-
The Diamond Necklace Affair
France´s government sank deeply into debt. Part of it was because Marie Antoinette had spended too much money in parties, gowns, jewels, gambiling etc. There was no more money left. In 1786, the bankers refused to lend the government any more money. People had great fear that spread through the French countryside. -
Estates General Meet
They meet for the first time since 1614 to approve a new tax on the nobility (the nobles) rather than cutting expenses. The Estates-General is an assembly of representatives from all the three estates. The first in 175 years, was held at Versailles -
Third Estate declares itself to be the National Assembly
On this date, they voted to establish the National Assembly, in effect proclaiming the end of absolute monarchy and the begginning of representative government. This vote was the first deliberate act of revolution. This leads to the tennis court oath. Where, the Third Estate delegates found themselves locked out of their meeting room. They were pledging to stay until rhey had drawn up a new constitution. -
Storming of the Bastille
A mob searching for gunpowder and arms stormed the Bastille, a Paris prison. They overwhelmed the guards and seized control of the building. They killed several guards and then paraded around the streets with the dead men´s head on pikes. -
The August Decrees
Nobleman made speeches declaring their love of liberty and equality. Other members of the National Assembly joined in sweeping away the feudal privileges of the First and Second Estates. (making commoners equal to the nobles and the clergy) By morning, the Old Regime was dead. -
Rights of Man
The Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The document stated that ¨men are born and remain free and equal in rights.¨ These rights included, ¨liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression.¨ -
Women´s March on Versailles
Also known as the October March, women were marching in the morning of October 5 because they were rioting over the high price and scarcity of bread. Their demonstrations became twisted with the activites of revolutionaries who were seeking liberal political reforms and a constitutional monarchy for France. Also the san-culottes was a radical group made up of Parisian wageearners and small shopkeepers who wanted a great voice in government, lower prices and and end to food shortages. -
1790 to the establishment of the Legislative Assembly
It was a period in the history of France, in which republicans overthrew the Bourbon monarchy and the Roman Catholic Church underwent radical restructuring. In brief words, they were making lots of changes. But, the emigres wanted to restore the Old Regime. -
Flight to Varennes
The royal family tried to escape from France to Austrian Netherlands. But, as they neared the border, they were apprehended and returned to Paris under guard. Some of his advisers had told him before that his family was in danger but he decided to take action really late. Louis´s attempted escape plan increased the influence of his radical enemies in the government and sealed his fate. -
Louis accepts Constitution
The National Assembly completed the new constituion which Louis in this day he approved. The constitution created a limited constitutional monarchy. It stripped the king of much authority. But, it also created a new legislative body: Legislative Assembly. This body had the power to create laws and to approve or reject declarations of war. But, the king still held the executive power to enforce laws. -
France declares war
Monarchs and nobles watched the changes taking place in France and feared that similar revolts might break out in their own countries. So, Austria and Prussia took action and urged the French to restore Louis back to his position as an absolute monarch. But, the Legislative Assembly responded by declaring war. -
Storming of the Tuileries Palace
Men and women invaded the Tuileries palace where the royal family was staying. The mob massacred the royal guards and imprisoned Louis, Marie Antoinette, and their children. And they were kept as prisoners. And in September 21 France abolished the monarchy and Louis was no longer king and was treated as a normal citizen. -
Jacobins Take Control
Most of the people involved in the governmental changes were members of a radical political organization, the Jacobin Club. -
First French Republic
The National Convention abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic. Adult male citizens were granted to vote and hold office. But still, women were not given the same rights as men. -
Death of Louis
The king walked with calm dignity up the steps of the scaffold to be beheaded by a machine called the guillotine. He was ready to die. -
Everyone against France
In the early 1793´s Great Britain, Holland, Spain, Austria and Prussia joined together to fight against France. Jacobin leaders took an extreme step of ordering a draft of 300,000 French citizens between the ages of 18 and 40. By 1794, the army had grown to 800,000 and included women. -
Robespierre ¨Reign of Terror¨
Robespierre became leader of the Committee of Public Safety. He governed France as a dictator and the period of his rule became known as Reign of Terror. -
Death of Robespierre
Members of the National Convention turned on Robespierre fearing for their own safety. They demanded his arrest and execution. The Reign of Terror, ended on when Robespierre went to the guillotine to die. -
Conclusion of the French Revolution in 1795
Moderate leaders in the National Convention drafted a new plan of government, the third since 1789. It placed power firmly in the hands of the upper middle class and called for a two-house legislature and an executive body of five men, known as the Directory. These men gave their troubled country a period of order. They also found the right general to command France´s armies.
