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The Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment inspired the poor. They began to question Louis XVI’s rule. The poor did not understand why he used almost all of France’s finances to support the Americans during the American Revolution.
As the impetus for informing the Third Estate of democracy’s existence and inspiring the populace to take action, The Age of Enlightenment stands as one of the most influential events of the French Revolution. -
Tennis Court Oath 1
The Tennis Court Oath created the National Assembly. The Third Estate established the National Assembly in response to their lack of power to influence practices enacted by the Estate General. The National Assembly was meant to ensure equitable economic reform could be achieved. Hallmark features of the National Assembly included the rise to power of “The Jacobin Club,” a radical political group, and the organization of the National Guard to both protect and take action against the Royal Guard. -
Tennis Court Oath 2
The Tennis Court Oath is important because it made clear that the Third Estate would no longer wait for the Estate General to pass reforms and that the disenfranchised were willing to take action. -
The Storming of the Bastille 1
When the Royal Guard surrounded Paris, the National Assembly became alarmed. In response, they decided to attack the Bastille to add its weapon supplies to those of the National Guard. The Governor de Launay’s head was speared on a pike and put on display after he was defeated in battle. -
The Storming of the Bastille 2
The event’s significance lies in its ability to warn the First and Second Estates the National Assembly not only had the power to overcome the Royal Guard but was willing to apply this power to achieve the Assembly’s goals. -
The Women's March on Versailles 1
In an unprecedented move, the women of the Third Estate marched on the Palace of Versailles. The 7,000 women that took part had every intention to execute Queen Antoinette for her unempathetic response to the starvation engulfing the nation. The march demonstrated that the people would not eat “cake.” Louis XVI then agreed to share power with the National Assembly and relocate to the Tuileries Palace in an attempt to lessen the separation between the king and the people. -
The Women’s March on Versailles 2
This revolt from the most unlikely of places during a chauvinistic era of history is important because it proved the people had the power to resist and even overcome the First and Second Estates. -
The Champ de Mars Massacre 1
This massacre resulted from strife within the revolutionary movement. The Moderates argued for maintaining the monarchy as a powerless figurehead while the Radicals wanted to execute the king by employing the guillotine that had been recently invented. The possibility of being subjected to death by guillotine scared the nobles supporting Louis XVI into fleeing to safer nations. -
The Champ de Mars Massacre 2
The Champ de Mars Massacre is significant because it frightened both French nobles and governments which wanted to prevent the spread of potential violent revolt. Moreover, the internal conflict engulfing the revolutionaries signaled a messy end to the French Revolution. -
Flight to Varennes 1
Fearing for his life, Louis XVI took Marie Antoinette and attempted to flee to Austria. However, they were captured in Varennes and returned to Paris. The king suffered irreparable damage to his reputation and was branded a traitor who abandoned his people. As a result, Louis XVI had to abdicate more political authority to the new constitution being enacted. -
Flight to Varennes 2
This event’s importance is tied to the revolutionaries' response to the cowardice Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette displayed. The revolutionaries would not rest until the monarchy received just punishment. -
War of the First Coalition 1
Fearful that other countries would attack, the National Assembly preemptively declared war on Austria. However, National Assembly forces were pummeled by Prussia, Austria’s ally, and defeated. The Duke of Brunswick warned the National Assembly that he would burn Paris to the ground if they dared to execute the king. -
War of the First Coalition 2
The defeat the National Assembly suffered is important because it showed that the revolutionaries were not an unstoppable force. The decision to attack Austria also proved the National Assembly was not immune to poor governance. -
September Massacres 1
Many priests, clergy, and nobility languished in jail after being arrested. Fearing their continued imprisonment would become a breeding ground for counterrevolutionary conspiracy, writer Marat proposed a solution that ultimately became the September Massacres. All prisoners were brutally executed - even women and children. -
September Massacres 2
This massacre is important because the excessive violence made foreign monarchies question the legitimacy of the French Revolution. How is such action better than the rule of Louis XVI, and how does such mercilessness reflect the “Rights of Man?” -
Proclamation of the abolition of the monarchy 1
After placing Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette in jail, the National Convention, formerly the National Assembly, declared the establishment of the French Republic. In August, they adopted The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. The National Convention had created the first national republic in Europe. -
Proclamation of the Abolition of the Monarchy 2
The proclamation and subsequent adoption of the declaration is significant for being the first successful democratic revolt to take place in Europe. France now became the enemy of any European nation that feared the spread of French radicalism to their countries. -
Execution of Louis XVI 1
The National Convention tried Louis XVI for treason and found him guilty. Robespierre insisted the revolution could only survive if the king was dead. Thus, after voting, Louis was sentenced to death by guillotine. Not long after, Marie Antoinette met the same fate as her husband. -
Execution of Louis XVI 2
The execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette is historically important because it vividly marked the end of the French Revolution. After much deliberation, the representatives of the people decided upon this course of action to bring a close to the revolution.