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Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a period of time in France where there were massacres and public executions through the guillotine. It followed the creation of the First Republic. Robespierre was the leader of the Committee of Public Safety, and he was at the forefront of this time. This was one of the most important events in the French Revolution because it exemplified a lot of the problems happening in France, leading to the revolution.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Reign-of-Terror -
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Important Events of the French Revolution
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Estates General
The Estates General was a meeting of the three estates pre-revolution. The king wanted them to figure out the economic and social issues. It ended with the Third Estate splitting and creating the National Assembly. This was important because it was considered one of the moments that started the Revolution.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Estates-General_of_1789/ -
Tennis Court Oath
Jacques-Louis David and deputies in the Third Estate swore never to stop meeting until France had a new constitution. This became known at the Tennis Court Oath due to the location of the events. After this moment, the king ordered the clergy and nobility to join the Third Estate in the National Assembly. This was an important moment for the foundation of French democracy, and was a necessary point in the French Revolution.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Tennis-Court-Oath -
Storming the Bastille
The storming of Bastille happened in Paris, France. The Third Estate stormed the Bastille and attempted to seize control of the medieval armory. There were 94 deaths. This was an important event of the French Revolution because it showed the first time that the people fought back physically, and served at the start of the Revolution.
https://www.britannica.com/event/storming-of-the-Bastille -
Great Fear
It was a period of riot and panic among the peasants. Rumors of aristocratic conspiracy spread, leading peasants began to attack manor houses in response. This is important because it shows how much the Third Estate was depending on there being a needed change - and they were panicked that the higher ups were going to shut the revolution down. It ultimately led to the passage of August Decrees, which ended feudalism.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Great_Fear/ -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is a human civil rights document, intended to make France draft a new constitution. It includes 17 points, all which involve equality and rights for all men. It marked a new political era. It was essential to the French Revolution in pushing their values forward, and also the rest of the world as a model of rights and independence.
https://www.elysee.fr/en/french-presidency/the-declaration-of-the-rights-of-man-and-of-the-citizen -
March on Versailles
Due to the scarcity of bread, and women going to the market to find little bread available at a high price, they responded with the March on Versailles. Crowds of Parisian market women marching on Versailles, and demanding reforms. The crowd grew to over 7,000 people. They demanded bread at fair prices. This was important because it gave the people confidence that they themselves could fight back against the king’s rules.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Women's_March_on_Versailles/ -
Flight to Varennes
The Flight to Varennes is also known as the royal family's unsuccessful escape from Paris during the night. The royal family was caught and arrested, and sent back to Paris. It made the credibility of the king look weak as a constitutional monarch and eventually led to the rise of the revolution. It was an extremely important event in the French Revolution because it eventually led to the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Flight_to_Varennes/ -
Dissolution of National Assembly
The National Assembly finally was dissolved and was replaced with the Legislative Assembly with the creation of the New Constitution. This assembly was now faced with how to move forward with laws, as well as with government (constitutional monarchy or republic without a king). It was a time of revolutionary law making. This was essential to the French Revolution by changing the governing bodies. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Legislative-Assembly-France-1791-1792 -
Directory and Rise of Napoleon
The Directory was the governing five-member committee in the French First Republic. It was problematic because it failed to do what people wanted: it did not help the economy, relied too much on the army, and pointed in the direction of dictatorship. It was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte in the Coup of 18 Brumaire. This was important because it caused people to trust and support Napoleon, leading to his power to come. https://www.worldhistory.org/French_Directory/#google_vignette