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Louis XVI calls the Estates General
This can be seen at the event that kickstarted the revolution. It brought to the surface the frustration with class in France and led to the formation of the National Assembly, which gave voice to the Third Estate. -
Storming of the Bastille
While political struggles were going on at the top, peasants were starving because of the economic depression. The growing power of the Third Estate and the resistance to taxation by the nobles led Louis XVI to dismiss his liberal finance minister and appoint one that was not well liked by the people. Hundreds of peasants marched to Paris and stormed the Bastille, a royal prison, to take weaponry. -
The Great Fear
The storming of the Bastille prompted more peasant revolts. In the summer of 1789, peasants began to panic over rumors of landlords paying mercenary armies to take peasant land and loot villages. This prompted widespread revolts in the countryside -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Following the protests of 1789 summer, the National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Right of Man, guaranteeing equality (of white males) by law. This was allowed because the peasant riots promted fearful nobles to accept equal taxation. -
The Constitution of 1791
Protests and riots led Louis XVI to yield to pressure from the National Assembly to accept a constitutional monarchy in which the king was the head of the state but lawmaking power belonged to the assembly. -
The Execution of Louis XVI
Although the king agreed to a constitutional monarchy, he still covertly tried to restore his power. he was deemed treasonous and executed. This marked the rise in power of the Mountain sect of the Jacobists, led by Robespierre, over the Girondists. -
Robespierre's Reign of Terror
Robespierre gained power and established the Committee of Public Safety, which was responsible for the execution of many "enemies of the state." Robespierre also established a socialist economy and restored some security in the republic. -
The Directory
Robespierre's control of the economy was resented by the middle class, and in 1794 a group of them had him executed. In 1794, a weak dictatorship headed by a 5-person executive branch called the Directory was established. The Directory's policies were not liked among the people. -
Napolean's Coup
The French people disliked the weak leadership of the Directory, and plotted to replace it with stronger leadership. in 1799, a new constitution made Napoleon First Consul. Although France remained republican in theory, most of the power was in Napoleon's hands. -
Nelson defeats Napoleon at Battle of Trafalgar
Naoleon had plans to invade Britain, but his navy was destroyed by the British at this battle. If Napolean had succeeded and Britain fell, his empire may have been much more successful. As it were, Napoleon had strong opposition in Britain and they began to ally with his other enemies. -
The Continental System
Napoleon, in an attempt to weaken Great Britain, imposed a total restriction on trade with Britain throughout Europe. Instead of helping Napoleon, counter-restrictions from Britain hurt France, weakening Napoleon's authority. -
Napoleon's invasion of Russia
because of their refusal to follow the Continental System, Napoleon turned on his ally Russia and invaded. His troops were devastated by casualties in battle and by the cold of the winter and starvation. His defeat here greatly weakened him and strengthened calls for liberation across Europe -
Battle of Leipzig
Napoleon was defeated her by Russian, Prussian, and Austrian forces and driven out of Germany and Poland. This was the embodiment of nationalistic opposition to Napoleon's rule. -
Napoleon's Exile to Elba
In 1814, Napoleon abdicated. An alliance formed by Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria exiled him to the island Elba. Napoleon was able to escape and return to France. -
Napoleon's exile to St. Helena
Napoleon escaped Elba in 1815 and began raising support. He was defeated in a matter of months and this time exiled to an island farther away, in Africa, where he died.
