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Louis XIV Dies Leaving France in Debt
Louis XIV died in 1715 after ruling France for nearly 72 years, which was longer than any other known European monarch. He left many great legacies, but he also left France in a tremendous amount of debt. France was in debt mostly because Louis spent billions on Versailles and that came directly from France's money. Another reason why France was in debt after Louis XIV died was because he engaged in many wars and that spent even more of France's money. -
The Meeting of the Estates General
In 1789 the Estates General met led by Louis XVI. The Estates General was an assembly of representatives from the three estates. France was facing economic problems that the Estates General was trying to figure out. Some problems were that the burden of taxes was making it almost impossible to conduct business, the cost of living was rising sharply and a grain shortage caused thousands to starve. Louis called for the Estates General because he wanted their support in raising taxes. -
The Formation of the National Assembly and Tennis Court Oath
After the meeting of the Estates General, the National Assembly was created. The National Assembly was formed because the Third Estate was tired of being outvoted and they wanted to enact laws and reform in the name of the French people. The Tennis Court Oath was a pledge made by the members of France's National Assembly in 1789. They vowed to continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution. It is called the Tennis Court Oath because they met inside and indoor tennis court. -
The Storming of the Bastille
The Storming of the Bastille was when French citizens thought they were in danger so they stormed the Bastille, which was a prison for political prisoners and it was thought to contain weapons. The people then stole many weapons to defend the city against attack. This was important because this event was the start of the French Revolution. -
The Great Fear
The Great Fear was an event when rumors that nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize peasants spread through the countryside. A wave of senseless panic caused the Great Fear, and that made peasants begin attacking nobles and manors. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The Declaration of the Rights of Man was a statement of revolutionary ideals adopted by the National Assembly. It claimed all men are born free and remain free and equal in rights. It guaranteed rights such as liberty, property, security, resistance to oppression along with equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. -
The Royal Family Attempts to Escape
After the beginning of the revolution Louis XVI and his family were worried so they tried to escape. As they neared the border, they were apprehended and returned to Paris under guard. -
The September Massacres
The September Massacres were a wave of killings in Paris and other cities in the late summer of 1792, during the French Revolution. Angry mobs of workers broke into a prison and murdered 1,000 nobles who were prisoners there because they were supporters of Louis. -
Louis XVI is Executed
On January 21, 1793, Louis XVI was executed by means of the guillotine because he was convicted of treason. -
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Robespierre Becomes Leader of the Committee of Public Safety and the Reign of Terror
Robespierre was a Jacobin who gained power and whose rule was known as the "Reign of Terror". The Committee of Public Safety was a committee whose job was to protect the revolution from it's enemies. The Reign of Terror was a period when Robespierre ruled France as a dictator and thousands of political figures and citizens were executed by the guillotine. About 40,000 people were executed during the Reign of Terror and around 85% of these people were peasants from the third estate. -
Robespierre is Executed
In 1794, members of the National Convention turned on Robespierre and demanded his arrest and execution. On July 28, 1794, Robespierre went to the guillotine and was executed. This event ended the Reign of Terror. -
A New Government is Formed
After the Reign of Terror a new government was formed. This government placed power firmly in the hands of the upper middle class. It consisted of a two house legislature and a executive body of 5 men which was called the directory. -
The Directory Comes into Power
The Directory, created by a new constitution after the Revolution, assumes the role of governing France until November 10, 1799, when it is overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte. During its reign of government, it only held legislative power.
