-
Estates-General Meeting
King Louis XVI created taxes to pay for his debt on the nobles. The Second Estate (the nobles) called for an Estate-General meeting to discuss the matter of this new tax regulation. This was the first Estate-general meeting in 175 years (meeting took place at Versailles). This event was extremely important because this was one of the main causes of the Revolution. The people were mad that they weren't being treated fairly. -
Beginning of Representative Democracy
The National Assembly got together to discuss a new form of government for France. They agreed on ending Absolute Monarchy and starting a Representative Democracy. This event is important because the citizens are getting what they want: a change in the government and make everyone equal. This was the first official act of the revolution. -
Tennis Court Oath
The delegates from the Third Estate got locked inside of the meeting room, so they got into a Tennis Court and promised themselves that they would not get out until they would have written the new constitution. Soon enough, the members from the First and Second Estate found them and joined into the writing of the new constitution. This was the beginning of a new form of government, an effective one. -
Storming of the Bastille
A mob stormed a prison in Paris called the Bastille. They gained control of the building and the attackers killed several people, both prisoners, and guards. This showed what the French are capable of doing. They can kill a lot of people if they are unhappy, this proves that they will not give up until they get what they want: change. -
Old Regime is Eliminated
The National Assembly agreed to make commoners equal to the clergy and nobility. Idealism motivated the members of the National Assembly. This is very important because the French get equality, their objective with this revolution. -
Declaration of the Right of Man and of the Citizen
The document of "Declaration of the Right of Man and of the Citizen" was created (inspired by the ideas of the American Constitution and Enlightenment ideas. This is a document that lists the freedoms and the rules of the new government. This is important because this is what the citizens have been wanting. -
Women's March in Versailles
Women gathered to march in Versailles and attacked them. They killed some of the guards and they demanded that King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette would return to Paris.They protested against the price of bread; for the people couldn't pay it and became hungry. This event is important because a great sense of fear took over France. Everyone was scared of what was happening and everyone was shocked of the matters they took it to (the King and Queen). -
The Royal Family tries to escape
The royal family was in danger, so they decided to escape so that they wouldn't be killed. Their planned failed because they tried to escape to Austria, one of France's biggest rival. They were seen as traitors. This event led to the beheading of King Louis XVI, among other things. This showed that he was a weak coward. -
National Assembly completed the New Constitution
It is official, the National Assembly completed writing the New Constitution with a limited constitutional monarchy) Officially, the French citizens now have the government that they have wanted because of this event. -
Governmental Changes
In times of the French Revolution, most of the people responsible for government changes were the Jacobins group. Jean-Paul Marat was a famous Jacobin leader that said that everyone who supported the king should die. It was them that called for King Louis XVI to be executed in the guillotine. The Jacobins are very important in the French Revolution because they called for the King's execution, which moved the war forward. -
Legislative Assembly Declares War
These ideas to change the government spread throughout Europe, so other countries (like Austria and Prussia) fought with France. The Legislative Assembly officially declared war in April of 1792. This was important because this was when other countries joined the war. Countries like Great Britain, Holland and Spain joined the war later in early 1793. -
Invasion of the Tuileries
About 20,000 people mobbed the Tuileries, the palace where the royal family was living. Some guards were killed and King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and their kids were imprisoned. This was shocking because something like this had never happened to royal subjects, especially by people that were not from the nobility. -
The National Convention takes control
The National Convention is now in control of the government. This is an important change because as soon as they took control, they completely eliminated monarchy from the country and declared it a republic. -
Robespierre becomes leader
Robespierre becomes the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. He was responsible for protecting the Revolution from enemies. For the next year, he ruled France as a Dictatorship (the time of the Reign of Terror). He always guillotined people for speaking their minds. This is important because this is the beginning of the Reign of Terror, the darkest phase of the French Revolution. -
King Louis XVI dies
The National Convention took away King Louis XVI's rights. The Jacobins claimed the king for trial, and he was pleaded guilty, so he was beheaded on the guillotine. The death of King Louis XVI is very important because it helped move the Revolution to a solution. -
Robespierre dies
The end of the Reign of Terror happened when Robespierre was beheaded. Some people from the National Convention turned on him and ordered an arrest and execution. This event is very important because it is the end of the Reign of Terror, the darkest phase of the French Revolution. -
A new plan of Government is drafted
Some leaders from the National Convention draft the new plan of government, a republic. This is important because the people from the third estate are getting the republic that they've wanted for long.
