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The Great Fear
The Great Fear was the aftermath of the spread of rumors. These rumors specialized in spreading that outlaws would come to the countryside and bring chaos to towns. The rumor also told that these outlaws were sent by the nobles themselves. This fear drove many of the civilians to become outlaws themselves and they terrorized the nobles. Some of these civilians even killed. The Great Fear was important to the French Revolution because it showed that the citizens did have power over the nobles. -
Storming the Bastille
There were rumors about a attack coming to France, the people started to prepare. A mob then stormed the Paris prison (the Bastille) which caused turmoil in the town. Around 100 people had died from this even and the invasion of the Bastille resulted in the mob parading around with dead people's heads on pikes, it was not a pretty sight. This event is important to the revolution because it was an example of how cruel and powerful mobs could be. -
Louis XVI tries to Escape
Louis XVI knew that his position as a monarch would bring him turmoil. With all of the riots his supporters and advisers either left the country or told him to do so. He decided to leave France with his family but as they reached the border, they were apprehended and then taken back to Paris. This event is important to the French Revolution timeline because it shows that the civilians had become so powerful that the people who were supposedly in charge felt like their very life was in danger. -
The creation of the guillotine
Before this creation, people would be tortured excessively in front of large crowds. It was capital punishment but they realized they would need something that would seem more humane, more "democratic". Dr. Joseph Ignace Guillotin (there is where the name comes from) created the guillotine which would do the job more quickly and with less of a mess (the invention was used until 1977). This invention was important to the French Revolution because it became a staple in how people were murdered. -
Napoleon's First Chance
When Napoleon Bonaparte was just a young man in the position of officer, he was serendipitously given the chance to show his talents. At the National Convention Napoleon was appointed to defend the delegates; this lead in attackers retreating to the face of their cannonade. After this event he was praised throughout the city. I believe this event is important because this is where Napoleon started; without this, who knows if he would become the figure he came to be today. -
Napoleon Conquers Europe
Having already annexed the Austrian Netherlands as well as areas of France to Italy, Napoleon had his eyes set on taking over Europe. This caused Britain to freak out to the point where they had gotten Russia, Austria, and Sweden to help weaken Napoleon's power. This event was significant because it showed the raw power France had. Website: https://www.history.com/topics/france/napoleon#:~:text=After%20seizing%20political%20power%20in,nations%20and%20expanded%20his%20empire -
The Battle of Trafalgar
This battle was important to the French Revolution because it was the first crack into Napoleon's power. Out of all their major battles this was the only one lost. Said to be "more important than all of his victories" (Section 3.3), Napoleon was a land general, not a naval commander. This in the end lead to their defeat and turned Britain's navy into even more of a powerhouse. -
Creation of the Continental System
Napoleon blocked up all communication and trade with various European countries such as Great Britain; this was done using a blockade. Napoleon thought this would destroy the economy of other countries. The blockade in question was not as strong as the French had thought and some people were able to squeeze on by. Britain than responded back with their blockade and stronger navy. This event has significance because it was the first of many expensive mistakes Napoleon would make. -
Napoleon's Comeback
After being exiled to Elba everyone thought that that would be the last they heard of Napoleon. Louis XVII (Louis XVI's brother) had taken position as king and the subjects were not happy about it and some of his ideas. News of this motivated Napoleon to come back and France welcomed him with a smile, after a few days he was already emperor again. This event is important because without this event, Napoleon's last battle would have not happened therefore having lack of impact to the finale. -
The battle of Waterloo
This battle is one of the most important event's in the French revolution because it is the last one. After years of success and power Napoleon was defeated at a village in Belgium (Waterloo). At first it was looking like the French were going to win; with the British army weakening. However, Prussian forces had come in and joined the battle on Britain's side. After two days of fighting Napoleon's army had finally had enough, ending the fight.