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Mid 1700s
France began to grow in population meaning there was more families to support, the first and second estates pressed the third estate for higher taxes when they were already struggling, food prices were increased, wages were not going up however, the poor started to riot more on the streets because of the unfairness of taxes and wages. By this time the Old Regime was in place and the second estate owned about 15% of all land in France, less than 2% of the population made up the second estate -
1774
Louis XVI took over for the old king Louis XV, Louis XVI married Marie-Antoinette, people of France were quick to resent her because of her involvement in French politicians, and debt continued to grow because Louis XV kept taking money from bankers which left them in debt. -
1787
The time before 1789 was referred to the Old Regime and during this time society was divided into three estates. The Estates general finally met to discuss. ”for more than 100 years, France had been the largest and most powerful nation in Europe, ruled by a monarch who claimed absolute power. When the French Revolution began in 1789, however, the king lost all power within months.” -
1791
The royal family including King Louis XVI and queen Marie-Antoinette flee the country but are returned back to France, King Louis XVI signs the new constitution and the Legislative Assembly is formed -
1792
The guillotine became the official punishment and execution of France, the September Massacre occurred and thousands of political prisoners were killed and the first French Republic is established -
1793
Louis XVI is executed by guillotine, the committee of public safety is established and radical journalist, Jean-Paul Marat was assassinated by Charlotte Corday, people who oppose the revolutionary government is executed and thousands of people over the next year was executed, Queen Marie Antoinette was executed by the guillotine -
1799
in this year Napoleon took over as king and ended the French Revolution