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Old Regime
A social and political system of France where people were divided into three different social classes. The first and second classes were very privileged, while the third class lacked privileges and were treated mistreated and unfairly. -
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Bad Weather Conditions
Because France had bad weather, they were many crop failured which affected the amount of shortage of grain. Bad weather caused crop failures which resulted in a drastic shortage of grain. Since France's crops were failing, the price of bread doubled which meant many people dealt with starvation. This caused a lot of chaos between thrid class people because they got angry at the government for doubling the prize and there were many protests done; women’s march in Versailles. -
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Economic Troubles
During this period, France got in a huge debt of money. One of the reasons was because of the spendings of King Louis XVI and her wife Marie Antoniette, but also because he spent his money on helping American Colonists win the revolution, this doubled the debt. -
The Escape of the Royal Family
The royal family tried to escape from France to the Austria Netherlands. As they approached the border, they were arrested and taken back to Paris under guard. This attempt of escaping France increased determined his revolutionary enemies in the government and secured Louis' fate. -
Parisian Women Riot
In Versailles, Parisian women decided to march over the rising price of bread by bringing knives, axes, and other weapons as a threat. Some of the things that they demanded were for the National Assembly to take action of this probelm and the king and queen. To provide the attention of the King and Queen, they decided to enter to the palace and killing some of the guards. The women demanded that Louis and Marie Antoinette return to Paris. -
Meeting of the Estates-Generals
Since King Louis XVI was left with no money, and left in huge debt, he decides to tax the nobility. The assembly consisted of three state representatives to approve his new tax. The meeting was held in Versailles and was the first in 175 years. -
National Assembly
After a long debate, The Third Estate delegates concluded that all three estates met together to vote for a change in the government. In the end, they voted to establish the National Assembly which consisted the end of absolute monarchy and the start of representative government. This vote was the first intended act of revolution. -
Tennis Court Oath
Three days later, the Third Estate delegates were prohibited to enter their meeting room. The meeting room was locked, which meant they couldn't enter. After braking a door open, they found themselves into an indoor tennis court. They pledge to stay inside until they had proceeded to a new constitution. Because of this event, Louis put on duty Swiss guards around Versailles. -
Great Fear
Once the rebellion spread from Paris to the countryside, there were rumors about nobles hiring outlaws to terrorize peasants. Since the peasants were in panic, they decided to be the outlaw themselves. This meant that the peasants broke into nobles' houses, armed with pitchforks and other farm tools, and they destroyed old legal papers that bound them to pay feudal dues. -
Storming of the Bastille
French Citizens believed that in Paris, Louis was going to use his military force to dismiss the National Assembly and the foreign troops were going to massacre the citizens. Since the people were worried and scared, they began to gather weapons to defend the city. On July 14, a mob searching for weapons and gunpowder stormed the Bastille (a prison in Paris) and began attacking the guards.