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Assembly of Notables
This was a group of high-ranking nobles and state officials convened by the King of France on extraordinary occasions to consult on matters of state. -
Adoption of Assignats
Assignats were paper money issued by the National Assembly in France from 1789 to 1796, during the French Revolution. Backed by the value of properties formerly held by the Catholic Church, the assignats were immediately a source of political controversy. -
Invention of the Guillotine
Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin proposed that the French government adopt a gentler method of execution. As a result, the guillotine was created. -
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Liberal/ Moderate Phase
This phase consisted of many popular uprisings and development of major institutions. -
Louis XVI calls the Estates General
After years Louis XVI called the estates-general to enlist their support in raising taxes to help deal with France's dangerous financial problems. Money spent on wars in the prior years, including the American Revolution, had depleted the budget. -
Formation of the National Assembly
the National Assembly was a revolutionary assembly formed by the representatives of the Third Estate of the Estates-General. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Estates General began to weaken when its framework led to a difference of opinion within the Third Estate. The Third Estate decided to stick with representing their right and opposed Louis XVI when he did not allow each delegate to vote. The Third Estate, which was made up of mostly Bourgeoisie, were locked out of a meeting of the Estates General, so they met inside a tennis court where they establish the National Assembly and reasoned to draw up a constitution based on popular sovereignty. -
Great Fear of 1789
Political crisis and rural unrest was present in France. Peasants went hungry, grain prices rapidly increased, and people went broke trying to buy bread. Rumors also sparked the "Great Fear" when rumors led to panic within villages that governemnt troops were taking peasant crops. During hard times, peasants attacked the nobles when nobles tried to reimpose medieval dues by ransacking the castles of the nobles and destrying documents. Peasants fought against the unjust regime. -
Storming of the Bastille
Paris erupted on July 14, 1789. The Paris mob was determined to arm itself due to the presence of foreign troops in the streets of Paris. Bastille, an old fortress prison which had long been viewed as a sumbol of the king's absolute authority. The mob attacked the Bastille and released the seven prisoners inside. Louis XVI recalled the popular Jacques Necker in response. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
First step toward a constitution. It was based of of the structure of the American Declaration of Indpendence. It stated all men were, "born and remain free and equal in rights." Natural rights to, "liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression." It also declared all male citizens equal before the law. French men were allowed to hold public office with "no distinctions on their virtues and talents." Asserted freedom of religions and taxed to be levied according to pay. -
Women's March on Versailles
A large crowd of women began to riot over the scarce quantity of bread and the rising prices of it. The women marched for twelve miles from Paris to Versailles. These women were fed up with the extravagant living of the King and Queen, when they were going hungry. The women demanded for the King to return with them to Paris. He agreed. The women were taking action during the revolution. This signifies that the king was no longer in control to make decions. Favored the common people. -
Flight to Varennes
King Louis XVI of France, along with his wife Marie Antoinette decided to escape their situation in Paris. He disguised himself with his family as peasants. However, their disguises were revealed and they were returned back to Paris. -
Louis Confinement to Tuileries
As a result of an attempted flee the Royal Family was confined to the Tuileries Palace. They were seen as traitors to the revolution.Reactions within France, as well as outside of France spurred about the king. Louis received threats from the outside. -
Constitution of 1791
It abolished many “institutions which were injurious to liberty and equality of rights." It replaced the absolute mocarchy in France by a limited monarchy. Also, a new legislative Assembly was in charge of making laws, collecting taxes, and deciding on affairs concerning war and peace. Male citizens that payed taxes were allowed to elcet the lawmakers. Old provinces were replaced. It was important because it reflected the Enlightenment goals, ensuring equality before the law for all citizens. -
Formation of the Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly was the legislature of France during the years of the French Revolution. It provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law-making between the periods of the National Constituent Assembly and of the National Convention. -
Jacobins gain prominence
Society of the Jacobins, commonly known as the Jacobin Club, was the most famous and influential political club in the development of the French Revolution. Initially founded by anti-Royalist deputies from Brittany, the Club grew into a nationwide republican movement. -
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Radical Phase
Many groups began to rise to power during this phase. -
Brunswick Manifesto
The Brunswick Manifesto was a proclamation issued by Charles William Ferdinand to the people of Paris. It threatened that if the people harmed the Royal Family they would be harmed as a result. -
National Convention
The National Convention was the third government of the French Revolution, following the two-year National Constituent Assembly and the one-year Legislative Assembly. It was the first French government organized as a republic, abandoning the monarchy altogether. -
Execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette
The National Convention held Louis XVI on trial for being a traitor to France. The king was then sentenced to death. He was sent to the guillotine, where he was beheaded. This was significant because people were now making decisions and held the power. Shortly after, Marie received the same form of punishment. -
Committee of Public Safety
This group formed the de facto executive government in France during the Reign of Terror. -
Reign of Terror
Many executions took place against the enemies of the revolution. People who went against the ideas of the Revolution were instantly put in prison and killed. 40,000 died during this time, giving the name of terror. Nobles and clergy, middle-class citizens, and peasants were killed. -
Revolutionary Calendar created
The French Republican Calendar also commonly called the French Revolutionary Calendar, was a calendar created and implemented during the French Revolution, and used by the French government for about 12 years. -
Notre Dame Converted to the Temple of Reason
A Temple of Reason was, during the French Revolution, a temple for a new belief system created to replace Christianity. The symbols of Christianity were covered up and they were replaced by the symbols of the Cult of Reason. -
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Thermidorian/ Reactionary Phase
In the fight for ideals, possibility of popular acclaim for a leader that stands for the ideals of the revolution. -
Republic of Virtue
Robespierre provided a comprehensive statement of his political theory, in which he equated democracy with virtue and justified the use of terror in defending democracy. -
Maximilien Robespierre executed
Robespierre was overthrown, arrested, and guillotined without trial. Other members of the Committee of Public Safety were executed as well. -
Conspiracy of Equals
Gracchus Babeuf, supposedly organized the Conspiracy of Equals. It was a secret group that he hoped to lead in a surprise insurrection to take power and use it to distribute land equally among all citizens. -
The Directory
The Constitution of 1795 established this five-man Directory and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens of property. It faced dissatisfaction. The leaders did not always succeed in solving problems. The Directory helped silence riots, like the san-culottes with increasing bread prices. They made a mistake when they turned to Napoleon Bonaparte for help in advancing their ideas when he ended up becoming ruler of France. -
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Napoleonic Phase
Directory asks Napoleon to assume role of "temporary consul." This allows for strong, popular ruler who isn't a king. -
Napoleon rises to Power
Napolean had demonstrated made successes early on in his life. His military career was prevelant when he drove out British forces out of the French port of Toulon and when he won victories against Austrians. His successes made him ambitious. He became popular in France as a hero. He became a political leader, and installed a Coup d'Etat. He later overthrew a Directory and set up a Consulate. He then took up a title of First Consul for life. -
Coup d'Etat Brumaire
The Coup d'Etat overthrew the system of government under the Directory in France and substituted the Consulate, making way for the despotism of Napoleon Bonaparte. The event is often viewed as the effective end of the French Revolution. -
Concordat
An agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII that strengthened the Roman Catholic Church as the superior church in France. Napoleon was making peace with the Catholic church, once an enemy of the Revolution. The church was also made in favor of the state, but also recognized religious freedom for catholics. This allowed him to win favor with Catholics, and peasantry. -
Napoleonic Code Created
The Napoleonic Code is the French civil code established under Napoleon I. It was drafted by a commission of four eminent jurists and entered into force on 21 March 1804.
