état led by Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory and established the French Consulate. The Consulate was a more stable government than the Directory, and it laid the foundation for the French Empire, which Napoleon would later establish.

The French Revolution had a profound impact on the French government. It abolished the monarchy, established a republic, and gave all citizens the right to vote and hold office. The revolution also led to a period of great political instability, as different factions vied for control of the government. However, the French Revolution also laid the foundation for a more stable and democratic government in France.