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The Estates-General was a meeting summoned by King Louis XVI of France to deal with the financial and social crisis. The general estate represented the three French estates: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate) and the peasantry (Third Estate). -
The National Assembly became the effective government and constitution when King Louis refused to give them more power. A meeting was held by the Estates-General and it was decided that Third Estate members could not vote by representatives. They continued to meet separately and eventually declared themselves the representative body of France. -
The Tennis Court Oath was formed until a written constitution of the kingdom was established.This oath represented the power of the people. In the oath they vowed "not to separate" and meet as circumstances required until the constitution of the kingdom was established. Louis was forced to realise the new body formed and it was now the new parliament of France.
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The state prison was known as Bastille, it represented a symbol of the monarch's dictatorial rule. Bastille was stormed by an angry mob in search of weapons and gunpowder. Many guards were killed along with the governor of the prison Marquis de Launay and their heads were placed on pikes representing the revenge on France. -
The National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution of the Constitutional Monarchy in 1791. The king had veto power and the ability to appoint ministers. All legislative powers went to a single Legislative assembly, which alone had the power to raise taxes and declare war. The main objective was to limit the powers of the monarch. This did not turn out well and the French Revolution turned radical. -
The first act was to establish the French first Republic and strip the king of all political powers. The king's palace was stormed and he was held hostage for several years. A newly elected assembly was formed called the Convention. The monarchy was abolished and this also led to King Louis XVI execution. -
Louis was convicted and condemned to death because he failed to give up his power to the Revolutionary government. Marie Antoinette was condemned to death on various factors. Some of which were her own doing, others were out of her control. She was also convicted of treason and was executed nine months later. Louis and Marie both died from the guillotine. -
This began after the execution of Louis XVI. The Reign of Terror took place over a period of 10 months. France's Revolutionary government ordered the arrest and execution of thousands of people, mostly by guillotine. The goal was to take cruel measures against those who were suspected of being enemies of the Revolution. -
The reign of terror ended with the fall of Robespierre. The Convention charges Robespierre and his allies with anti-revolutionary activity, and they were all sentenced to death by guillotine. -
The legacy of the French Revolution was based on the ideals of liberty, equality and justice. For some it was hope that was given to a world dominated by aristocratic privilege and the monarchical reign of terror. The French were not just fighting for their own independence, but for basic principles of freedom for everyone all over the world.
