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1774
Louis XVI takes the throne. He was a weak leader and was dominated by his wife, Marie Antoinette. -
1789
Louis XVI's government is about to go bankrupt. Poor harvests. The National Assembly is formed. -
July 14th, 1789
People of Paris storm Bastille, a much hated prison that symbolized autocratic rule. Revolution begun. -
August 1789
National Assembly adopted Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. Guaranteed rights of "liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression" to all people. -
October 1789
Peasants were fearful that nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize them. It was called "The great Fear". Peasants rioted. They stormed Versailles and demanded Louis XVI and Marie to come to Paris. -
September 1791
National Assembly broke away so Legislative Assembly took over. Stirps of power from the king gave power to create the French Revolution. Constitutional Monarchy -
December 1791
Revolution leaders turn on each other. 3 fractions in Legislative Assembly, radicals, moderates, and conservatives. -
Summer
Austria and Prussia, who supported Louis XVI, sent troops to Paris. -
August
20,000 Parisians invade Royal Palace. Louis, Marie, and their children are imprisoned. -
September
National convention abolishes the monarchy and declares France a Reupublic. All adult male citizens are granted right to vote. Women couldn't vote. -
December- January: 1792-1793
Louis no longer is king, Jacobins tried Louis for treason. He was found guilty. Sentenced to death. -
January
Louis XVI exected by guillotine. -
Febuary
Great Britain, Holland, and Spain join Prussia and Austria and fighting France. National Assembly drafts 300,000 French citizens into the army. -
Summer
Revolution leader Maximilien Robspierre sets to gather power. Was leader of Comitee of Public Safety. Decides who is the enemy. Tried and execute in the same day. -
October
Marie got executed. Revolutionary courts declare death sentences on those that challenged Robespierre. -
July 1793- July 1794
Robespierre governed France nearly as a dictator. This became known as the Reign of Terror. Approximatly 3,000 executed in Paris. 40,000 were killed all together. -
July
National Commitee turns on Robespeirre claiming he is a Tyrant. He is executed on July 28. -
1795
Moderate leader drafted a new constituion. National Conservation creates a two house legislature and an executive, body of 5 men, known as the directory, Napoleon Bonaparte chosen to lead Frances armies.
