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Louis XVI Crowned King of France
He was 20 years old when he became king on May 10th, 1774 after his grandfather’s (Louis XV) death. His coronation was on June 11th, 1775 at Reims Cathedral. -
American Revolution Begins
The American Revolution is when British colonists in America went against the rule of Great Britain. During this time there were many battles which led to the colonies gaining freedom and becoming the United States. -
Calling of the Estates-General
This meeting was the first meeting called since 1614. The meeting was called because the King wanted permission to tax the 1st and 2nd Estates. -
Formation of the National Assembly
The National Assembly was a group created by the Third Estate because they felt that they didn’t have enough power. They started meeting and running the country without the king. -
Tennis Count Oath
King Louis XVI didn’t condone the National Assembly so he closed the building where they would have meetings. They moved their meeting to a tennis court and made an oath that they’d keep meeting until the king recognized them as an actual government body. -
Attack on the Bastille
The Storming of the Bastille was an attack against the government by the Third Estate. The attack signaled the start of the French Revolution. -
French Women Force Louis XVI to Leave Versailles
During the Women’s March on Versailles, there were thousands of protesters. Things started to get violent so he left. -
Declaration of War Against Austria
France declared war on Austria because they were worried that Austria would try to put Louis XVI back on the throne. Prussia and Sardinia joined Austria in the war. -
National Convention is Formed
The National Assembly changed names a few times and eventually became the National Convention. After the monarchy was overthrown, the National Convention was elected to make a new constitution for France. -
Louis XVI is Executed
The Jacobins imprisoned Louis XVI. When he tried to escape with Marie Antoinette he was executed by guillotine. -
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was when the Committee of Public Safety led by Robespierre took control of the government and arrested and executed anyone they thought was opposing the revolution. The total people killed was 40,000 and 16,000 of them were killed by guillotine. -
The Thermidorian Reaction
The Thermidorian Reaction was when the National Convention and the Committee of Public Safety turned against Robespierre because of his radical ways. Him and his supporters were sent to the guillotine without trial. The Thermidorian Reaction ended the most radical period of the French Revolution. -
The Directory is Formed
The Directory was a two house legislature. It had an executive body of five men that were elected by the Council of Elders. It was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. -
Napoleon Takes Power
In 1799, the Directory began to lose their power. He was a great military general and the French people liked him so they wanted him to take power. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
Napoleon invaded Russia with 680,000 men because he was angry that Russia didn’t obey the Continental System. After the battle their supplies got burned in a fire and as winter came they ran out of supplies. He went back to France with only 120,000 men; most of his army died from starvation or the cold weather. -
Napoleon's Defeat at Waterloo
After Napoleon invaded Russia, Europe turned on France and he was soon banished to Elba in 1814. When he escaped in 1815, what remained of his army backed him up and he gained control of Parish. The rest of Europe wasn’t happy about that so they gathered their armies and met him at Waterloo. He was defeated and banished again to Saint Helena.
