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Louis XVI crowned King of France
Louis Auguste, who married to Mary Antoinette, was crowned king after his father Louis XIV passed away. He then became known as King Louis XVI and led a reign from 1774 to 1793. When Louis XVI was crowned king he was only 20 years old and was immature and lacked self-confidence. He wanted to be a good king and help his subjects, but he faced enormous debt and rising resentment towards a despotic monarchy. -
American Revolution Begins
The American Revolution officially began when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, although fighting had begun in 1775. The King of France King Louis XVI funded the Revolution to take up against Britain. The result was unexpected and fueled the people of France to take over the monarchy and start a revolution of their own. -
Calling of the Estates General
King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General. The king was going to vote on wither to tax the 1st and 2nd estate. The Parliament of Paris came and gave one vote to each estate, but the 3rd estate was the largest and they got mad because of the unfair advantage as the 1st and 2nd estate outvoted them even though the 3rd estate was larger and needed more representation. -
Formation of The National Assembly
The King and Nobles or also known as the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd estate all met up the largest estate which was the 3rd didn’t get enough representation. They got mad and revolted. Which resulted in the 3rd estate creating their own body called the National Assembly. -
Tennis Court Oath
As preparations were being made for a royal session with all three estates the 3rd estate was locked out of the meeting room. Confused, and angry the delegates met inside an indoor tennis court and signed an oath. Which was not to disband until they had drawn up a new, fair constitution for France. -
Attack on Bastille
On 14 July 1789, a state prison on the east side of Paris, known as the Bastille, was attacked by an angry and aggressive mob which was the 3rd estate. The prison was a symbol of the monarchy's dictatorial rule. The event became one of the defining moments in the Revolution that followed. -
French Women Force Louis XVI out of Versailles
After the storming of the Bastille the French people of the 3rd estate forced the royals and nobles out of the Palace of Versailles. They then arrested them and imprisoned them in Paris. They did this because they would have an eye on them and they wouldn’t try to escape. -
Declaration of War Against Austria
When the National Assembly was in power they declared war on Austria. It was known that Austria was in an alliance with Prussia. As a result, France found itself fighting a war against both countries. -
National Convention is Formed
After the monarchy was overthrown the National Convention was elected in 1792. The National Convention was elected to create a new constitution since the monarchy was no more. The Convention was made up of 749 deputies, including businessmen, tradesmen, and many professional men. -
Louis XVI is Executed
On December 1, 1792 King Louis XVI was put on trial. He was sentenced to a death penalty because the people found out he was sending letters to Austria to invade France. He then was executed, on January 21, 1793 since he committed treason, in front of France by the use of the guillotine. -
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror started after Maximilian Robespierre tried the king for treason and then executed them. He then gained power of France and was the leader of a radical group called the Jacobin's. The Jacobin's had many rivals and they went around and executed anyone who opposed them or Robespierre. They instituted “terror” among the people of France. -
The Thermidorian Reaction
The Thermidorian Reaction was an event in France during the revolution, and is so named because it began in the month of Thermidor on the Revolutionary Calendar of the year II or 1794. It was a reaction to the Reign of Terror after the execution of Maximilian Robespierre. -
The Directory is Formed
The Directory was the government that ruled France near the end of the French Revolution after replacing the Committee of Public Safety. The Directory or the government was based off a new constitution called “Constitution of Year III”. The directory ruled for about 4 years before Napoleon Bonaparte overthrew it. -
Napoleon Takes Power
Napoleon was the world’s greatest military geniuses. Napoleon had a great success as a general and won the hearts of the French men and women. After the Directory fell the people urged Napoleon to take over and he became the First Consul of France. The phrase for that is a Coup D’état. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
Napoleon was angry at the fact that Russia didn’t abide by the Continental System and therefore he invaded Russia with an army of 680,000 men. The Russians retreated, and Napoleon and his men continued to pursue long into the winter months. In the end Napoleon retreated and returned to Paris with only 120,000 solders. -
Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo
His last stand was at the Battle of Waterloo which took place in Belgium. The French military leader and emperor was defeated at this infamous battle after he had conquered almost all of continental Europe. Napoleon and his Grande Ar'me which consisted of 72,000 soldiers were taken over by the British and Prussian army's. Even though Napoleon was defeated his legacy still lived on throughout Europe and around the world.
