-
Estates General Convened by King
This meeting of the Estates General was the first meeting since 1614. The meeting was called by King Louis XVI. King Louis XVI had called the meeting to obtain the assembly's consent to a general fiscal reform. The three estates listed off their grievances to the King. The question soon arose whether the estates should meet separately and vote by order or meet jointly and vote by head. -
Tennis Court Oath
On this day members of the Third Estate were locked out of a meeting of the Estates General by the King. They were going to discuss reforms. The Third Estate believed that this was an attempt by the King to end their demands for reform. The Third Estate moved themselves to a nearby tennis court where they formed the National Assembly and signed an oath to not disband until France has a written constitution. -
Storming of the Bastille
An angry mob of French citizens stormed the Bastille, a prison, in search of of gun powder. As the mob entered the prison they captured the guard commander, Marquis De Launay, and executed him. They also killed all the other guards in the Bastille. The mob then looted the streets and the seven prisoners in the Bastille were later released that day. -
National Assembly Decrees Abolition of Feudalism
The National Assembly met to reform the social pattern of France in order to calm outraged peasants. They abolished feudalism and many rights of the clergy and nobility. All nineteen decrees were completed a week later. They paved the way for the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The National Assembly believed that neglect and ignorance of the government led to the opposition of it. The National Assembly created a declaration to recognize the rights of all French people, excluding women. It has seventeen articles. The basic principle is that all men are born and remain free and they all have equal rights. -
Women's March for Bread
A crowd of women demanding bread for their families marched towards Versailles. As they marched through the streets, more women left their homes and joined in the march. The women were armed. Once the women reached Versailles they stormed through the gates and demanded bread. The king gave into their demands and ordered that all the bread in Versailles be distributed to the people in Paris. -
Abolition of Nobility & Titles
The National Assmebly created a decree that abolished all nobility and titles in France. The nobility were no longer given special priveledges and were expected to pay the same taxes that the Third Estate had to pay. -
Black Citizens of French Colonies Granted Equal Rights
The Society of the Friends of the Blacks were a group of French people, mostly white, who were abolitionists. In February 1794 the National Assembly created the Universal Emancipation decree that freed all colonial slaves. -
Beginning of the Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly was created after the National Assembly. It first met on October 1, 1791. It was made up of people with little national political experience. It consisted of 745 members. None of its members had been a part of the National Assembly. -
Jacobin Massees Storm the Tuileries Palace
A mob stormed Tuileries Palace to capture King Louis XVI. The Swiss Guards at at Tuileries had no chance against the mob. The mob killed all the guards and anyone else they found in the palace. They found King Louis XVI in the Legislative Assembly building and captured and imprisoned him. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
King Louis XVI had been in Temple Prison.He was charged with high treason and crimes against the State. They found him guilty and ordered him to be executed. He was transported from Temple to Place de la Revolution by a carriage. There, he was executed by the guillotine in front of French citizens. -
Committee of Public Safety Established
The Committee of Public Safety gained control over France during the Reign of Terror. It was set up during one of the crises of the Revolution The new committee was to provide for the defense enemies, foreign and domestic, and to oversee the already existing government. -
Beginning of the Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a period when the French revolution entered the phase of political conflict between the Girondins and the Jacobins. The guillotine became the method of settling disputes. The Law of Suspects allowed the creation of tribunals to try and execute anyone who disagreed with the French Republic. -
End of the Reign of Terror
Robespierre is arrested and executed. New members of the Committee of Public Safety were appointed the day after Robespierre's execution, and term limits were imposed. The Committee of Public Safey's powers were reduced piece by piece. -
Creation of the Directorate
The Directorate held executive power in France following the Convention. It lasted from 1795 to 1799. The five members were elected by the Council of Ancients. The Directorate was brought down when two members planned with Napoleon Bonaparte to overthrow their colleagues. -
Napoleon Bonaparte Named "First Consul," Now the Effective Emperor
Napoleon worked with Emmanuel Sieyes to overthrow the Directory. He was successful and the Directory was replaced with a three-member Consulate. Napoleon became First Consul. He then reorganized his armies and defense. One of his first decisions as First Consul was to cross his troops over the Alps and into Italy. -
Napoleon Consecrated as Emperor
In March of 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was offered the title of emperor. He planned his coronation with great care. His ceremony was held at Notre Dame in two parts. It started with a procession from Tuileries that ended at Notre Dame. The two part ceremony was held at separate ends of the church to signify the disconnectedness of religious and secular facets.
