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Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis court oath was an oath that the Estates General for the Third Estate (the National Assembly) swore in an indoor tennis court at versailles. The significance was that the National Assembly swore to not stop or disassemble until a new constitution had been written and a new government was formed in France. -
The Fall of Bastille
Riots had broken out in Paris because of the raise in price for bread so Louis XVI tried to restore the peace by sending in paid soldiers which just made things worse because the people began to feel frightened and suspicious. On July 14th an armed mob attacked the prison of Bastille in hopes of supplying themselves with more weaponry. The fall of the Bastille was significant because it frightened the Nobility/Clergy especially King Louis and had inflicted hope into the Third Estate of France. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was a document modeled off of the American Declaration of Independence. It was significant because it insured natural rights such as freedom, and equality for the people. The catch was that this document only applied to men that owned property. -
The march on Versilles
Parisian women were tired of the food crisis so they gathered and begin to march toward Versailles in protest. There plan was to attack the palace and force the royalty to move back to paris The significance of this event was the fact that a bunch of armed peasant women could force the king and his family to obey their orders was a sign that the monarchy was losing control rapidly and the people were gaining power. -
The Tricolour is Declared as the National Flag
This flag which was blue, white and red was the symbol of the revolution when the protesting third estate brought down France's traditional colours of just blue and red by placing a white strip in the middle. The significance of this was that the Tricolour became the new flag of France and became the symbol of the revolution and a symbol of hope for the National Assembly and the Third Estate. -
The Royal Family Attempts to Flee Paris
After being inspired by the Aristocrats whom of which were fleeing to other countries for a better life, King Louis and his family decided to flee Paris into the countryside of France. The royal family travelled during the night dressed as peasants but were caught and returned to Paris. The significance of this even was that after it the people of Paris felt as if they could no longer trust the king since he tried to abandon them. This event was mostly the cause of Louis’ trial and execution. -
The Legislative Assembly is Formed
The legislative assembly was a newly formed assembly. They tried to establish a working government but failed miserable because internally they had two different groups struggling for power. The significance of this event was that the issues that this new assembly addressed really put into perspective how much violence, war and disagreement was happening all over. -
France Declares War on Austria
The Legislative assembly declared war on Austria because they supported the French monarchy. At first France lost a lot of battles but soon with the unwaning trust of the people the French finally won a battle a Valmy. The significance of France declaring war on Austria was that it was taking a huge risk and when they won the people began to trust the Legislative assembly even more and it installed hope of revolution into the people of France. -
The Execution of King Louis XVI
After his use of foreign mercenaries and his attempt to flee France, King Louis was put on trial and declared guilty for treason against the people of Paris and for 33 other charges which resulted in his death. The death of King Louis signified a new era of governing. After his guillotining the Republic of France was declared -
The Republic of France is Declared
After King Louis’ death, the Republic of France was declared having abolished the monarchy. Though the Republic was declared there was still struggle for power between the Jacobins and the sans-culottes. The significance of the Republic of France was that it cause a great struggle for power in the government and ended in the Jacobin’s taking over the government as a dictatorship. -
The Assassination of Marat by Charlotte Corday
Description: Charlotte Corday was a women who believed that the revolution had gotten into the wrong hands of the Jacobin’s especially Jean-Paul Marat so she pretended to have a list of traitors for Marat but when she arrived at his house she stabbed him in his bathtub
Significance/Impact: The significance of this event is that after Charlotte Corday stabs Marat she hope that the violence will stop but instead the Reign Terror begins and also the people begin to worship Marat as a god. -
Reign of Terror
The Committee of Public Safety controlled the revolutionary government, they enforced harsh laws that if you didn’t follow you would be executed, took bakeries under state control and enforced a new calendar that was not religious. The Reign of Terror was one of the bloodiest times in French history thousands of people were executed and thousands of others imprisoned. The Reign of Terror started on September 5, 1793 and ended on July 28, 1794. -
Robespierre is Executed
During the Reign of Terror Robespierre was a driving force and it is believed that he sent around 17,000 people were executed under his rule just because they either challenged him directly or threatened the revolution. This event is significant because people believed that in order to end the Reign of Terror they must execute the leader of it which was Robespierre. By ending the life of Robespierre it also ended the Reign of Terror. -
The Directory Becomes the Governing Body of France
After the death of Robespierre the National Convention appoints a new government the ‘Directory.’ The importance of this event was that the Directory gave the power of voting in elected government officials to those with property. -
Napoleon Takes Over as the Emperor of France
After a couple years of confusion on who should govern, Napoleon, a French military leader declared himself Emperor of France. The event is significant because Napoleon becomes Emperor which means the people of France have just been in a circle. They are stuck with a monarchy once again for the future and a revolution that didn’t accomplish anything in their past.
