The French Revolution Section 1:The Old Order - At the time when the Americans were gaining independence from Great Britain, the French monarchy was at it's height. - All French people belonged to one of three estates, or orders of society - These estates determined the legal rights and status of the person. - The First Estate was formed by the Catholic Clergy. The Second Estate was formed by the nobility. Everyone else formed the …showed first 75 words of 1549 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1549 total…to maintain control. Conflict among the five directors led to the coup of 18 Fructidor (Sept. 4, 1797). - Discontent with Directory rule was increased by military reverses. In 1799 Napoleon Bonaparte, the hero of the Italian campaign, returned from his Egyptian expedition and, with the support of the army and several government members, overthrew the Directory on 18 Brumaire (Nov. 9) and established the Consulate. - Until the Restoration of the Bourbons (1814), Napoleon (see Napoleon I) ruled France.