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Call of the Estate General
The revolution started because of King Louis XIV. France was loosing a lot of money and about to go bankrupt. When the King helped the Americans with their revolution he spent most of Frances money. These events led to the King convening the Estate General to order a new tax law that would help ease the debt. This new law would effect middle and lower class citizens. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille is a French prison in Paris, France. On July 14, 1789 the prison was stormed by an angry mob. The prison was a symbol of power and the monarchy’s rule. The mob was not there for the prisoners but rather the ammunition inside the building. The governor, at the time, was not complying with the mob and got killed. The put his head on a spike for everyone to see. -
March on the Versailles
Because of the lack of money bread became too expensive for lower class citizens to buy. A group of women set out to march on the Versailles. They were armed with pitchforks, muskets, and pikes. The chanted for bread whale the king and queen had a feast inside the castle. -
Royal family attempts to flee
When the King realized that the Revolution was becoming too dangerous for them they tried to flea to Varennes. When they did get caught the trust they had from the government completely faded. The rest of the government became hostile towards the royal family. -
Champ de mars massacre
When the citizens of France protested against the decision of the National Constituent Assembly that King Louis XVI was still the king. This disagreement lead to a massacre. -
The First invasion of the Tuileries
A revolutionary turning point in the war. A little after three years after the attack on Bastille, the people of Paris attacked Tuileries. Tuileries was the official home of King Louis XVI and the Legislative Assembly. -
Overthrow of the monarchy
Once the king was found guilty of treason, the revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy. -
Execution of the King
The king was killed by guillotine. Marie Antoinette was executed the same way shortly after her husband. -
Reign of Terror
This was a period of about 6 months. This 6 month period was when most of the executions occurred. -
Execution of Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre and one of the best know and one of the most influential people in the French Revolution. He was against the death penalty but played a major role in the execution of King Louis XVI. Many people didn’t like him so the ordered his arrest. He was arrested alongside his brother, they were trialed and sent to the guillotine the very next day.