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Estates-General Meeting
Louis XVI avoided cutting expenses, until he practically ran out of money. His solution was a meeting for an assembly of representatives from all three estates. At this meeting they talked about approving the new tax on the nobility. This is important because it was the first Estates-General meeting in 175 years. -
National Assembly
Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès proposed that the Third Estate, should instead be called the National Assembly. The National Assembly would pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people. The delegates of the Third Estate agreed to Sieyès's plan. This is important because it marks the beginning of a representative government and end of a total monarchy, which was the first deliberate act of revolution. -
The fall of the Bastille
Bastille day was a day of a symbolic act of revolution. A mob entered a Paris prison overwhelmed the guard and seized the building. The attack resulted in the death of about 100 people. This is important because this caused a rebellion called the Great Fear that spread from Paris to the countryside. -
New Regime
Nobleman made grand speeches declaring their love of liberty and equality. Motivated by fear some joined the other men of the National Assembly. Thus sweeping away any feudal privileges of the First and Second Estates. This is important because it ended feudal privileges, and resulted in a declaration of rights, which included rights for men however not women. The catholic church was were elected as paid officials, and the church helped pay of a great amount of Frances dept. -
The fall of Louis and Marie Antoinette
Thousands of Peruvian women rioted. They stormed the castle with various weapons demanding the National Assembly to take action and provide bread. They broke into the castle and killed many gaurds and demanded Louis and Marie Antoinette go back to Paris. This is important because they agreed and this marked a change of power and radical reforms about to overtake France. -
The New Constitution
Louis reluctantly approved the new constitution completed by the National Assembly.The constitution stripped the king of most of his authority. It also created a new legislative body called the Legislative Assembly. This assembly was made to approve or deny declarations of war. This is important because it gave the king less power and gave it to the people. -
France at War
Prussian forces were advancing on Paris. On August 10, about 20,000 men and women invaded the Tuileries, the palace where the royal family was staying. The mob massacred the royal guards and imprisoned Louis, Marie Antoinette, and their children. This is important because the war continued and later resulted in the death of the king by guillotine. -
The End of the Reign of Terror
The National Convention turned on Robespierre and demanded his arrest and execution. The National Convention created a new form of government for the third time, with two legislative bodies, and a executive body. This is important because this marks the end of the current gov, and the start of a period of order. -
French Troops March into Russia
Napoleon and his impressive army of 420,000 men marched into Russia in June 1812. As Napoleon advanced, Alexander pulled back his troops, and refused to be lured in an unequal battle. So the Russians practiced a scorched-earth policy, meaning they burned grain feilds and slaughtered livestock so that would leave nothing for the enemy to eat. This is important because the Russians continued to get away and Napoleons plan to win a war against Russia was abandoned. -
Battle of Borodino
The French and Russian armies finally clashed. After several hours of fighting the Russians fell back, allowing Napoleon to move on to Moscow. When Napoleon reached Moscow was in flames. Alexander had thought instead of Moscow being seized by the French, he would destroy it himself before they had arrived. This is important because the invasion and retreat was devastating to the Grand Army, of the 420,000 men, only 10,000 remained.
