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Excessive Spending and Poor Harvests
France had undergone a series of agricultural difficulties which limited its ability to produce crops and provide for the population. Heavy rain and drastic temperatures made the soil infertile. This meant a lack of food and resources. Starvation was a major issue for the majority of the French people. Furthermore, the government continued to recklessly spend and go deeper into debt. -
The Tennis Court Oath
So named because their meeting was held on an indoor tennis court, the Tennis Court Oath was a resolution of the Third Estate. They decided never to separate from each other until they had drafted a new, written constitution. This led to King Louis XVI ordering the two other estates to meet with the third in a National Assembly. -
The Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a Parisian prison. It was ransacked by a large mob consisting of commoners. This event is important because it is largely considered the beginning of the French Revolution. The Storming of Bastille occurred in response to the tyrannical practices of the French monarchy and the difficult conditions the majority of the population faced. -
The Great Fear
The Great Fear was a period of widespread panic. The rural population worried about economic concerns and political conspiracies. This led to riots, violence, and false news. It led to the National Assembly abolishing the Feudal System. -
The Women's March on Versailles
Women led a violent riot towards Versailles to protest the cost of bread and the low food supply. They successfully forced the royals to move back to Paris. It weakened the image and respect of the king compared to the people. -
The Constitution of 1791
This document was a result of unrest in France. The people demanded liberty and equality under the law. To ensure these rights were protected, they created a new constitution. It limited the control of the monarch and expanded the rights of the legislature. The legislative body would be composed of members, appointed via indirect voting. -
The Legislative Assembly Declares War on Austria
The Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria to defend and spread the ideology behind the French Revolution. Austria initially rejected Napoleon's overtures of peace, which spurred conflict between the two empires. The French believed that émigrés in Austria were creating alliances and counterrevolutionary plots. -
Death of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI of France was executed at the Place de la Révolution. He died by guillotine, which was a new technology used to efficiently sever the head from the body. Shortly afterward, Marie Antoinette was also convicted of treason. -
Robespierre's Reign of Terror
The Terror was a time of mass violence against all those with anti-revolutionary sentiments. The Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien de Robespierre was in control. During this short period, 300,000 people were arrested, and approximately 30,000 died. This caused the public to riot against Robespierre and violence in France would continue. -
Napoleon's Coup d'etat
This event marks the end of the French Revolution. Napoleon overthrew the Directory in a coup to restore his power in the French government. He seized control without any casualties. -
Napoleon Becomes First Consul
After Napoleon's successful coup d'etat, he established a new form of government. This governing body was known as the Consulate, with Napoleon at the head as the first consul. He consolidated his power into a dictatorship and devised a new constitution to protect his position. -
The Continental System is Implemented
Napoleon created the Continental System to destroy the British empire through trade blockades. It was composed of multiple countries with France at its core. The surrounding satellite kingdoms, and allied nations such as Austria, Prussia, and Russia, all participated in the embargo. It ultimately backfired once the British retaliated, but it demonstrates Napoleon's desire for global power. -
Napoleon's Defeat at Leipzig (Battle of the Nations)
This is significant because it is Napoleon's first evident defeat. He fought against the Austrians, Prussians, Russians, and Swedish. It took place in Saxony, Germany. -
Napoleon is Exiled to Elba
Napoleon was forced to abdicate the throne. Under the Treaty of Fontainebleau, Austria, Prussia, and Russia exiled Napoleon to the island of Elba. It is part of Tuscany, Italy. This effectively ended Napoleon's rule in France. He was replaced by Louis XVIII. -
Napoleon is Defeated at Waterloo
Napoleon was so incredibly successful at warfare and commanding that his loss at Waterloo comes as a shock. However, he displayed inferior tactics to his opponent, the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon was a threat to European unity and peace, and for that, people turned against him.