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Meeting of the Estates General
Once King Louis XVI lost almost all of his money to paying for the war against Great Britain and his wife, Queen Marie Antoinette, using it for gambling, buying jewels, gowns, and even gifts that they labelled her as "Miss Deficit" - with all of that, the second estate called forth a meeting once the King declared raising the taxes for the third estate. This meeting was the first for 174 years, May 5, 1789 at Versailles. -
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The Rise of Napoleon and Creation of an Empire
Napoleon began as the leader of the French military and soon waged war with Europe - conquering most of it but wanted it all. And soon started taking it over. He was then crowned himself emperor in 1804. -
Tennis Court Oath
However, three days later, the third estate delegates found themselves locked out of the court house. Nevertheless, they went next door and broke it down and found an indoor tennis court. The third estate soon pledged to never leave until a new constitution was made - and others joined that wanted change to the government. Their numbers grew. Sadly, the King was quite furious with this and made his mercenary Swiss guards surround the Versaille. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate delegates, mostly those from the bourgeoisie that tasted the enlightenment and have shaped their views on the government. Wanting freedom from the absolute monarch they are under. Ordering a debate with the other two estates, the third estate had a spokesman named Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès that spoke a dramatic speech for them - and suggested that the delegates labelled themselves as The National Assembly and pass laws and reforms in the name of the French people. -
Storming the Bastille
People started gathering weapons to defend the city - rumors stating that the king, Louis XIV, was going to use military force to dismiss the National Assembly. And others said that foreign troops were going to come to massacre the French citizens. All of that arose violence. Causing the people to storm the Bastille, a Paris Prison, for gunpowder and arms. Killing the guards and with no mercy. -
March of the Versailles
With the king refusing to go along with them, the Parisians went on a march to Versailles and brought the royal family back to Paris. -
Declaration of the Rights
The Declaration of Rights proclaimed liberty, equality, the inviolability of property, and the right to resist oppression. However, the declaration on August 4th were such innovations that the king refused them at first. Which, in fact, started an uprising from the people - wanting the Declaration. -
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Reign of Terror (Or known as, The Terror)
The Terror was a weapon designed to kill victims. Guillotine. -
Congress of Vienna
The assembly reorganized Europe after the Napoleonic wars. Beginning in September 1814, they rose up after Napoleon I's first abdication and completed it's "Final Act". The settlement was the most-comprehensive treaty Europe has ever seen.
