French Revolution

  • Day of the Tiles

    Taking place in Grenoble, the Day of the Tiles was a peasant uprising. Bread prices and failed harvests were some of the reasons for the unrest.
  • Riots in Paris

    Peasants in Paris rioted due to increasing bread prices. About 25 people died in the riots.
  • Tennis Court Oath

    When the National Assembly was locked out of a meeting hall, they took an oath on a tennis court to not be separated.
  • Storming of the Bastille

    The Bastille was a prison. Peasants went inside it and freed many others. This is what most historians view as the start of the French Revolution.
  • The Great Fear

    This was a time of many peasant riots due to resentment of the upperclass. Controversy that the King and nobility were looking to overthrow the Third Estate also caused these riots.
  • Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen is drafted

    Drafted by General Lafayette and Honore Mirabeau, the Declaration stated all the rights the peasants wanted.
  • Women’s March of Versailles

    Women marched in protest of scarcity and high prices of food. The march grew into a mob as revolutionaries interceded.
  • The formation of the Jacobin Club

    The Jacobin Club was one of the most extreme revolutionary groups. They took charge of France for a short period of time as well.
  • Riots in Versailles

    These riots were incited by high bread prices.
  • Civil Constitution of the Clergy

    This was legislation that was passed to limit the Church's influence on France.
  • Flight to Varennes

    The royal family attempted to flee Paris amidst the Revolution. This caused even more hatred of the royal family.
  • Massacre of the Champs de Mars

    After the decree that King Louis XVI would remain king under a constitutional monarchy, members of the Third Estate retaliated. Royalist Lafayette ordered the massacre.
  • Declaration of Pillnitz

    This declared that Louis XVI was backed by the Holy Roman Empire and Prussia.
  • Slavery abolished in France, but not in French colonies

    The National Assembly declared the end of slavery fir France. Eventually, the slaves in the colonies would revolt, but only after the French Revolution.
  • Formation of the legislative assembly

    A monarchist is elected president of the assembly. The assembly seeked to carry on the Revolution.
  • Counter-revolution in the Vendee begins

    There was a power struggle in Vendee which led to the deaths of over 50,000 people.
  • Revolution of 10 August

    The storming of a palace led to the downfall of the monarchy.
  • Establishment of the National Convention

    They held their first meeting, deciding the direction of France.
  • France is a Republic

    This marks the official end of the monarchy, and France is ruled a republic by the National Convention.
  • Trials of Louis XVI

    Louis XVI is tried and, eventually, will be executed for his crimes as king.
  • Execution of Louis XVI

    Louis XVI is killed for is crimes after his trials
  • Death of Marat

    Jean Paul Marat was a revolution leader who was killed by Charlotte Corday for sparking violence in France.
  • Law of Suspects

    Anyone believed to be against the Revolution was to be arrested.
  • The Reign of Terror

    After the passing of the Law of Suspects, many neutral forces in France were at fear for their lives.
  • The Great Terror

    This was a time inside the Reign of Terror. This had a great deal of violence in it.
  • Execution of Marie Antoinette

    Marie Antoinette was the Queen of France who was killed as well.
  • Execution of Danton

    Danton was a leader as well during the Revolution.
  • The committee of Public Safety begins de-Christianization

    The commitee of Public Safety works to "cleanse" France of Christianity. Secular views were pushed in this time.
  • Robespierre's speech

    Robespierre delivers a speech about the arrest and execution of traitors within government agency
  • Execution of Robespierre

    Robespierre is arrested for a speech he gave and is executed.