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The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a period of time were people started to think for themselves, seek out knowledge for themselves, and question the church. Questioning the church was another cause of the revolution in a way as kings our given power by the church because of divine right. This makes people think what authority a king really has which has a long lasting effect. On top of this King Louis's XVI indecisiveness made things worse since people were already questioning kings. -
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The Seven Years War
The Seven Years War was fought between 1756 to 1763 under the reign of Louis XV. This event was what started the downfall of France as it bankrupted france. This war was fought mainly over land in North America. France lost all claims to Canada to Britain and signed over Louisiana to Spain among other things. The long lasting effect of this was the bankruptcy that would never end in France as they traded many furs from their lands for money. -
The Estates General
The Estates General meeting was held on May 5, 1789 and was called because the country was bankrupt. Three hundred leaders from each estate were called and King Louis XVI wanted the third estate to pay more taxes but the third estate said if they were to have a vote they need equal representation. King Louis XVI then locked them out and started the French Revolution. -
The Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath took place on May 5, 1789 directly after the Estates General meeting after the third estate was kicked out. At this event the people vowed to make a new constitution and made the national assembly. They took an oath not to disperse or get rid of the national assembly until a new constitution was formed. -
Storming of the Bastille
On the afternoon of July 14 1789 the people of France gathered and raided and destroyed the Bastille with their hands over time. They freed the prisoners, took the weapons that were there ( The Bastille also served as an armory), and murdered the soldiers that were there. They did this because King Louis XVI hired mercenaries to protect him and the people thought they were hired to destroy the national assembly. This incredibly violent event was the first of many to come for France. -
The March on Versailles
The people of France were furious. They were starving and due to their hatred of Marie Antoinette a rumor spread that famously when told the people didn't have bread she said "let them eat cake" . Women of the fish markets started the march but soon enough 7,000 women were marching to Versailles. The group of women camped outside the palace and demanded bread for the poor. They then stormed the palace and in the end Louis XVI and Marie were forced to Tuileries palace as prisoners. -
Attempt to escape to Austria
On the night of June 21 1791 Louis XVI and his immediate family tried to escape to Austria by dressing up as peasants and riding there in a carriage. Sadly for them they were stopped and in Louis XVI's infinite wisdom he decided to reveal himself thinking his soldiers would let him go. Maybe his soldiers would have let him but not the citizens as they marched him right back to Versailles. This event increased tensions between the people of France and the Monarchy. -
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The Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly's main question was about war. They decided to declare war on Austria who soon had many allies to help beat on France who was already bankrupt. -
Signing of the Declaration of the rights of man
The French Revolution was complete or so it seemed. After Louis was marched back he was forced to sign the Declaration which main ideas is every man is equal and France should be a republic. -
Creation of the National Convention
As Austria neared tensions grew. Austria demanded no harm be done to Louis or Marie so Robespierre responded by abolishing the legislative assembly and replacing it with this new more radical government/convention. This new government voted for Louis and and eventually Marie's execution and was the government that ruled with the committee of public safety throughout the Reign of Terror. -
King Louis XVI's execution
This public event was a historic day for France as they got rid of their monarchy almost completely (still needed to execute Marie Antoinette). It was maybe the first time a king has ever been executed as a king has divine right and it would be seen as directly attacking the church in way. -
Creation of the Committee of Public Safety
The Committee of Public Safety was created to control the food and military problems in France and was controlled by the Jacobin's. During the power struggles for control of France Robespierre made this group who helped oust the Girodin's from the government. The creation of this group was truly the start of the Reign of Terror -
Marat's Murder
On July 13 1793 Jean-Paul Marat was assassinated by Charlotte Corday in his bath. This is the day his conspiracy theories and reign of terror of calling for death ended. Although we know now Marat was not a good man the people of France did not see it that way as they thought of him as a godlike figure. -
Execution of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette's execution was like any other only with more people. She was treated like a peasant and was the end of the monarchy (till after Napoleon). -
Execution of Robespierre
Robespierre declared himself the absolute ruler of France as the Austrians approached and so began a reign of great terror. Robespierre managed to get rid of Austria but right when peace was achieved he released a new list of traitors. Fed up with the needless deaths the government arrested Robespierre on the night of July 27 1794. On that night he shot himself in the jaw but failed to kill himself. On the next day him and his followers were executed and the Reign of Terror ended. -
Passing of the Napoleonic Codes
The Napoleonic Codes were basically the Declaration of the Rights of Man re-written, they took the ideas of the french revolution and made them work. These codes united the whole country under one unified law system and officially got rid of the class system. -
Coronation of Emperor Napoleon
Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor on May 18, 1804 but his coronation wasn't until December 2, 1804. He famously snatched the crown from the pope symbolizing he didn't need the church. -
Exile to Elba
Due to Napoleon's hobby for starting wars with everyone he meets he was exiled to Elba to be the Emperor there due to the Treaty of Fontainebleau. Although this did not last long because on February 26 1815 he escaped. -
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The Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was called together right after the exile of Napoleon to Elba and ended shortly before his Waterloo campaigns. It was called together to decide what to do with France and how to deal with the aftermath of the wars. -
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100 Days Campaign
This time period marks the time where Napoleon escaped from Elba to the time he was defeated a Waterloo. This marked the end of the Napoleonic wars and was the final time Napoleon would sit on the throne of France. After Waterloo Napoleon was sent to St. Helena his prison where he spent the rest of his days.
