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Meeting the Estates General
The estates are three large social classes under the Old Regime. It consists of two Privileged estates (First- made up of clergy of
Roman Catholic Church) (Second- made up of rich nobles) and one Third estate (97%) (urban lower class). On May 5th voting was conducted by state. The first two estates could prevent the Third Estate from getting their way. The Third Estate was frustrated and claimed they're the ones who pay all the taxes and they deserve more power. -
Tennis Court Oath
Tennis Court Oath is a pledge the Third Estate made when they were locked out of their meeting room and broke into an indoor tennis court. They pledged to stay until they made a new constitution. Nobles and members of the clergy who liked reform joined them not long after. Louis XVI commanded his army of Swiss guards around Versailles in response to the Third Estate. -
Storming the Bastille
Many people accused Louis XVI of wanting to dismiss the National Assembly with his Swiss army. They also thought the Swiss wanted to kill French citizens. The people of the city gathered weapons to protect themselves. They took over a well known prison and killed the guards in search of gunpowder and arms. For France, this day is now like 4th of July for the U.S. -
Declaration of Rights
Many noblemen made speeches declaring their love of liberty and equality and wanted to get rid of the First and Second Estates.The National Assembly adopted the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" (similar to our Declaration of Independence). It stated that "men are born free and equal in rights." This declaration failed to recognize women's rights. When Olympe De Gouges made a mock version of the declaration (for women) she was considered an enemy and executed in 1793. -
March on Versailles
The March on Versailles was the rioting of women when bread prices increased. They used knives, axes, and other weapons to do so. In fear, the royal family and the National Assembly moved to Paris and spent their time in Tuileries Palace but were caught and kept as prisoners. Shortly after, Louis XVI was guillotined on January 21, 1793 and Marie Antoinette was guillotined on October 16, 1793. -
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was the period of Maximilien Robespierre's dictatorship of France. He built a republic of virtue and wiped out France’s past, changed the calendar, and closed all churches in Paris. When he became leader of the Committee of Public Safety, many of the country's "enemies” were guillotined. He believed this would make French citizens want to remain true. His dictatorship ended July 27, 1794 when the members of the National Convention wanted him executed. -
The Rise of Napoleon and Creation of an Empire
Napoleon gained power in October 1795, he was praised throughout Paris and supported laws that would strengthen the central government and achieve some of the goals of the Revolution. He wanted to get the economy stabilized and decided to make himself emperor in 1804. He also wanted to control the rest of Europe and to reassert French power in the Americas by restoring the sugar industry. -
Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
Napoleon dangered his empire greatly. First, he created a blockade preventing all trade to other European nations in November 1806. Smugglers would bring cargo from Britain into Europe. In 1808, he sent an invasion force throughout Spain. The Spanish sent their guerrillas. The British supported the guerrillas causing France to lose many soldiers. This was known as the Peninsular War. Napoleon decided to invade Russia in 1812 but they attacked his grand army leaving only a few 10,000 people. -
The Congress of Vienna
The COV was a political triumph. For the first time, nations had cooperated to control political affairs which created a time of peace. They would try to undo everything Napoleon had done. In late 1815, the Holy Alliance was created. It pledged base relations with other nations on Christian principles in order to combat the forces of revolution.
