French Revolution (1789-1799)

By caseykoukoski

  • Meeting of the Estates General

    King Louis XVI was forced to call this meeting of all 3 estates when the problems of France-debt & famine-became too severe. This was the first time this meeting had been called since 1614.

  • Tennis Court Oath

    Shortly after the 3rd Estate & a small number of nobles and priests formed the National Assembly, they were locked out of their regular meeting house. This forced them to meet in a Tennis Court, where they swore to continue meeting until a constitution was written for France.

  • Bastille is Stormed

    Rumors of foreign troops and military troops massacring the French to shut down the National Assembly had been circulating around Paris. Seeking weapons to defend themselves, a mob overpowered and stormed the Bastille. This day became a "symbolic act of revolution" for the French.

  • Women's/Bread March on Versaille

    The poor of France are furious about the rising bread prices-between unfair & heavy taxes, they can't even afford bread. They force Marie Antionette and King Louis to move to Paris so they can see the problems happening in France.

  • Nobility is Abolished

    The National Assembly abolished Nobility, the 2nd Estate in the Old Regime. The Nobility had formerly made up 2% of the population, owned 20% of France's land, and paid no taxes.

  • A Radical Newspaper is Published

    The first edition of an extreme radical newspaper, "Le Père Duchesne", is published by Jacques Hébert. The publication of this shows the shifting views of the revolution as it develops.

  • Louis XVI Formally Accepts New Constitution

    When the National Assembly finished creating a constitution, Louis accepted it, however, reluctantly. This new constitution took away much of the King's power, creating a limited constitutional monarchy.

  • Guillotine Made Official Means of Execution

    The guillotine was thought to be a more humane way of executing in France. However, after much overuse during the Reign of Terror, the blades became dull and the beheading was often elongated and even more painful.

  • War is Declared Against Austria and Prussia

    Monarchs throughout Europe felt threatened by the French Revolution and feared the loss of their power. Austria and Prussia attempted to have France put King Louis XVI back in full power. The Legislative Assembly declared war in response.

  • Invasion of the Tuileries

    With Prussian forces invading, their leader said if anyone harmed the royal family, he would destroy Paris. In response, about 20,000 angry Parisans stormed the Tuileries, imprisoning the royal family, and massacring the royal guards.

  • The National Convention Takes Office

    The Legislative Assembly was under pressure of the radicals and held an election for a new legislature. The National Convention became the new governing body, and declared France a republic

  • King Louis XVI's Death

    Louis was tried for treason and found guilty by a National Convention heavily influenced by Jacobins. A close vote he was sentenced to death by guillotine.

  • Jacobins Gain Control of Committee of Public Safety

    With a group as radical as the Jacobins beginning to take over, the death of many will come. The Jacobins taking over showed shifting ideas and extremes of the revolution.

  • Jean Paul Marat is Murdered

    Jean Paul Marat, a famous Jacobin, was murdered by Charlotte Corday. Marat was very sickly, but edited a newspaper in which he proposed that all who still supported the King must die. Corday supported a group who opposed the Jacobins.

  • Robespierre Elected to Committee of Public Safety

    Robespierre was a Jacobin leader who slowly gained power, and had extremely radical beliefs. He governed France as a dictator and his time of rule became known as the "Reign of Terror".

  • Robespierre's Death Ends the Reign of Terror

    Fearful members of the National Convention demanded Robespierre be arrested and executed. His death ended the Reign of Terror.

  • Drafting of French Citizens

    With forces such as Great Britain, Holland, and Spain banding against France in addition to Austria and Prussia, the French were desperate to reinforce their army. The National Convention drafted 300,000 men and women between the ages of 18 and 40.

  • The 3rd New Government for France Since 1789

    A new constitution is ratified in France. It was composed of a bicameral legislature, and a 5 man executive directory. Napoleon Bonaparte was the commander of armies.

  • Treaty of Campo Formio

    This treaty created space settlement between Austria and France, who had been fighting since early in the Revolution.

  • Coup d'État

    This overthrew the Directory, which had "lost control of the political situation and the confidence of the French people." This also put Napolean in high power.