-
Estates-General
Summoned by King Louis XVI to propose solutions to his government's financial problems. It was brought to an end when many members of the Third Estate formed themselves into a National Assembly, signalling the outbreak of the French Revolution. -
National Assembly
The national assembly was a transitional institution between the Estates-General and the National Constituent Assembly. This assembly immediately attached itself to the capitalists. -
Storming of the Bastille
On 14 july, many parisians stormed the Bastille fortress because three days before that, Luis XVI ordered the reconstruction of the finance ministry. -
Revolution and the Church
The Revolution caused a massive shift of power from the Roman Catholic Church to the state. On 13 February 1790 all religious orders were dissolved. -
The French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states. They resulted in expanded French control to the Low Countries, Italy, and the Rhineland. -
Execution of Louis XVI
On 17 January 1793 Louis was condemned to death for "conspiracy against the public liberty and the general safety" by a close majority in Convention. He was executed by guillotine on 21 January 1793 -
Reign of Terror
It was a period of violence incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of the revolution". -
Napoleon takes the power in France
Napoleon Bonaparte staged the coup of 18 Brumaire which installed the Consulate. This led to Bonaparte's dictatorship and eventually (in 1804) to his proclamation as Emperor.
