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Opening of the Estates-General
following the decline of the French economy, Louis the XVI called upon the Estates General, which consisted of the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners, to discuss new taxes, which would be enforced upon the commoners in order to make up for a $56 million budget. -
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The Revolution
A major turning point in Europe's history, The French Revolution was a massive upheaval in the political and social lives of the people in France. It's causes were primarily in the economic hardships faced as well as the class differences among the people. The leaders, such as Maximillian Robespierre, were driven by Enlightenment ideals of equality and natural rights -
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Reform
The first few years of the revolution were filled with real change in the government, with things like the fall of the monarchy and the creation of the National Assembly/French Republic. First period that ended with the execution of King Louis XVI, which sparked the Reign of Terror -
Fall of the Estates General/The Tennis Court Oath
After the 3rd Estate, consisting of the Commoners of France, was locked out of their typical meeting place following debates about the equality of their voices, they formed the National Assembly and signed the Tennis Court Oath, which bound the 3rd Estate until France was given a constitution. -
Storming the Bastille
Fueled by fears of a military coup, the people retaliated by storming the Bastille, a symbol of the monarchy as well as a place that kept political prisoners. On this day, Paris fell from the King's control. Marks the end of the Ancien Regime and one of many factors leading to the end of the monarchy -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen
The National Assembly had introduced to the people the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen, which declared various Enlightenment ideas such as Natural rights and representative governments. Since the King refused to sanction it, thousands of common women of Paris marched to Versailles to bring the King back. -
Women's March to Versailles
Fueled by rage from the living conditions, the common women marched from Paris to Versailles. The goal of the trip was to return the King and Queen of France, who were living Lavishly in the city of Versailles. The women travelled miles in sun and rain to bring back the King, following his refusal to Sanction the declaration of the rights of man. -
The Revolutionary Wars
Thinking that the country of Austria would aid the king in regaining his power, the country declared war against Austria, which ended up creating a deficit in food, with the aftermaths furthering the power of the people -
Establishment of the French Republic
Following long debate about the new constitution to lead the country of France, The revolutionists decided to meet, abolish the monarchy, and establish the French Republic. Days after, the revolutionaries took a radical turn in the French Revolution with the arrest of the King. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
The republic begins a judging of King Louis XVI, bringing to light his relations with Austria, which the republic deems, and charges him with, treason. The King is tried and executed in a public setting on January 21st, 1793. Despite the beheading, the country's problems persisted and Maximillian Robespierre took over as the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. Thus began the Reign of Terror -
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Reign of terror
Period during the French revolution, where thousands of French citizens were killed and beheaded by a guillotine, causing people to be on edge and tense about their words and actions. The leader, Maximillian Robespierre, felt that the terror was necessary to overthrow the monarchy. Robespierre was executed on July 27th, 1794, thus ending the Reign of Terror -
Directory Takes power
After various events enacted by the terror of the people, such as the execution of Marie - Antoinette by Guillotine, Robespierre was finally overthrown and executed, making way for the 5 person Directory and bicameral legislature. -
Takeover of Napoleon
LEading the Military to a Coup De Tat, Napoleon Bonaparte had overthrown the Directory, later naming himself the emperor of France.