French Revolution

  • Storming of Bastille

    Storming of Bastille
    The Storming of Bastille was the symbolic beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a French prison notoriously known for horrible, torturous conditions. On July 13, a large crowd of revolutionaries who were frustrated with the quality of life as civilians mobbed the Bastille. They attacked the guards with muskets, swords, and makeshift weapons until they were forced to surrender. This victory for the revolutionaries marked the end of ancien regime and gave their cause great momentum.
  • The Great Fear

    The Great Fear
    The Great Fear was a period of time in France in which there was a lot of panic and riot among the peasants. Rumors were spreading about towns being raided and ransacked. Peasants responded to these rumors by arming themselves and joining revolutionary causes, increasing the number of people fighting against the monarchy. Not many people died during this period but lots of property was destroyed or stolen. The Great Fear ended on August 3, 1789.
  • Feudalism Abolished

    Feudalism Abolished
    Feudalism is a system in which people worked and fought for nobles in return for land and protection. This system was implemented all throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. In France, feudalism was abolished during the National Assembly, a desperate meeting called by Louis XVI.This decision was made with the hopes of unifying and pacifying the people, as they were becoming a large problem for the French royalty.
  • Mob at Versailles

    Mob at Versailles
    In early October, a group of revolutionaries from Paris, most of them women, marched 12 miles to Versailles. By this point, all peasants had different reasons for their march. Some were starving and wanted the king to alleviate bread shortages, some wanted violent revenge against the king’s guards, and some just wanted the king to relocate to Paris, away from the harsh influences of aristocracy. After twenty four hours of intimidation, the king agreed to move himself and his family to Tuileries.
  • Monarchy Abolished

    Monarchy Abolished
    In 1792, the French monarchy was abolished. The Legislative Assembly voted to get rid of the monarchy and establish the First Republic. This decision came after King Louis XVI signed the new French Constitution in 1791 that reduced him to a figurehead and stripped him of most of his power. This was huge for the revolutionaries because one of their main issues was the tyranny of the government.
  • Execution of Louis XVI

    Execution of Louis XVI
    King Louis XVI was executed on January 21, 1793. Prior to this, he had lost much of his power by accepting the new Constitution. Without his power and with the hatred of the people, the king was very vulnerable. Louis was convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers and sentenced to death by the French National Convention. He was beheaded by guillotine just one day later.
  • Reign of Terror

    Reign of Terror
    The Reign of Terror was a time following the execution of King Louis XVI where the French people had no real ruler. They had somewhat of a leader, named Maximilien Robespierre. Robespierre was a devoted revolutionary and has leadership was incredibly chaotic. During the Reign of Terror, at least 300,000 suspects were arrested, 17,000 were officially executed, and 10,000 died in prison or without trial.
  • Thermidor

    Thermidor
    July 27, 1794, or 9 Thermidor Year II according the the French Republican Calendar, marked the end of the Reign of Terror. By this time, Maximilien Robespierre had lost much of his power. He was denounced by members of the National Convention as a tyrant. Robespierre was declared an outlaw, and was killed by guillotine without judicial process.
  • Rise of Napoleon

    Rise of Napoleon
    Napoleon Bonaparte was a military commander who became the first emperor of France. His rise to power came through the ranks of the military, as he had great success and was promoted to high positions. Napoleon also had great political skills the helped him negotiate peace with other European countries. He made many positive changes in France’s social class system and was very popular among the people.