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Calling of the Estates General
King Loius XVI called the Estates General for the first time since 1614 after the bank refused to loan him any more money. He wanted to begin to tax the nobles, but the First and Second Estate did not approve, even though the Third Estate did. -
Voting Issues and the Tennis Court
As the Third Estate made up 97% of France, they wanted to have a bigger vote than just 1/3 of the Estate. They then left and became the National Assembly. After being locked out of their meeting place, they moved to a tennis court, where they took an oath to stay in that court until they created a new French constitution. -
The Storming of the Bastille
Because Louis XVI was gathering troops in Bastille, the people of Paris raided Bastille. The military troops of Bastille had also shot in the crowd, killing 98 peasants. They searched for weapons, and because it was a jail for political prisoners, they released the prisoners, while killing the guards and the governer. -
The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen made all men equal and free, giving all the right to liberty, life, and property. Everyone was equal in front of the law, could hold office, and express their religion. They also were given only as much tax as they could pay. -
The Women's March on Versailles
After hearing a rumor that the queen, Marie Antoinette, was hiding bread in the Palace of Versailles during a bread shortage, Parisian women were angry. They were also angry that King Louis would not agree with the declaration or with nobles giving up feudalsim. After the women waited outside, Louis agreed with the deckaration and the end of feudalsim, but as he wouldn't leave to Paris with the women, they invaded the palace. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed to lower the rank of the Roman Catholic Schurch in to the French government. Though it didn't support monstic laws, it did help settle chaos with the confiscation of Church property and abolition of the tithe. -
The King tries to escape
King Louis tries to escape from Paris with his family after listening to Marie's advice, but were caught and forced to turn back. The leaders of the National Assembly saw this as an unrevolutionnary act. Marie's brother offered them protection, but it wasn't possible, as Britain did not agree. -
France declares war on Austria and Prussia
Because Marie Antoinette was suspected of communicating with her family in Austria, and they then with their allies in Prussia, France declared war on Austria and Prussia. France also thought that the two countries would storm in to protect the royal family. They had also wanted to spread the ideas of the Revolution everywhere in Europe. -
Attack on Tuileries
The palace of Tuileries was the home of the monarchy and the Legislative Assembly. A large crowd of people invaded the Tuileries and forced Louis and Marie to seek refuge with the Legislative Assembly. The end of the French Monarchy occurred six weeks after the invasion as one of the first acts of the National Constitution. -
Creation of the National Convention
A new assembly that would write a new democratic constitution was called by the Legislative Assembly, named the National Convention. All males in the political system elected the people of the National Convention. They then declared France a republic. -
The Execution of Louis
Louis was put on trial for conspiring against the state. He was then convicted, and beheaded. this had shocked most of Europe, and left France with many wars, including civil wars. -
Creation of the Committee of Public Safety
The National Convention created the Committee of Public Safety to defend the Revolution from enemies. After time, it took power over France, and worked with the sans-culottes about political relationships. -
Republic of Virtue
The Republic of Virtue was an attempt to dechristianize all of France. Christian influences, like churches and religious writings, were tried to be removed, but rose too much opposition. It also alienated the French provinces from the revolutionary government. Ended in July 1794. -
Robespierre is executed
Maximilian Robespierre was a chief figure in the National Committee of Public Safety, and thought that trying to dechristianize France was a political blunder, and that worshipping reason was too abstract for most of the people. He was named the Cult of Supreme being, but his opponents staged a coup, and he was beheaded, ending the Reign of Terror. -
Thermidorian Reaction
The reaction towards France's radical movements was called the Thermidorian Reaction. It had begun with the establishment of the new constitutional regime, as the wealthy middle-class and professional people of Paris gained political power. Political uprisings were gone by the summer, and the wars with foreign countires were going normally. -
Napoleon defends the National Convention
Napoleon was given the command of defense in the Tuileries Palace after Royalists and Counter-Revolutionaries organised an armed protest aginst the National Convention. Napoleon fought off the attackers, and cleared the streets with what he called "a whiff of grapeshot", and the attackers either died or ran. Sudden fame and wealth was given to Napoleon. -
The Consulate is Established
After returning to France from Eygpt, Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew the Directory and issued the Constitution of the Year VII, making himself First Consul. The Consulate was a French government that was dominated by Napoleon. It had brought the Revolution to an end, allowing Bonaparte to bring peace to France. -
Concordat with the Pope
Because the French catholics had become angry due to the attacks on religion during the Revolution, Napoleon and Pope Pius VII concluded a concordant (a agreement or treaty). This caused all the current clergy to redign, and the new clergy was decided by the government, and given spiriual investiture by the Pope. It also allowed Napoleon to take away all of the Church's confiscated lands, reducing the position of the Catholic Church further -
Napoleonic Code
Napoleon released the Napoleonic Code, made to promote religious freedom, male dominance over women and children, and forbid labor unions. It also did not give much importance to workers' rights. These laws were from the liberal principles of the Enlightenment and the revolution and conservative principles presented in the Old Regime. -
Napoleon is crowned emperor
Using the fear from an assassination attempt against him, Napoleon chose to strengthen his power. He invited the Pope to his coronation, but crowned himself, saying that he didn't want the people to think his authority depended on the Church. He was then called Napoleon I, and ended up conquering most of Europe, astonishing the world. -
The Continental System is established
Because Bonaparte refused to give up on defeating Britain, he made the Continental System. This was hoped to cripple the British of power and drive it out of war. Though it harmed the economy of Europe, Europe still survived, but it backfired on France, as they no longer received overseas imports from England, making them suffer. -
The Invasion of Spain
Because they wanted Portugal to stop being allies with England, the French invaded Spain. A revolt broke out in Madrid as an effect. While his rivals launched a guerilla war, Napoleon put Joseph on the Spanish throne. -
The Invasion of Russia
The Continental System damaged Russia's economy the most, and the Tsar was angry at Napoleon's creation of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw just near Russia, as well as the annexing of Holland and Napoleon's marriage with an Austrian princess. In return, Russia left the Continental System and prepared for war against France. The generals of Russia decided to oppose the Tsar, and so they retreated from his advance and stripped the countryside of supplies. -
The Battle of Leipzeig
Before World War I, the Battle of Leipzeig was the largest battle in Europe, when Napoleon seized the Leipzeig position in an attempt to divide and conquer his opponents. Napoleon was finally beaten by the coalition armies of Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden. Though he went back to France, Napoleon later abdicated and went to Elba Island in exile.
