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Reign of King Louis XIV
Known as the "Sun King", he had the longest reign in European history. He became the king of France at the age of five, and he was an absolute monarch. -
Period: to
French Revolution
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Reign of Terror
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Calling of the Estates-General
There had been no meeting since 1614. They were called to solve the nation's tax problem and declared themselves a "National Assembly". -
Tennis Court Oath
Members of the third estate were locked out of the meeting hall. They moved to a nearby tennis court and made an oath to never seperate until France has a constitution. -
Storming of the Bastille
"French Independence Day" The peasants aided the Bourgeoise and needed weapons to protect themselves. The Bastille was a French prison. This prison represented the old regime, and the storming of the Bastille became a symbol of the revolution. -
The Great Fear
Time after the fall of Bastille, where the peasants were destroying tax records and the Nobles organizing to kill the peasants. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
Nobles recognized that they could not protect thier privileges. This decided that all Frenchmen would be citizens subject to one law. -
September Massacres
This was the killing of imprisoned nobles and priests accused of political crimes. Radicals took over the legislative assembly and called for a national convention. -
National Convention
All males could vote for the king's fate regardless of property ownership. They used a new calender, and the metric system. They met from 1792 to 1795. -
Committee of Public Safety
This directed the war effort with conscription. The leader of this effort was Maximilien de Robespierre.
