Born in 1758 in Arras, France, Maximilien Robespierre met tragedy early on with the death of his parents. Learning how to read and write, he eventually obtained a scholarship to secondary school where he learned about the Roman Republic and the Enlightenment.

In 1756, a reversal of longstanding alliances occurred, setting the stage for conflict in continental Europe and the New World for the next decade. The War of Austrian Succession saw France and Prussia battle Great Britain and Austria. By the end of 1756, France was allied with Austria and Great Britain allied with Prussia.

Formed in Versailles by deputies from Brittany during the Estates-General of 1789, the earliest meetings were secretive and few records remain regarding their content. Soon, other members from the rest of France joined, swelling their ranks. Mirabeau controlled their earliest incarnations, joined by Abbe Sieyes, Abbe Gregoire, Charles Lameth, Antoine Barnave, duc d’Aiguillon and Maximilien Robespierre.

Elections in the United States are mandated by law to occur at specific intervals and days depending on the office. Special elections can be held in the event of a death, retirement or resignation. All U.S. elections are held for three different levels: federal, statewide or local governments.

Following the establishment of the National Assembly and the storming of the Bastille, a bread shortage and rising prices were impacting the lower class residents of Paris. Mob violence began to take to the streets, even one time killing a baker who raised his prices.

At the beginning of the French Revolution, a number of members of the Third Estate and some from the First Estate signed what became known as the Tennis Court Oath. These members met during the Estates-General of June 20, 1789 at a tennis court located near the Palace of Versailles. 576 of the 577 people attending signed the document.

One of the fundamental documents of the French Revolution is the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. It defines the universal practicality of the individual and collective rights of each estate of the realm. It was influenced heavily by the doctrine of natural rights and mandated that the rights of Man are universal and valid at all times and in every place. This was used to establish the fundamental rights of French citizens and all men without exception. It also established the principles of popular sovereignty and dismantled the diving right of kings. However, it does not address concerns of women and slaves.

When the Estates-General convened on May 5, 1789, the deliberations became deadlocked within one day. The Third Estate’s representation attempted to make the whole body more effective, however, the group decided to begin meeting separately from the Estates-General on May 11. They established the Communes, eventually letting members of the First Estate join as well. On June 17, the Communes was declared the National Assembly with a vote of 490 to 90. As the First Estate of clergy began to dissipate into the Assembly, a political agenda unfolded as well as legislative action.

Following the dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly on September 30, 1791, the Legislative Assembly was assembled. The organization operated under the French Constitution of 1791, which was a principle failure of a document. Maximilien Robespierre moved that no members of the National Constituent Assembly be allowed to serve in the Legislative Assembly, creating a power vacuum as well as much inexperience. The Assembly lasted less than a year and left France with an empty treasury, a collapsed army and navy and many misaddressed domestic problems. The Legislative Assembly became gridlocked due to the bipartisan problems present with the left-right political spectrum.

Following an insurrection by the Paris Commune on August 10, 1792, the Legislative Assembly suspended the powers of King Louis XVI and called for a new National Convention to draw up a new constitution. An election was held for all Frenchmen of 25 years or older by universal male suffrage. The National Convention was first brought into session on September 20, 1792. The first order of the body was to abolish the monarchy. It also established September 22 as the first day of the French Republic.