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The Estates General meeting
A meeting of the Estates-General is called by Louis XVI in Versailles to discuss and approve a new tax plan. -
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The French Revolution
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The Storming of the Bastille
On that day the people of Paris tore down the Bastille castle. That castle had served as a prison where the king had locked up his enemies and held them for secret trial and executed them. The people may have never have know either the charges against them nor their accusers. -
Declaration of the rights of Man and Citizens
The Declaration was directly influenced by Thomas Jefferson, working with General Lafayette, who introduced it. It became the basis for a nation of free individuals protected equally by law -
Flight to Varennes
The flight to Varennes was the royal family’s failed attempt to escape Paris in June 1791. Appalled by the growing radicalism of the revolution, particularly its anti-clericalism, Louis XVI agreed to abscond from the city the royal family is caught at Varennes and brought back to Paris. -
King Louis signs Constitution
King Louis XVI accepts the new constitution and signs the constitution in front of the National Assembly. -
Storming of the Tuileries
Storming of the Tuileries Palace. Overthrow of the monarchy. France is now a republic. The First Terror begins. It will end on September 20, 1792. (The Reign of Terror is the Second Terror) -
Execution of Louis XVI
Execution of Louis XVI, by means of the guillotine, took place at the Place de la Révolution at Paris. -
Law of Suspects
The Law of Suspects is passed, authorizing the creation of revolutionary tribunals to try those suspected of treason against the Republic and to punish those convicted with death. -
Marie-Antoinette is beheaded
Nine months after the execution of her husband, the former King Louis XVI of France, Marie-Antoinette follows him to the guillotine. -
Jacques beheaded
Jacques René Hébert, main man of the sansculottes, leader of the Club of the Cordeliers, supporter of the Reign of Terror and 17 revolutionaries who agreed with him, are guillotined. -
Robespierre overthrown in France
Maximilien Robespierre, the architect of the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror, is overthrown and arrested by the National Convention. As the leading member of the Committee of Public Safety from 1793, Robespierre encouraged the execution, mostly by guillotine, of more than 17,000 enemies of the Revolution -
Napoleon The Hero
Napoléon was in Paris when a large, angry Parisian mob of royalists tried to attack the ruling National Convention at the Tuileries Palace. Vicomte Paul de Barras, who had been at Toulon and was impressed by Napoléon’s military ability, called upon Napoléon to defend the palace. Napoléon brought his canons to bear upon the mob, wounding and killing hundreds with his grapeshot, quickly clearing the streets. Napoléon was hailed as a hero by directors of the government call. -
Last Day of the National Convention
Last day of the National Convention. Replaced by the Conseil des Cinq-Cents (Council of Five Hundred), which in turn will elect the Directory. Napoleon Bonaparte is the new general of the Army of the Interior.
