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Meeting of the Estate General
The King of France held a meeting of all three estates to discuss the nation's financial problems. He made the decision to give each estate one vote. However, the third estate did not like this because they were a larger group of people that only got the same power as the smaller first and second estates. -
Tennis Court Oath
On June 17th, a large group of peasants belonging to the Third Estate met and formed the National Assembly, representing the French lower-class. The Tennis Court Oath was the National Assembly's vow to not back down until constitutional changes were made by the government. It occurred on an indoor tennis court, which is what gave it its odd name. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Third Estate asked the king for more representation in government, but he ignored them. They were worried that he was preparing an attack, so the commoners raided the Bastille of its weapons and gunpowder.
"Like a kind of lightning, no eye in the throng could have told; but, muskets were being distributed-- so were cartridges, powder, and ball, bars of iron and wood, knives, axes, pikes, every weapon..." pg 206 -
Women's March on Versailles
A large group of (mostly women) peasants marched through Paris to Versailles in hopes of getting bread for a lower price. At Versailles, a few women asked to meet with the king. The meeting went well and he assured them that he would give them bread, but a fought broke out in the crowd and the people killed several guards. The king then addressed the people from his balcony and was forced by the crowd to return to Paris.
"So much was closing in about the women who sat knitting, knitting..."pg179 -
Flight to Varennes
The king and queen tried to leave the chaos of the angry citizens by leaving their home at Versailles and fleeing to Varennes. This was unsuccessful, however, when they were caught and brought back to Paris. -
Champ de Mars Massacre
After the Flight to Varennes, the people's anger towards the king had grown. They gathered on July 17th to sign a petition to remove the king from his throne. Security concerns were high with the large amounts of people. Several revolutionary leaders began taunting the National Guard, which resulted in them shooting and killing 50 people in the crowd.
"All the people within reach had suspended their business, or their idleness, to run to the spot and drink the wine." pg 27 -
The Attack on the Tuileries
The king moved into Paris to Tuileries when the March on Versailles drove him out of his palace into the city. The people attacked his new home. -
Overthrow of the Monarchy
The Legislative Assembly voted to get rid of the monarchy and create the French First Republic.
"For that he was a traitor to our serene, illustrious, excellent and so forth, prince, our Lord the King" pg 61 -
Execution of the King
King Louis XVI was sent to the guillotine after being suspected of conspiracy with foreign governments. He was executed in the Place de la Revolution in Paris.
"The new era began; the king was tried, doomed, and beheaded" pg 264 -
Execution of the Queen
Marie Antoinette was the first person to be sent to the guillotine during the Reign of Terror. There was a large crowd that celebrated the death of their evil ruler. -
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Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror began when the king was executed. It was a period of death to anyone who disagreed with The Revolution. The killing method was the guillotine, and anyone who was caught talking badly about the Revolution could be sent to their death.
"Above all, one hideous figure grew as familiar as if it had been before the general gaze from the world-- the figure of the sharp female called La Guillotine." pg 265 -
Napoleon's Coup
The French Directory secretly worked with Napoleon to overthrow the French government, and the coup was successful. He was elected first consul for life and announced his position as Emperor Napoleon.