The Rise of Popular Authoritarianism

Conceived in the ideas presented by the Enlightenment, the people of France (generally those classified in the Third Estate) began to question Louis XVI on their rights as human beings.  In late 1788, the Three Estates (the Clergy, the Nobles and Everyone else) came together at Versailles to discuss an adequate solution to the current financial crisis.  However, after 6 weeks of deadlock, the Third Estate fled to a indoor tennis court and drew up a new constitution for France, while also proclaiming themselves as "The National Assembly".  This was essentially the tipping point, as Louis XVI reacted by assembling troops to disperse the Assembly, however when the local french citizens heard about this they rose up in arms and destroyed the Bastille.  These uprisings only helped the National Assembly, and they soon created a document known as The Rights of Man and the Citizen.   However, in order to protect this revolution, a Reign of Terror swept through France, as over 40,000 people were beheaded for being against the rebels.  Soon after, Napoleon, a young french general, took command militaristically and declared himself the Ruler of France.