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Jan 1, 1400
Three Estates(Ancien Régime)
The monarchic, aristocratic, social and political system established in France in approximately the fifteenth century. This system contained three estates. The first being members of the clergy, the second being nobles, and the third being all commoners and peasants. -
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to
The French Revolution
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Louis XVI
Louis Auguste and his bride, Marie Antoinette, became the new rulers of France. Louis is known for deregulating grain prices, which in turn made bread prices rise. This meant that the large amount of the population that was bourgeoisie (poor), had to pay an arbitrary amount for a basic necessity. -
Estates General
The Estates General was meeting consisting of the Three Estates of France. The first estate (Clergy, 1% of pop.), the second estate (Nobles, 2%), and the third estate(EVERYONE else, 97%of pop.). This was the first meeting in 175 years. -
National Assembly
A revolutionary assembly formed by the reps of the third estate. This group of newfound capitalists looked to minimize the debt and feed the third estate. The king resisted and vetoed any motion they attempted to pass. -
Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly when to the palace tennis court and took the Tennis Court Oath. They vowed, "not to separate, and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established." This became of supreme significance because it was the beginning of the Third Estates fight for fair representation. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a state prison containing a surplus of weapon food and ammo. Weapons were badly need and essential if the third estate wanted to be able to reform the French political system. This was enough to convince many men in the third estate to storm this fortress and steal the weapons. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
A fundamental document in the history of civil and human rights. Having been directly influenced by Thomas Jefferson working with General Lafayette, it strongly enforce the natural rights of man. It became the standard for national equal protection by law. -
March on Versailles
One of the most significant events of the entire French revolution. The march began in Parisian marketplace where women where near rioting because of non-feasible prices and lack of bread. As these women went to Versailles more women from towns they passed through joined. They eventually forced Louis XVI to come to paris. -
Maximillien Robespierre and The Reign of Terror
Maximillien Robespierre was the head of the Committee of Public Safety. He is most famous for his reign of tyranny, where he ordered the execution by way of guillotine for over 40,000 people. He him self was eventually executed by the own instrument that he used to end the existence of thousands of people. -
Napoleon Bonaparte: Little Man, Big Legacy
A successful war strategist at a young age, this prodigy of military led France to victory, making them the largest empire of the time. Napoleon was the war hero of France, having led the main offensive against the oppressive grip of the french monarchy. -
Continental System
The foreign policy of Napoleon Bonaparte during the napoleonic war. This meant he was able to blockade trade with Britain from several countries. -
Peninsular War
A war between Napoleon's French Empire against: Spain, Britain and Portugal. The countries were fighting for control over the Iberian Peninsula. This was one of the key battles that resulted in a loss by Napoleon. -
Klemens von Metternich
The former prime minister of Germany. He was one of the most significant diplomats of his time. He created the Metternich system of congress which was the state of international congress for decades. -
Invasion of Russia
Napoleon's Grand Armée invaded Russia. Napoleon was attempting to convince the czar of Russia to stop all Russian trade with Britain. The czar did not approve and the war in Russia began. -
Congress of Vienna
A congress of political leaders from various european countries. The goal was to firmly state the country boundaries. They also want to make peace and unify Europe. -
Battle of Waterloo
This was the battle where Napoleon's expansive empire fell to rubble and ash. His army was absolutely defeated. A total of approximately 65,000 were lost that day.
