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Excessive spending and poor harvests lead to a financial crisis in France
King Louis XVI created a financial crisis due to the fact of the excessive spending in wars like the American Revolution and the luxury costs made by their lifestyles. The prices of bread were high with bad harvest and high taxes for the poor which created tension that led into the French Revolution. -
Period: to
French Revolution
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King Louis XVI calls the Estates General
The Estates General is made up of three states that consist of the first estate (the clergy), the second estate (the nobility), and the third estate (everyone else). King Louis XVI called the Estates General to discuss the financial crisis. The first and second estates had it better than the third which was more discriminated even though they made up most of the population. The lack of representation would soon lead to the third estate to revolt against the Old Regime. -
The Tennis Court Oath
The members of the Third Estate created the National Assembly because they were furious with how Louis XVI was governing the people, which made Louis XVI upset to the point where he locks them out of the Estates-General Meeting. When locked out, the members of the Third Estate find a Tennis Court and they remain to stay there until they establish a new constitution. The oath limited the King's power which was the beginning of Louis XIV end of reign. -
First and Second Estates join the Third Estate in the newly formed National Assembly
The First and Second Estates join the Third Estate and the National Assembly after Louis XVI became impressed by the work put into the Tennis Court Oath. This merge made the Old Regime become into the hands of the French People. The National Assemblies goal was to fix the economic issues that were occurring by limiting the power of the monarchy. This event brings France closer to the Revolution. -
The storming of the Bastille
King Louis XVI disapproved the National Assembly which further upset the peasants to the point that they revolted. The peasants were fed up with the inequality, high taxes, inflation, and bad harvests, so they stormed the Bastille in Paris, France. Parisians armed themselves. This event resulted in the end of the Old Regime and commenced the French Revolution. -
The Great Fear in the countryside
From the time of June to the middle of August, peasants continued to revolt by burning nobles chateaux, buildings, and churches. Their revolt continued on the countryside because the nobility not being able to compromise with the National Assembly along with the bread prices continuing to heighten. This event causes the French Revolution further violence and intensity. -
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
The National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen which stated rights of man like liberty, security, prosperity and property. Equal rights became an important part of the French Revolution. This document would soon become the preamble of the constitution. The minority groups would fight for their rights for equality which would further intense revolutionary tensions. -
The Women’s March on Versailles Napoleon's coup d'etat, overthrowing the Directory
Thousands of Woman marched to Versailles to display their anger for the economic crisis occurring in France at this time. Some of those crises including the high prices for bread along with the shortage. They exclaimed their anger to the royal officials with great anger and violence. -
The Constitution of 1791 sets up a constitutional monarchy in France
The collapse of the Old Regime caused this constitution to be formed. This became the new French government that took nearly three years to create. France went from an absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy which limited the power of the King. The legislative assembly was also a part of this constitution. The government the constitution created failed after a year due to the threat of the Reign of Terror. -
Louis XVI is executed at the guillotine
Louis XVI is found guilty of multiple charges that were related to tyranny and treason with foreign affairs. He was also found guilty for limiting the liberties given to the common French people. The French National Convention are who sentenced Louis XVI to death where he was later killed at the guillotine in Paris. Robespierre took power soon after Louis' execution which caused political instability and eventually the Reign of Terror. -
Robespierre's Reign of Terror
Following the execution of Louis XVI, Maximilien de Robespierre took his place and became the predominant leader of France during the French Revolution. Robespierre initiated the Reign of Terror which was essentially an event to rid revolutionary enemies and restricted foreign invaders from entering France. Not all of the French people agreed with his ideas of the revolution which led to the trial and execution of many who revolted. This event made French dormant and unstable during this period. -
The Directory is installed
The Directory of France that was installed to overthrow Robespierre's government and replace it with a more stabilized mission for France. The Directory was an executive part of the government in France that ruled over five directors during its time. The period of time where the Directory was thriving was considered the "Directory Era". The Directory was overthrown on November 9, 1799 by Napoleon Bonaparte and was a signal that the French Revolution was coming to an end. -
Period: to
Napoleonic Era
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The Continental System is implemented
Formed during the Napoleonic Wars, the Continental System was a foreign policy created by Napoleon Bonaparte to blockade France from the United Kingdom. The policy destroyed British commerce and industries while also hurting France with the lack of trade being imported. The UK responded by creating the Orders of Council which was essentially the counter blockade of Napoleon's foreign policy. The tension created was one of the contributing reasons why the Anglo-American War of 1812 began. -
Napoleon is defeated at Leipzig (Battle of the Nations)
One of the biggest battles during the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Leipzig or the Battle of the Nations was destructive to Napoleon and his French power over Germany and Poland. Napoleon was outnumbered with his troops compared to Russia, Prussia, Sweden, and Austria. This battle was one of the first times Napoleon was defeated on the field. This battle marked the end of the French Empire east of the Rhine and was a significant event to Napoleon's exile a couple years later. -
Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena
Napoleon returned to Paris after his defeat at the Battle of Leipzig where he was removed from the throne in April of 1814. He was first exiled to island of Elba in the Mediterranean where he did not stay long and ended back on the European continent eleven months later. He was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo (1815) and when word came he was back, the government exiled him to St. Helena. Napoleon stayed here until his death on May 5, 1821.
