-
Meeting of the Estates Generals
In an attempt to resolve the monarchy's financial crisis, King Louis XVI gathered the Estates General. The process allowed each of the sections that made up the Estates General (the nobles, clergy, and the, often excluded, Third Estate) to each cast a vote. Angered by the voting advantage the nobles and clergies would upkeep, the Third Estate conducted a protest, "The Tennis Court Oath," until a new constitution was established. -
Fall of the Bastille
A prison in eastern Paris prison was raided by an angry mob in order to emphasize their hatred and frustration towards Louis’ regime. Despite his attempts, the commander of the Bastille, Marquis de Launay, and his troops gave themselves up to the angered crowd. Receiving word about the fall of the Bastille, King Louis XVI arranged several attempts to restore the damage; unable to do so due to the, already instigated, Revolution, the National Assembly went on to authorize the French government. -
March on Versailles
Angered by the idea that the royalties of Versailles were oblivious to the hardships people encountered in Paris, the people marched to the Palace of Versailles. Upon arrival, they demanded such royalty to follow them back to Paris and “live among the people.” The King, unaware this was a serious or permanent issue, agreed to the crowd’s demands. -
Flight to Varennes
France’s new constitution gave Louis XVI, the King, veto power, but the National Assembly could overrule him; in response, Louis denounced the Revolution and fled to Austria until he was recognized in Varennes and forced to return to Paris. The king denounced the Revolution, was against the new constitution, and attempted to flee the country – threatening the National Assembly. France would have to choose between their unpopular king and their unproven constitution. -
Dissolution of the National Assembly
The Legislative Assembly replaced the National Assembly and France declared herself a constitutional monarchy. France soon awakened to a new political reality, however. No National Assembly member was allowed to hold a seat in the newly formed Legislative Assembly – a political body that once brimmed with political experience now had little to none as factions ranging from stuffy royals to radical thinking republicans assumed power. -
Declaration of the Republic and the Trial of Louis
September 21, 1792: The National Convention replaces the Legislative Assembly and declares France a republic. Despite the mounting scandals, unending chaos, and rotting bodies in Paris, the French military beats back the invading Austrians and Prussians. Louis XVI charged with treason and Marie Antoinette charged with crimes – both are found guilty and awarded the death penalty: Louis on the 21st of January and Marie on the 16th of October in 1793. -
Attack on the Tuileries Palace
In the summer of 1792, France’s economy in shambles, Louis XVI appearing more the traitor than the king, the Assembly paralyzed, and Paris melting down, Austria and its Prussian allies are closing in. August 10, 1792: As 20,000 French radicals attack Tuileries Palace, the Legislative Assembly decides to arrest the King and Queen instead of protect them. These arrests did little to quell the violence as the “September Massacre” results in the execution of hundreds of royal loyalists. -
War
There was a reason Louis XVI had sought refuge in Austria: as one of Europe’s most stable monarchies, Austria wanted nothing to do with revolutions or republics. To exploit this fear, Louis XVI and other hard line monarchists pushed for war to overthrow a disorganized new government. Revolutionaries also favored war because they believed this would both unify France and spread their ideas of revolution to all of Europe: on April 20 of 1792, France declared war on Austria. -
Reign of Terror
Maximilien Robespierre, a member of the new National Convention, sought to rid France of all those opposed to the Revolution. His leadership resulted in the Reign of Terror: September 1793 to July 1794, 16,000 “enemies” were guillotined. Most of the original leaders of the French Revolution either dead or having fled, Robespierre got a little too cocky as he declared himself the Supreme Being of a new religion: July 27-28, 1794, “non-believers” arrested Robespierre and executed him the next day. -
Directory and the Rise of Napoleon
In 1795, The National Convention created a new constitution that formed the Directory, an executive council consisting of five leaders. These leaders not particularly proficient in leadership, their corruption, conflicts, and financial misdealings led to them relying on the army to stay in power. In 1799, Napoleon returns from Egypt, dissolves the Directory, forms a puppet assembly, the Consulate, and declares himself First Consul.
