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Estates General Meeting
First time in over 175 years that representatives from all the estates joined together to discuss a new law. (in this case a tax) Each estate had 1/3 of the voters, however it was uneven because the 1st and 2nd estate typically shared the same views and represented way less people. This event lasted from may to june. -
National Assembly Formed
The third estate members got locked out of the meeting. They form the national assembly, which is basically a renaming of the third estate, -
Tennis Court Oath declared
The members of the national assembly go to the room next to the estates general meeting to create their own propositions. There they vow that they won't stop until there is a new constitution. -
Storming of the Bastille
The bastille was a prison and a place where the gunpowder and weapons were kept. The people attacked the Bastille and killed its governor. Then, they took the building apart brick by brick. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man Written
It was a declaration by the national assembly to end the tyranny. It included the new rights of freedom of the press, power to the people, and government protects the people.(This was similar to the declaration of independence, not a new constitution) -
Legislative Assembly makes laws in France
Part of the constitutional monarchy.
Filled with the conservatives, moderates, and radicals.
They made the laws for the the period in which this form of government worked.
Lasted from 1791-1792 -
Execution of King Louis XVI
The king fled to regain power with the help of Austria and the people did not like this. They said they must kill the king if they want to revolution to live on. He was killed by the guillotine. -
Committee of Public Safety governs France
This 12 man council, headed by Robespierre, made the decisions in the new emergency government. 1793-1795 -
Dechristinization
To the radicals, the Church was the root of all problems and they wanted to get rid of the Church's power. They changed the street names, destroyed churches, years were renumbered, and there were no more sundays. 1793-1794 -
Reign of Terror
New form of emergency government used to kill and scare the traitors to the revolution. People had to be for the revolution or they were executed because justice needed to be brought upon them. 1793-1794 -
Execution of Maximilien Robespierre
Robespierre makes himself the all powerful leader and the people do not like this. He says he has a list of the traitors among the radicals but before he can say it he is arrested. He attempts to kill himself but is killed on the guillotine, -
The Directory controls France
This placeholder government was extremely corrupt. However, these five people managed to keep France stable for a few years. 1795-1799 -
Napoleon takes control in a coup d'etat
Napoleon uses military force to take France with the people's' will. The directory was destroyed and replaced by three consuls. However, Napoleon seized power as a dictator. -
Napoleon signs Concordat with Catholic Church
Many peasants wanted the Church to have more power and the priests agreed. This meant that the government knew of the Church's influences, but they were not involved in national affairs. -
Napoleon creates the Napoleonic Code
A system of laws that were uniform. Through all the good, it also limited many freedoms and said that order was more important than specific rights. (freedom of speech was limited under the code) -
Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France
The Pope crowned him with the people's praises. Napoleon put the crown on his own head signaling his power. -
Napoleon dies after he is banished to the island of St. Helena
Napoleon assumed too much power and was banished for many years until he dies.
