France Declares War On Austria

In 1792 France declared war on Austria. They worried that Austria would attempt to reinstate King Louis XVI on the throne, and felt that they had to act to defend their new republic.

Austria was soon joined in the war by Prussia, and Sardinia. This war had devastating effects on France. Food shortages, and poverty ran rampant throughout France, and threatened to tear the country apart.

Just as it looked like the armies of Prussia and Austria would defeat France, the French armies pulled off a stunning victory at Valmy, a city less than 100 miles away from Paris.

This victory boosted the morale of French troops, and turned the tide of the war.