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Estates General are summoned
After widespread frustration, a financial crisis, and the weakening power of the king, King Louis XVI calls a meeting to ask for help to solve these problems. A meeting like this hadn’t been held in over 100 years. -
Formation of National Assembly
Due to the unfair system of voting, the Third Estate decided to make their own representation which was the National Assembly. The Third Estate demanded that King Louis XVI make financial/economic reforms so the people would be able to eat -
Tennis Court Oath
On 20 June 1789, the members of the French Third Estate took the Tennis Court Oath vowing "not to separate and to reassemble wherever require, until the Constitution of the kingdom is established" -
Great Fear
People in rural France went hungry and attacked nobles. Rumors led to panic within villages that governemnt troops were taking peasant crops and violent actions took place in the countryside. -
Storming of the Bastille
When rumors spread about royal troops occupying Paris, many Parisians gathered outside the Bastille, a medieval fortress used as a prison to demand weapons and gun poweder. Chaos broke out, killing hundreds in the crowd. The mob broke through the barriers, finding no weapons. This event became a symbol of tyranny and a symbol of the French Revolution. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
First step toward a constitution. It was based of of the structure of the American Declaration of Independence. It stated all men were, "born and remain free and equal in rights." Natural rights to, "liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression." It also declared all male citizens equal before the law. French men were allowed to hold public office with "no distinctions on their virtues and talents." Asserted freedom of religions and taxed to be levied according to pay. -
Flight to Varennes
King Louis XVI of France, his queen Marie Antoinette, and their immediate family unsuccessfully attempted to escape from Paris in order to initiate a counter-revolution movement supported by royalist troops. They were identified and arrested at Varennes. -
First French Constitution
The short-lived French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. One of the basic precepts of the revolution was adopting constitutionality and establishing popular sovereignty. -
The Legislative Assembly
Once the new Constitution was enacted, elections were celebrated and the new government (the Legislative Assembly) was elected by census suffrage. -
The Girondin Convention
The Girondins, the more moderate bourgeoisie, were elected by universal suffrage and controlled the Republic. -
War against Austria and Prussia
Alarmed for the arrest of Louis XVI, the absolutist kings of Prussia and Austria declared war on France -
The First French Republic
New elections were celebrated and a the National Convention is formed. Monarchy is abolished and Republic is proclaimed. -
Execution of Louis XVI
The National Convention held Louis XVI on trial for being a traitor to France. The king was then sentenced to death by a single vote. He was sent to the guillotine, where he was beheaded. Great Britain and the Dutch Republic declare war on France. -
The Jacobin Convention and The Terror.
the Jacobins, the most radical sector of the bourgeoisie, endorsed the demands of the popular sectors and seized power. The Revolution had now entered its most extreme phase. The purpose of the Reign of Terror was to rid France of their enemies and protect the country from foreigners. Maximilien Robespierre was at the head of this operation of executions and the killings didn’t stop till after he was executed in 1794. -
Execution of Robespierre
Many people opposed the dictatorial government, and a coup in July 1794 ended the Jacobin government. Robespierre and other Jacobin leaders were executed by guillotine. -
The New Constitution
French constitution established during the French Revolution. This constitution was ratified by the National Convention. This constitution established the Directory. It also concentrated on governmental restructuring during this time period. "The Directory would have no legislative power, it would have the authority to appoint people to fill the other positions within the government." -
The Directory
The Constitution of 1795 established this five-man Directory and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens of property. It faced dissatisfaction. The leaders did not always succeed in solving problems. The Directory helped silence riots, like the san-culottes with increasing bread prices. -
Napoleon General
Napoleon becomes the commander of the French army. He was given command in Italy. -
Napoleon´s coup d´état
Supported by his troops, the famous general overthrew the government, took the power and named himself First Consul -
Napoleon is named First Consul for Life
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Emperor
Napoleon was crown as Emperor. By this time has gained almost absolute power and continued the reforms of the revolution. -
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was fought off of Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coasts. Napoleon and his French army decided to invade Britain. Admiral Nelson tried to stop him. When they all met, Nelson's Royal Navy had 27 ships while the Spanish and French had 33 vessels. The British captured and destroyed most of their vessels. This was a major victory for Britain. -
Battle of Austerlitz
This is known as one of Napoleon's greatest victories. The battle took place near Austerlitz. Napoleon received threats from both Russia and Austria, so he abandoned his ambitions to invade England. Napoleon told his enemies he wanted a truce, since, his army was weak, however, this was his plan to join with his allies. The armies of Napoleon's enemies, Russia and Austria were destroyed. -
Invasion of Spain (1808-1814)
France had dominated most of Europe by now. Napoleon replaced the king of Spain with his brother, Joseph Bonsparte. Napoleon decided to invade Portugal because they did not pay any attention to the Continental System. So, he moved troops through Spain in order to invade. However, many Spaniards were angered by the replacement of their former king. French forces fought against the resistance, however, Spanish guerilla warfare killed a lot of the French forces. Britain helped Spain defeat France. -
Invasion of Russia
In 1812, Napoleon made a grave mistake of leading his army into a land they’ve never even set foot across the Niemen River into Russia. Most of his army was completely wiped out from starvation and freezing to death. This marked the beginning of the end of Napoleon Bonaparte. -
Battle of Waterloo
This battle took place in Belgium near the town of Waterloo. The United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, and Prussia organized their armies to defeat a French army under the control of Napoleon, when Napoleon wanted to be emperor again. This defeat ended Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French and exiled him again, this time to an island called, St. Helena. -
Exile in Saint Helena
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Napoleon´s death
Napoleon died in the island of Saint Helena at the age of 51 , probably due to a stomach cancer.
