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The Estates General meets
Each estate had the same representation. As a result of Louis XIV bringing each state together, it was proven that the third estate was larger than the first and second. It was significant because it was the first estates general meeting since 1614 -
3rd Estate declared themselves the "National Assembly"
A group of people began calling themselves the national assembly. These people represented the third estate which included lawyer, doctors, etc. They called for the drafting of the constitution. This is significant because those men took an oath to force a new constitution on the king. -
The Tennis Court Oath
A vow in which they would not stop meeting until there was a new constitution. The signing of this was significant because only 576 of the 577 members of the third estate signed. The one member who refused was Joseph Martin-Dauch. -
Storming of the Bastille
More than 800 Parisians assembled outside the walls of the Bastille, a fortress used as a prison for political and other prisoners. The crowd demanded they give them gunpowder and weapons which they believed were inside. After the Bastille refused and opened fire, the mob slowly moved into the Bastille. They killed the commander and 5 guards and released prisoners. They found no weapons while inside the Bastille. -
National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of man and Citizen
This declaration defined individual and collective rights for the people during the French Revolution. This was significant because before, all men were not considered equal, and some men were "higher" in peoples eyes. This event impacted all people at the time of the French Revolution by making everyone "equal". -
Women's march to the Palace of Versailles
About six thousand women marched 13 miles in the rain from Paris to Versailles. They demanded to see the king. Much of the anger was directed at Marie Antoinette. The women refused to leave until the king met their important demand to return to Paris. The next morning the women, King, Marie Antoinette, and their son headed back to Paris. -
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempt to flee France
After urged to escape the humiliating situation by Marie Antoinette and others, Louis XVI gave in. Louis, Marie, and the royal children rode in a stagecoach headed toward the border. Louis dressed as a servant and Marie as a servant. In a town along the way Louis’ disguise was uncovered by a man who held up a coin with the king's face on it. A company of soldiers escorted them all back to Paris. To many this showed that King Louis XVI was a traitor to the revolution. -
Creation of Legislative Assembly
This was the governing body of France and also replaced the National Constituent Assembly. It was formed under the Constitution of 1791 which created a constitutional monarchy with Louis XVI as the head of state. The government formed from this was a limited monarchy. The national Assembly got the Constitution signed by the king was loosing his power. The people involved in this were a group of people in France who came together to form this governing body. -
Creation of the National Assembly
This was the assembly that governed France for three years during the most critical part of the revolution. The king was not involved in this as he was captured and executed before this took place. -
Louis XVI is Executed
Louis XVI tried to escape. When his disguise was uncovered and he was taken back to town, he was seen as a traitor and sentenced to death. He was killed on a foggy morning in January, 1793. He was executed by guillotine. -
Marie Antoinette Executed
Marie Antoinette was executed 9 months after King Louis XVI. The popular press celebrated her death. She was sentenced to death for treason with her husband. -
Reign of Terror/Committee of Public Saftey
A period of brutal killings. The purpose of these killings were to kill enemies and protect the country from invaders. Robespierre was the man who led the Reign of Terror -
Maximillien Robespierre is executed
Robespierre was executed without a trial. Others executed were given trials however Robespierre did not. More than 19 other people were executed on the same day following Robespierre. -
France is ruled by the Directory
A 5 member committee who governed France which was eventually overthrown. This was significant because the Directory was the group who replaced the Committee of Public Safety. Napoleon Bonaparte was the one who overthrew it.
