The French Revolution Timeline by Isaak Espenschied

By isaak34

  • Estates General Assembled

    Estates General Assembled
    This signaled the start of the French Revolution. They had to meet in the tennis court around Versailles. It included clergy, nobility, and peasant classes. King Louis XVI wanted them to figure out how to best deal with the French debt.

  • Storming of the Bastille

    Storming of the Bastille
    The Bastille was a state prison in Paris. It was attacked by an angry mob of 1000 craftsmen and store owners who needed the gunpowder stored there for their weapons. Governor de Launay surrendered the fort and was killed by the mob. It became a symbol of monarchy's dictatorial rule.

  • Declaration of Pillnitz

    Declaration of Pillnitz
    It was a statement issued by the rulers of Austria and Prussia. It was like telling the French to back off and leave us alone. They thought they were declaring war.

  • War with France and Prussia

    War with France and Prussia
    The Legislative Assembly declared war. The French did poorly at first. They did better as the war went on.

  • First use of guillotine

    First use of guillotine
    It was invented by Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin. It was used for capital punishment. It was a more humane punishment.

  • Louis XVI executed

    Louis XVI executed
    He was convicted of conspiracy. He was sentence to death by the French National Convention. He was killed by the guillotine.

  • Reign of Terror Begins

    Reign of Terror Begins
    The leader of the Committee of Public Safety, Robespierre, made the law, "Law of Suspects". Revolutionary Tribunal would make a Revolution enemy innocent or put them to death. France was ruled by The Terror. Anyone accused of a crime was considered guilty.

  • Reign of Terror Ends

    Reign of Terror Ends
    During the Reign of Terror, around 17,000 people were killed and 200,000 people were arrested. People got together to overthrow Robespierre. He was executed the next day.

  • "La Marseillaise" France National Anthem

    "La Marseillaise" France National Anthem
    The anthem was written by Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle. He wrote it in one night as a marching song for the French troops. It was banned by Napoleon.

  • End of the French Revolution

    End of the French Revolution
    Napoleon overthrows the The Directory and made himself the French Consulate. This ended the French Revolution. Napoleon was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1814.