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American Revolution (1775-1783)
In the American Revolution, the British Colonists revolted against the government of Great Britain. There were a lot of battles but this was how they regained their independence and freedom. This event has a big importance on the French Revolution because it was an inspiration for them. -
Calling of the Estates General by King Louis XVI (1789)
The Estates General meeting was critical in the French Revolution because it reassembled a certain amount of representatives from each estate in order to work out a political crisis they were experiencing. -
Meeting of the Estates General (1789)
The Estates General meeting was critical in the French Revolution because it reassembled a certain amount of representatives from each estate in order to work out a political crisis they were experiencing. This meeting was held in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. King Louis XVI greeted them on May 2, 1789 and the meeting was assembled 3 days later with an opening speech made by the king himself. -
Tennis Court Oath (1789)
The delegates met in an indoor tennis court inside the palace grounds due to preparations that were being made in the meeting room. They signed an oath not to disperse and go separate ways until they had created a renewed and fair constitution for France. -
The Storming of the Bastille
The afternoon of 14 July 1789, the Bastille occurred. There were foreign troops on the streets and the Parisians wanted to be armed. They acquired 30,000 muskets from their first attack towards the Invalides fortress. Their next attack was towards the prison of Bastille which only contained seven prisoners but was symbolic and represented the king's absolute authority. The seven prisoners were released by the angry mob of protesters. -
The Great Fear
There was a great fear that dispersed across the whole country. The revolutionary and protesting atmosphere gained control of the Parisians. The poor citizens had a deep hate towards the nobles and started attacking mason houses. The properties of the rich were destroyed and the fit of madness got out of control but was later calmed down by laws that were enforced. -
Feudalism Eliminated
The peasants were hysterical towards the feudal obligations and the aristocrats were forced to renounce their violence because it was the only way to stop the uncontrollable privileges. -
Déclaration Des Droits de l'homme
(Declaration of the rights of men)
The Declaration was inspired by the other enlightenment revolutions such as the American Declaration of Independence and the English Bill of Rights. What it stated was the natural right to liberty, security, and resistance to opposition and the sovereignty of the people and most importantly, the political and social equality for all men. -
Women Lead a March to Versailles
It was rumoured that King Louis XIV has stepped in a French flag and this was a sign of disrespect towards the country and its citizens. The people were desperate because they were going through very difficult times and once the women had enough, they lead a march to Versailles to demand for bread. Louis XIV was forced to sign the Declaration of the Rights of Men and his family had to return to Paris with the angry mob. -
The Execution of KIng Louis XVI
There was a big discussion on what the punishment or consequence for King Louis XVI would be because the Jacobinas wanted him executed and the Girondins wanted clemency. The French government decided to send the king to the guillotine on January 21, 1793.
