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The Age of Enlightenment
The Enlightenment of the 1600's was a time where the people of Europe began to question ideas that had stood for centuries. Many Philosophes planted ideas of equallity, rights, and freedom in the minds of European citizens. Some of the most influental thinkers included Rousseu (pictured), Voltaire, and Locke. This event was important to the revolution because those philosophers gave them ideas that really led the course of the Revolution. -
France's Failing Economy
Although France appeared to be economicly sound, that wasn't the case. It was hard to make profit in France, and the cost of bread doubled, due to a bad harvest, and as a result thousands of peasants faced starvation. Some other contributors to the economic crisis were the royal family's outragious spending, debt from previous kings, and the money Louis borrowed in order to help the American revolutionaries fight Great Britian; France's major rival. -
The National Assembly is Formed
Since the First and Second Estates dominated the Estates-General, the Third Estate decieded to form the National Assesmbly, in order to pass laws on behalf of the French people. -
Storming the Bastille
Rumors led the French people to believe that there was an attack coming. In order to defend themselves, a mob of citizens infiltrated a Parisian prison, called the Bastille, to get gunpowder for the guns they already had. -
The Women's March on Versailles
French women, angry at the skyrocketing prices of bread, march to Versailles armed with knives, axes, pitchforks, and other makeshift weapons. At Versailles, they insisted that Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette return to Paris, and Louis eventually agreed. -
King Louis' Escape Atempt
At the insistance of his advisors, King Louis XVI decides to flee France with his family. Near the border of the Austrian Netherlands, the Royal Family is aprehended and returned to Paris. -
The Constitution of 1791 and The National Convention
The Legislative Assembly created the Constitution of 1791. In it, the monarchy was destroyed, the Legislative Assembly was disbanded, and a new legislature was elected. The new legislature, called The National Convention, declaired France a republic and gave adult male citizens the right to vote. -
King Louis' Execution
Now just a citizen and a prisoner, The National Convention tried the former King for treason. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. He was beheaded via guillotine. -
The Reign of Terror
Maximillien Robespierre, current leader of the Committee of Public saftey (designed to protect the revolution from enemies), inacted the Reign of Terror. Thousands of people were killed during the terror. Even those who had led the revolution were in danger for questioning Robespierre's leadership. -
Robespierre's Death and the End of the Terror
Fearing for their lives, members of the National Convention arrested and executied Robespierre, making him the Final victim of the terror. After his death, the National Convention reformed the government once again to form a two house legislature and an exective body comprised of five men, called the Directory. This brought peace to France for a time. -
Vendémiaire
Paris was under attack at the hands of royalist rebels. Brigadier General Napoleon Bonaparte fired grapeshot from the rooftops, killing about 1,000 royalists. Napoleon became a hero to the common people and was known as the savior of the French Republic.
