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May 5
The Estates Generals begin to meet at Versailles. -
June 20
Members of the Third Estate take the Tennis Courth Oath and demand certain rights from the king. -
July 14
The French Revolution begins with the Storming of the Bastille. -
August 26
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of man and of the Citizen. -
October 5
A large group of women (and men) march from Paris to Versailles to demand lower bread prices. They force the king and queen to move back to Paris. -
October 6
The Jacobin Club is formed within the National Assembly. Its members become some of the most radical leaders of the French Revolution. -
June 20-21
King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette attempt to flee France. They are captured and returned to France. -
September 14
King Louis XVI formally signs the new constitution limiting his powers with a Legislative body. -
April 20
France declares war against Austria since they supported the Queen's escape. -
September 22
The First French Republic is founded. -
January 21
King Louis XVI is executed by guillotine. -
February 26
War against Britain is declared. -
March 7
Civil war breaks out on the outskirts of Paris. -
April 6
The Committee of Public Safety is formed. It will rule France during the Reign of Terror. -
September 5
Robespierre, the leader of the Committee of Public Safety, declares that terror will be the "order of the day" for the revolutionary government. -
September 17
The Law of Suspects is decreed. Anyone suspected of opposing the revolutionary government is arrested. Thousands of people will be executed over the next year. -
July 27
The Reign of Terror comes to an end as Robespierre is overthrown. -
July 28
Robespierre is executed by guillotine. As Terror stops, the Committee experiences a restructure. -
October 7
The Directory is formally created and takes control of the government. The constitution is overwritten. -
November 9
Napoleon overthrows the Directory as it has become highly corrupted and establishes the French Consulate with Napoleon as leader of France. This brings an 'end' to the French Revolution.