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Meeting of Estates General
The first meeting of the Estates-General since 1614. The assembly was a general assembly representing the French estates at the time. King Louis XVI called representatives from the estates to meet at Versailles. The representatives of the estates created lists of grievances in hope of encouraging change, but no changes were made due to many disagreements between both the estates, as well as the king. -
Creation of the National Assembly & the Tennis Court Oath
After a failed meeting of the Estates-General, many representatives of the estates claimed to be the National Assembly. After the king had locked them out of the regular meeting room on June 20, 1789, they meet at a nearby tennis court. On the tennis court, they created the Tennis Court Oath, where they swore not to seperate until France had a constitution. Tennis Court Oath -
Storming of the Bastille
After the king refused to recognize the National Assemblies legitimacy, he decided to assemble troops near Paris. Rumors of an attack by the king spread through the crowds and prompted the crowds to storm the Bastille, releasing prisoners and collecting weapons to use for defence and fighting against the troops.
Storming of the Bastille -
Abolition of the Feudal System
Rumours of a poor economy and lack of food spread fear and panic throughout the countryside, leading to many attacks on the estates of nobility. This caused the National Assembly to abolish the Estate-General, leading to the end of the feudal system and gave the National Assembly legislative power in France. -
Creation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
National Assembly passes the Declaration of Man and of the Citizen. The declaration described the rights of individuals and the guiding democratic principals.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen -
March on Versailles
March on Versailles
One of the first significant events of the French Revolution. Thousands of people, mostly women, marchedd to Versailles to protest the high price and scarcity of bread.After discovering the royal families plan to flee France, the protesters forced the royal family to return to and live in Paris. This removed all chances that the royal family had to escape. -
Creation of a Constitutional Monarchy
French ConstitutionNational Assembly wrote a new constitution that kept the country monarchy, but distributed the political powers. It proclaimed France a sovereign nation, got rid of the royal administration, shifted power to 83 individual districts, limited kings power, and eliminated nobility as a legally defined class. It also gave the same civil rights to all citizens, and incorporated the church into the state, taking away special rights and properties from the clergy. -
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Emergence of the Jacobins and Girondins
Two different political groups formed, the Girondins and the Jacobins. Girondins were moderates who wanted to maintain the monarchy in France, while the Jacobins wanted to establish France as a republic. -
France Declares War on Austria
France Declares War on
With many changes occuring in the political system of France, many nobles escaped to Austria and Prussia in an attempt to mobilize foreign powers against the new government of France. This caused a threat of invasion which lead to the declaration of war on Austria.This marked the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars. Soon after, Prussia joined the Austrians in the war against France. -
Jacobins Storm the Tuileries Palace
Tuileries Palace
The Jacobins storm the Tuileries Palace, where the royal family was residing. This lead to the king being suspended from his duties by the elected Legislative Assembly. -
National Convention and Declaration of France as a Republic
France as a Republic
Representatives from the Jacobins and the Girondins, forming the National convention, voted to remove the monarchy and establish France as a republic. -
Trial and Execution of Louis XVI
Trial and Execution of Louis XVI
Louis XVI was tried and had 33 charges against him. Mainly he was found guilty of treason by the newly formed republic. After a close vote, he was sentenced to death which was not supported by many people, but they followed majority rule and executed him.
Trial of Louis XVI -
Levée en Masse (Conscription)
Conscription
After multiple military losses against Austria, Great Britain, and Prussia, the government of France instituted a mass conscription known as Levée en Masse to provide soldiers for the military. -
Execution of Marie Antoinette
Execution of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was arrested on August 1, 1793, after which she was tried for a number of charges. Charges included treason and one of the most infamous charges was that she sexually abused her son. She was found guilty of all the charges and was guillotined on the 16 day of October 1793.
