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King Louis XVI calls the Estates General
Louis XVI called the Estates General to try and sort out the dire financial situation that France was in. Instead of fixing anything, the gathering of the three estates only worsened the political discord. The estates began arguing on how many votes each estate would get instead of trying to fix France's problems. The discord led to the creation of the National Assembly. -
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The Great Fear in the Countryside
The French peasants had been under constant pressure for a long time, and during the summer of 1789, they broke. Fueled by economic concern and rumors of aristocratic concern, peasants revolted and began burning documents that proved they had to pay tribute to a lord and ransacking manors. The overall chaos in the summer led to reforms to better the lives for the peasants of France. -
The Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was issued by the members of the National Assembly, pledging not to disband until new rights had been established. As a result the King promised new reforms and fired several ministers. The firing of ministers created even more turmoil because the ministers were what kept the bread prices at a moderate price. Bread riots ensued the firing of the ministers. -
Storming of Bastille
When King Louis XVI sent troops to Paris after the signing of the Tennis Court Oath, which resulted in rising tensions. Combined with rising bread prices, a mob formed. The mob began searching for gun powder and weapons. The mob then marched on Bastille, and demanded that the guards hand over their gunpowder and weapons. The guards refused and the mob stormed Bastille. The storming of Bastille led to the reinstatement of the financial minster and the withdrawal of troops from Paris. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The Declaration was issued by the National Assembly and it guaranteed equal rights for all and individual freedoms. The Declaration was a result of a summer spent in turmoil. Between the Great Fear and rising bread prices, nobles at Versailles were forced into action. As a result they abolished serfdom, selective hunting rights, and fees for justice. The Declaration did very little for the immediate future of the peasants of France. -
The Constitution of 1791 sets up a constitutional monarchy in France
Created by the National Assembly, the constitution established a constitutional monarchy. The King remained in power, but a large amount of decision making was moved to the National Assembly. The National Assembly was voted on by around 1/2 of the men of France. The constitution did not last very long. Part of the reason it didn't last very long was Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to leave France. They were caught and brought back to Pairs, fueling resent for the monarchy. -
The Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria/ Rumors Spread through France
With the almost full overthrow of the monarchy, Austria pledged to help return a monarchy to France. The pledge didn't have the intended effect of quelling the revolutionaries. Instead of quelling the revolutionaries the pledge united the people of France when the Assembly declared France a national danger. Along with the declaration of war, rumors that the king and queen had committed treason spread through Paris and France. -
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Robespierre's Reign of Terror
The increasing tension between the two political groups in the Jacobin that formed during the trial of Louis XVI, the Mountain and the Girondists, eventually reached a boiling point. The National Assembly was in a political gridlock, however, when the Mountain aligned the working poor of Paris, they gained the upper hand. Through this, the Committee of Public Safety was established. What ensued was total terror. Anybody known to have criticized the government was tried and executed. -
Execution of Louis XVI
Louis XVI was convicted of conspiring with the Austrian government in order to regain his power by the National Assembly. Through the trial process the main party of the National Assembly, the Jacobin's, split into two increasingly competitive groups. The two groups would continue to argue over decisions for years to come. -
The Directory is Installed
Although the Reign of Terror was awful, when combined with strict economic policies, France was able to strengthen the home front. The strengthening of the home front caused the Committee of Public Safety to relax restrictions. The relaxation allowed for the middle class to retake control. When the middle class retook control they wrote another constitution, and reformed the National Assembly to a 5 man council called a Directory. The Directory quickly became unpopular because of its policies. -
Napoleon is Declared First Consul
After the disastrous Directory, Napoleon Bonaparte came to power, and set up a new government called a Consulate. This government was written into law in the Constitution of Year VIII, and put most of the power in the first consul. Naturally, Napoleon was voted into power as the first Consul. Napoleon immediately went to work securing his own power, and then bettering France. Napoleon appealed to the middle class by securing land won in wars and the security of private property. -
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Implementation of the Continental System
Napoleon, despite his successes in France, was the best at being a military leader. When Austria declined a peace overture, Napoleon's forces easily destroyed Austria. Napoleon then set his sights on Great Britain. To do this he created a blockade that stopped continental trade with England. This proved disastrous as Napoleon didn't have the manpower and knowledge to properly execute the blockade. The blockade spread Napoleons men too thin, weakening the army, while infuriating Napoleon. -
Spanish nationalists overthrow Napoleon
Napoleon looked to Europe as a way to grow his ever expanding empire. To maintain such an empire Napoleon wanted to make puppet-states out of governments. Not all countries liked that idea, especially not Spain. Spanish nationalists funded by Great Britain, then later helped by the military of Great Britain, managed to force Napoleon out of Spain. The war that ensued consumed man power and ultimately prevented Napoleon from completing the continental system. -
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Napoleon is defeated in Russia
At the height of the Empire, Napoleon invaded Russia, and was succesful in reaching Moscow. However Moscow had been mostly burned to the ground and deprived his large army of food and supplies. Napoleon was then forced to lead his large army in a retreat through the Russian winter. Napoleon lost a large amount of his army, and the loss in manpower reduced his ruling power significantly. -
Napoleon is Exiled to the Island of Elba
After the retreat from Russia, Napoleon had lost a large portion of his army, and was no longer able to maintain such a large empire. Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia all united to defeat Napoleon and ultimately exile him to the island of Elba. The bourbon dynasty was reinstated when King Louis XVIII was placed in power, however his reign only lasted 10 years when Napoleon escaped and attempted to win back his power.