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King Louis married Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was only 14 years old when their marriage was arranged. They were set up by their parents to unite their two countries. They did not have children for a long time into their marriage and this caused them to be mocked by the townspeople. They eventually did have 4 children. -
King Louis XVI crowned
He was the last king of France. King Louis supported the american revolution but when his own people did it he was not happy about the french revolution because it threatened his power. He was not very involved with the common people and they were suffering. This is what lead them to revolt against him. -
High bread prices
Bread was the main food every french citizen ate. They ate it with every meal and could eat almost 2 pounds a day. So when the prices of bread spiked and raised almost 88% the common people were furious. Now only the rich could afford this item. This enraged the common people and also led to other economic problems. These bread prices were the reason of the women's march. -
Estates General meets for the first time in 175 years
King Louis XVI calls the Estates General meets for the first time in 175 years. The estates general consisted of the 1st estate which was the clergy, 2nd estate which was the nobility, and the 3rd estate which was the common people. The common people made up 98% of the population but only got one vote so they were always outvoted by the other 2 estates. This meeting ended when the third estate left to make the National assembly. -
The creation of the national assembly
The creation of the national assembly happened when the members of the third estate joined together because they were all mad about how they were being treated by the monarchy. They said that they were moving forward with or without the other people. They did not have the permission of the king to form but they said that they were doing it in his favor. They declared the old laws about taxation to be illegal. -
Tennis Court Oath
On June 20, 1789 the members of the Estates General for the third estate took the tennis court oath. They had began to call themselves the National assembly. In this oath they vowed not to leave until they had written France a new constitution. This oath was just the beginning of the third estates fight for justice. -
Storming of the bastille
This event occurred on the afternoon of July 14 in the city of Paris, France. This was event was a symbol of the rebel mobs not only destroying this building but it was also a big symbol of royal power that they destroyed. The rebels hidden by smoke brought 5 canons into the yard and fired them. Laundry raised a white flag in surrender. All the workers in the Bastille were taken into custody and they stole anything that would be helpful. -
The declaration of the rights of men
The declaration of the rights of men was passed by France's National Constituent Assembly in August 1789. It is a very important document in France's revolution and included everything about civil rights and human history. There is 17 articles included in it. It was heavily influenced by thomas jefferson and other american revolution ideas. It included ideas that said all free humans are protected by law. -
Women march on Versailles
The women's march on Versailles is sometimes also known as the October March. The were marching over their anger on the high bread prices. Their actions were also involved in the revolutionary actions. The women broke into the city armory and took weapons. The went to the royal palace and gave their demands to the king. The got the king and national assembly to return to Paris with them. -
Flight to Varennes
The Flight to Varennes was an important event in the French Revolution where King Louis XVI and his family tried to escape Paris. They did not make it thought, they were caught in a small town called Varennes. The reason they were escaping was to start counter revolution so he could regain power. His attempted escape took away any remaining trust the people had in the Monarchy. -
The September Massacres
The September Massacres was a mass killing of prisoners. It took place in paris from September 2-7, 1792. This mass killing of prisoners showed the french people's mentality after overthrowing their monarchy only a month before. In total 1,200 prisions were killed including 220 priests who refused the new church ideas of the revolution. -
The execution of King Louis XVI
The execution of King Louis XVI took place at Place de la Révolution in Paris on January 21, 1793. In August 1792 the king and his wife were put in prison and then the abolished the monarchy. They voted that he was guilty and he was executed by the guillotine. Nine months later his wife, Marie Antoinette , was convicted of treason and also executed. -
The creation of the committee of Public Safty
It was created in April 1793 by the national convention then was later edited in July of the same year. It was written during the reign of terror. The role of this committee was to protect the country against foreign attacks and internal rebellion. It was composed of 9- 12 members. This committee replaced the Committee of General Defence. -
The assassination of Jean-paul Marat
Jean-paul Marat was an advocate for the basic rights of all humans. He published many of his views in pamphlets, newspapers and placards. He was assassinated by Charlotte Corday on July 13, 1793. Before she killed him he was bathing in a medicine bath for his rare skin condition. Corday the woman who killed him was executed 4 days after she killed him. -
The reign of terror
The reign of violence was a time with lots of violence during the French Revolution. It lasted until July 1794. During this time there was 16,594 sentenced deaths. The guillotine was also sometimes known as the National Razor because of how many people were sentenced to death by it. -
The Execution of Maximilien Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre was one of the most known figures in the French Revolution. He was an advocate for the poor and for democratic institutions. He also believed in no slavery for the French. He was later arrested and executed. His execution led to a time known as the Thermidorian Reaction. -
The creation of the Directory
The creation of the Directory was the new french government set up by the constitution. The lower house had 500 delegates who were all over the age of 30. The council of ancients had 250 delegates all 40 years or older. The 500 made a list of 5 directors and a new one was chosen every year. -
Napoleon gains control
Napoleon gained ranks in the military during the french revolution. Then in 1799 he seized political power in France. In 1804 he crowned himself emperor. He had very good military skills and used them during his time to expand the empire. When he failed the french invasion to Russia he was exiled to an island called Elba. When he came back to rule he lost another war and was again exiled where he dies at age 51.