-
The Third Estate (commoners) declares the National Assembly.
-
Members of the Third Estate take the Tennis Court Oath demanding certain rights from the king.
-
The French Revolution begins with the Storming of the Bastille.
-
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of man and of the Citizen.
-
A large group of women (and men) march from Paris to Versailles to demand lower bread prices. They force the king and queen to move back to Paris.
-
The "Flight to Varennes" occurs when the royal family, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, attempt to flee France. They are captured and returned to France.
-
King Louis XVI formally signs the new constitution.
-
The Legislative Assembly is formed.
-
The guillotine becomes the official method of execution.
-
France declares war against Austria.
-
The September Massacres occur between September 2 - 7. Thousands of political prisoners are killed before they can be freed by royalist troops.
-
The National Convention is established.
-
The First French Republic is founded.
-
King Louis XVI is executed by guillotine.
-
Civil war breaks out in the Vendee area of France between revolutionaries and royalists.
-
The Committee of Public Safety is formed. It will rule France during the Reign of Terror.
-
The Reign of Terror begins as Robespierre, the leader of the Committee of Public Safety, declares that terror will be the "order of the day" for the revolutionary government.
-
The Reign of Terror comes to an end as Robespierre is overthrown.
-
La Marseillaise" is adopted as the national anthem of France.
-
The Directory is formed and takes control of the government of France.
-
Napoleon overthrows the Directory and establishes the French Consulate with Napoleon as leader of France. This brings an end to the French Revolution.