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King Louis XVI calls the Estates General
In the beginning of 1789, King Louis XVI called the Estates General after years of extreme financial hardship. Excessive spending on wars put France in detrimental debt. Though the calling of the Estates General was done to quell the people of the Third Estate, it worsened class division; beginning the French Revolution. -
First and Second Estates join the Third Estate in the newly formed National Assembly
After the disastrous Estates General meeting, the Third Estate desperately needed to create a separate assembly. After leaving the Estates General, they formed the National Assembly. Their goal was for their assembly to represent all people. Some members of the First and Second Estate joined the Third Estate in their struggles. However, the king attempted to break up the National Assembly, and a majority of the First and Second Estate stayed out of it. -
The Tennis Court Oath
After the meeting of the Estates General, the Third Estate was furious. Though they made up an incredibly large part of France's population, they were given the same number of votes of the First and Second Estate in the Estates General. They met up at a local tennis court, swearing they wouldn't leave until they came up with a new constitution. -
The storming of the Bastille
With tensions exceedingly rising, protests and riots began. One of if not the most notable riot was the storming of the Bastille. Fearing that the king would dissolve the new National Assembly, the people of Paris stormed and sieged the Bastille, an old yet important prison. -
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
In 1789, after it was finished, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was adopted by the National Assembly. Inspired by newly written documents in the United States during the American Revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen aimed to allow more people to gain more rights and freedoms. The writing and adoption of this document officially allowed for new changes in France in the beginning of the French Revolution. -
The Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria
In 1792, King Louis XVI reluctantly declared war on Austria. Other countries, including Austria, were threatening to intervene in France. Since the revolution was rapidly growing, revolutionaries didn't want the revolution to be interfered by foreign countries. To demonstrate that interventions weren't necessary, King Louis XVI had to declare war on Austria. -
Louis XVI is executed at the guillotine
Though Louis XVI occasionally went along with what the revolutionaries wanted, i.e. the declaration of war on Austria, he was executed in 1793. This would pave the way for other people to take power, including Robespierre and later, Napoleon. -
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Robespierre's Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a time period in which Maximillien Robespierre led the Revolution and Committee of Public Safety. Despite the benevolent name, under the Committee of Public Safety, Robespierre ordered for the torture and murder of thousands, infamously usually using the guillotine to do so. After Robespierre's death on July 28th, 1794, The Reign of Terror ended, leaving a vacant spot of leadership. -
The Directory is installed
The French Directory was a committee of five members that partially led France throughout the end of the French Revolution. Under the rule of the French Directory, it was consistently in numerous wars, and the French economy was failing. Though the Directory ended the Reign of Terror, it was incredibly weak, allowing Napoleon to later seize control. -
Napoleon's coup d'etat, overthrowing the Directory
After the Directory existed for a mere four years, Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew it. A consulate was instead put into place, and Napoleon became the First Consul; giving him a lot of power over France. Many consider this point in time to be the end of the French Revolution. -
Napoleon is declared Emperor
In 1804, after being First Consul for a few years, Napoleon is declared Emperor. Between being First Consul and Emperor, Napoleon defeated Austria and established the Napoleonic code, attempting to establish himself as being a powerful authority. -
The Continental System is implemented
In 1806, Napoleon established The Continental System. This was an attempted blockade of Britain from trading with the rest of Europe. Though this was meant to weaken Britain, it didn't do much. Later on, Napoleon would suffer more failures eventually leading to his downfall. -
Napoleon is exiled to Elba
In 1814, after he fought with much of Europe and proved to be an ineffective leader, Napoleon was forced to abdicate and was exiled to Elba. He would, however, escape later on and return to France and reclaim his title as Emperor. -
Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
After attempting to reclaim his title as Emperor, Napoleon fought and lost at the Battle of Waterloo. This signified the end of an era, as he was unable to reclaim his power again. -
Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena
After his devastating defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon is exiled for the last time to St. Helena. He later died in 1821.