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Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette Marriage
Louis XVI was very shy and was even called," Fat, sloppy, ill-bred boy." In an arranged ceremony, he marries Marie Antoinette. In this unity, it creates an alliance between Austria and France. Unfortunately on the night of their wedding, Marie Antoinette fails to produce a male heir and that angers the French people. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/louis-marries-marie-antoinette) -
All Hail King Louis XVI
Louis XV outlived all of his children which left his grandson, Louis, to be the heir to the throne. Louis proved to be very shy, easily convinced, and ill-prepared for the throne. After only a few years of ruling, he enters France into the American Revolutionary War. This was a terrible decision due to the fact that France goes bankrupt fighting for the rights of a whole other country. (http://www.biography.com/people/louis-xvi-9386943) -
The Estates General
In order to decide a plan to get France out debt, Louis XVI called a meeting of the Three Estates. The 1st and 2nd Estate always outvoted the 3rd in the meeting. The reason for that being is 1/3 of the total votes was taken from each Estates 300 representatives. Since the 3rd Estate has a larger population, they demand that is how the votes should be counted, by population. Louis' response to this is to just lock the 3rd Estate out. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Estates-General) -
The National Assmebly
After being kicked out of the Estates General, the 3rd Estate creates their own organization with the goal of being the new French government. They end up breaking into a nearby tennis court and swearing not to break up until a constitution is created. This is known as the Tennis Court Oath. King Louis eventually sees the organization as legit but he still hires mercenaries to intimidate them. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Assembly-historical-French-parliament) -
Storming of the Bastille
In an attempt to protect the National Assembly, the citizens of France storm this fortress, which is used as a prison, to demand weapons and gun powder. Among the chaos, the large crowd broke through the barriers and captured the fortress. This really ignites the flame that is the Revolution. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille) -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
This was an attempt toward making a constitution. It stated all men had the rights of liberty and equality. It defined the individual and collective rights of all people.It also would be a basis for a new French constitution. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-the-Rights-of-Man-and-of-the-Citizen) -
The Guillotine
This new device brought about a new way of excuting people. It was seen as a more gentler and painless way of sentencing death. The guillotine would play a huge role in the excecution of many citizen and monarchs during the reign of terror. -
L’Ami du Peuple (“The Friend of the People”)/The List
Jean-Paul Marat was the editior of this newspaper and became an influential voice in favour of the most radical and democratic measures. He particularly advocated preventive measures against aristocrats, whom he claimed were plotting to destroy the Revolution. Due to his suspicions, he publishes a list of "Traitors" that would be arrested or excecuted by Robespierre.(https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jean-Paul-Marat) -
March on Versailles
Fishwomen lead a march to the Palace of Versailles to demand bread. These women were fed up with the extravagant living of the King and Queen, when they were going hungry. The group of women forced the royal family to return to Paris with them. This shows that King really doesn't have control in making decisions. (http://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/october-march-on-versailles/) -
The Legislative Assembly
Became the governing body of France. it provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law-making between the periods of the Constituent Assembly and of the National Convention. Its deputies had drafted a constitution they believed reflected the aims of the revolution. The idealistic Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was adopted and they quickly created a new flag for France known as the Tricolour flag. (http://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/legislative-assembly/) -
Tricolour Flag
This new flag was designed and consisted of blue and red stripes for the colors of Paris and white in the middle to sybolize the House of Bourbon. It became a powerful symbol. Revolutionaries started wearing red, white, and blue cockades, or badges, to identify themselves as revolutionaries. The flag also showed nationalism and brought citizens together in the nation of France. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-France) -
National Convention
This was revolutionary France’s third attempt at a national legislature. was elected to provide a new constitution for the country after the overthrow of the monarchy. Among its early acts were the formal abolition of the monarchy and and the establishment of the republic. (http://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/national-convention/) -
Excecution of Louis XVI
The Convention put Louis XVI on trial for treason. He was unanimously pronounced him guilty and condemned to death. Other countries watched in fear of the events unfolding in France and made threats towards the nation. Therefore in response to these threats, the people excecuted Louis. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-louis-xvi-executed) -
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Reign of Terror
Not all French citizens were pleased with how the revolution was being carried out. Fearing opposition within the country, a wave of excecutions took place against suspected enemies of the revolution. The constitution was suspended as well and caused conflict between the two political factions, the Girodins and the Jacobins. (https://www.britannica.com/event/Reign-of-Terror) -
The Directory
Became the first formally constituted French Republic. The Directory was a fatal experiment in weak executive powers; it was created in reaction to the strict religious or moral behavior that had existed under the Reign of Terror and it would end up yielding to the more disciplined dictatorship of Napoleon Bonaparte.(https://www.britannica.com/topic/Directory-French-history) -
Signing of the Napoleonic Code
Napoleon Bonaparte began the arduous task of revising France’s outdated and muddled legal system.This civil code gave post-revolutionary France its first coherent set of laws concerning property, colonial affairs, the family, and individual rights. The laws were applied to all territories under Napoleon’s control and were influential in several other European countries. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/napoleonic-code-approved-in-france) -
The Crowning of Napoleon
Due to being a great military strategist, he was deemed the right general for the events to come in France. He was formally asked by the Directory to save Paris from Civil War and invasion. Europe would undergo massive changes during his ruling than it every had during the days of absolute monarchy. (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/napoleon-crowned-emperor) -
Exile to Elba
Napoleon launched an invasion against the Russians that eventually ended with his troops retreating from Moscow. Napoleon’s forces gave up and Napoleon offered to step down in favor of his son.When this offer was rejected, he abdicated and was sent to Elba. In his return, Napoleon was defeated ultimately in the bloody battle of Waterloo. He was abdicated for a second time and exiled to the remote island of Saint Helena (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/napoleon-exiled-to-elba) -
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Congress of Vienna
This assembly reorganized Europe after the Napoleonic Wars. The settlement was the most-comprehensive treaty that Europe had ever seen. The congress specifically made decisions in regards to the adjustments of the borders of the German states. (https://www.britannica.com/event/Congress-of-Vienna) -
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100 Days
The period between which Napoleon arrived in Paris after escaping from exile on Elba and the return of Louis XVIII to Paris. It would be brought to an end only by the battle in Waterloo. In his return, Napoleon made liberal changes to the Imperial Constitution, which led a number of former opponents to rally to his cause.(https://www.britannica.com/event/Hundred-Days-French-history)
