-
Year 1789
The Third Estate (commoners) declares the National Assembly. -
Year 1789
Members of the Third Estate take the Tennis Court Oath demanding certain rights from the king. -
Year 1789
The French Revolution begins with the Storming of the Bastille. -
Year 1789
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of man and of the Citizen. -
Year 1789
A large group of women (and men) march from Paris to Versailles to demand lower bread prices. They force the king and queen to move back to Paris. -
Year 1789
The Jacobin Club is formed. Its members become some of the most radical leaders of the French Revolution. -
Year 1789
The "Flight to Varennes" occurs when the royal family, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, attempt to flee France. They are captured and returned to France. -
Year 1791
- King Louis XVI formally signs the new constitution.
-
Year 1791
The Legislative Assembly is formed. -
year of 1792
The guillotine becomes the official method of execution. -
year of 1792
The September Massacres occur between September 2 - 7. Thousands of political prisoners are killed before they can be freed by royalist troops -
year of 1792
France declares war against Austria. -
Year 1792
The National Convention is established. -
Year 1792
The First French Republic is founded. -
Year of 1793
- King Louis XVI is executed by guillotine.
-
Year of 1793
Civil war breaks out in the Vendee area of France between revolutionaries and royalists. -
Year of 1793
The Committee of Public Safety is formed. It will rule France during the Reign of Terror. -
year of 1793
Radical journalist Jean-Paul Marat is assassinated by Charlotte Corday. -
year of 1793
The Reign of Terror begins as Robespierre, the leader of the Committee of Public Safety, declares that terror will be the "order of the day" for the revolutionary government. -
Year of 1793
The Law of Suspects is decreed. Anyone suspected of opposing the revolutionary government is arrested. Thousands of people will be executed over the next year. -
Year of 1793
Queen Marie Antoinette is executed by guillotine. -
Year of 1794
Famous chemist Antoine Lavoisier, the "father of modern chemistry", is executed for being a traitor. -
Year of 1794
The Reign of Terror comes to an end as Robespierre is overthrown. -
Year of 1794
Robespierre is executed by guillotine -
Year of 1795
"La Marseillaise" is adopted as the national anthem of France. -
Year of 1795
The Directory is formed and takes control of the government of France. -
Year of 1799
Napoleon overthrows the Directory and establishes the French Consulate with Napoleon as leader of France. This brings an end to the French Revolution.