-
French Formally Ally with the Americans during the American Revolution
Benjamin Franklin signed a treaty of alliance, that made the Americans and French allies against Britain during the Revolutionary War. -
Estates General
Three estates met up at Versailles with the King to try and rearrange French government. It had been forgotten for 175 years. The Third Estate was locked out so they decided to create their own constitution. -
Storming of the Bastille
Citizens were outraged so they stormed the Bastille Prison, slaughtering guards to try and gain ammunition for the war. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
Nobles who had joined the assembly made a voluntary renunciation of their feudal rights. Later they adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which went much further than the almost simultaneous first ten Amendments in the Bill of Rights. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The measure allowed the state to confiscate the Church's property and made priests into (unwilling) agents of the government. -
War is declared by France on Austria
The Legislative Assembly of France declares war on Austria. France was in favor of the war. Monarchs thought the war would bring France back to the old government and revolutionaries thought war would unite the countries. -
King Louis XVI Executed
Citizens were so upset with all of the King's acts that they executed him so they could officially start a new government. -
Beginning of the Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror begins when Robespierre declares "terror" as the order of the day. This leads to many deaths by the guillotine. -
Maximilien Robespierre executed
The creator of the guillotine was executed by the guillotine for his awful work, ideas, and mass killings -
France Sells the United States the Louisiana Territory
Napoleon sold France's land in the Americas to the United States called the Louisiana Territory. He needed more money for the wars going on in France. -
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor and controlled several non French people. His intention was to replace the Bourbons. -
Congress of Vienna
"Big Four" countries - Austria, Prussia, Russia, and England met to work out the political and territorial outlines of a new Europe. -
Battle of Waterloo / Napoleon’s 2nd Abdication and Exile
When Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, he returned to Paris and was abdicated as emperor by the Provisional Government.
