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lousi XVI calls the Estates general
This assembly was composed of three estates: the clergy, nobility and commoners, who had the power to decide on the levying of new taxes and to undertake reforms in the country. -
Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly swore not to stop meeting until France had a constitution. This commitment to imposing a constitution on France was a threat to the power of the monarch. -
writing of the declaration of the rights of men
Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be based only on considerations of the common good. The aim of every political association is the preservation of the natural and rights of Man. -
Parisians storming the Bastille
fears that King Louis XVI was about to arrest France's newly constituted National Assembly led a crowd of Parisians to successfully besiege the Bastille -
March on Versailles
The Women's March on Versailles was a riot that took place during this first stage of the French Revolution. It was spontaneously organized by women in the marketplaces of Paris, on the morning of October 5, 1789. -
Establishment of the New French Constitution
limited the powers of the monarchy of France, delegated legislative powers to an elected National Assembly, and created an elected judiciary. -
Execution of the King and Queen
Louis was convicted and condemned to death by a narrow majority. On January 21, he walked steadfastly to the guillotine and was executed. -
Reign of Terror
the first time in history that terror became an official government policy with the stated aim to use violence to achieve a higher political goal -
Napoleon Overthrows the Directory
the system of government under the Directory in France and substituted the Consulate, making way for the despotism of Napoleon Bonaparte. -
Napoleon Builds an Empire
napoleon gained success during the French Revolutionary Wars by defending France and effectively defeating the Coalition armies -
Napoleon Invades Russia
On June 24, 1812, the Grande Armée, led by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, crossed the Neman River, invading Russia from present-day Poland. -
6th Coalition Occupies Paris
A battle fought on March 30–31, 1814 between the Sixth Coalition—consisting of Russia, Austria, and Prussia—and the French Empire. -
King Louis XVIII Begins His Reign
He became king with the Bourbon Restoration of the monarchy after the overthrow of Napoleon I. -
The Congress of Vienna Meets
Dissolved the Napoleonic world and attempted to restore the monarchies Napoleon had overthrown, ushering in an era of conservatism. -
Napoleon Defeated at Waterloo
The decisive battle of its age, it concluded a war that had raged for 23 years, ended French attempts to dominate Europe, and destroyed Napoleon's imperial power forever.