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Louis XV Begins his reign
"Well Beloved" -
Voltaire publishes Philosophical Letters
commentary on British political system
British ideas gained popularity in France -
Montesquieu
Publishes "The Spirit of the Laws" -
Rousseau
Publishes "The Social Contract" -
Louis XVI Begins his Reign
Married Marie Antoinette
(unpopular alliance of Austria and France)
King at age 19 -
Period: to
French National Convention Ruled
As a convention that governed France, the National convention was composed of three groups of delegates; most were Jacobins. Of the three groups, none supported the king (unlike the previous Legislative Assembly). They established the Committe of Public Safety, who set up a conscription. -
Period: to
Reign of Terror
During this time, the Revolutionary Tribunal tried and executed many people. Most were found guilty only based on rumors of disloyalty or opposition to the Revolution. -
Reign Of Terror
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Robespierre Executed
The death of Robespierre marked the end of the end of the Reign of Terror. -
Period: to
The Directory's Rule
The National Convention came up with another constitution, which they named the Directory. The government was to be led by five executives, and only land owners could vote. Because of the worsening of the economy, it soon became as unpopular as the Old Regime. -
Period: to
The Age of Napolean
Napolean Bonaparte became dictator of France, using his military genius to sieze control of much of Europe and beyond in 15 years. In France, he established a new constitution, gave himself unlimited power, reorganized the French Law into his Napoleonic Code, and signed peace treaties with Austria and Great Britian. -
Napolean
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Concordat Established
A religious agreement on which Napolean and the pope agreed acknowledged Catholicism as France's religion, but tolerated other religions as well. -
France Declared an Empire
Through a plebicite, Napolean declares France an empire, making him Emporer Napolean I. -
Third Coalition Collapsed
After a series of battles, Napolean defeats the Third Coalition, which was an alliance against Napolean between Britian, Austria, Russia, and Sweden. -
Holy Roman Empire Abolished
Napolean completely abolishes the ancient empire, and its ruler takes the title of Emporer of Austria. -
Napolean Defeated
The allied forces caused Napolean to retreat from Leipzig, Saxony. -
Paris Captured
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Congress of Vienna Began
Representatives of Britian, Austria, Prussia and Russia met to settle political and territorial disputes after Napolean's reign. They agreed on three main principles, discussing compensation, distribution of power, future rules, and division of spoils. They all agreed on the necesity of a balance of power. -
Period: to
Age of Metternich
For about 30 years after 1814, Prince Metternich influenced Europe greatly with his movement known as liberalism. Based on values of the American and French Revolutions, it stresed the individual rights and law instead of an absolute power. It sparked much thought and action across Europe. -
Metternich
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Waterloo
After an attempted comeback, Napolean is finally defeated for the last time by Britian and Prussia. -
Alliances Formed
Around this time, the Quadruple Alliance, the Holy Alliance, and the Concert of Europe were established between the major powers of Europe.
