Introduction to the French Revolution

Food Shortages

Jan 1, 1788

[Photo](www.cs.princeton.edu/~chazelle/pics/LeNainPaysans.jpg )InformationA hailstorm swept through France destroying valuable crops that would feed the country. There was a decline in the production of bread, which increased the demand. The demand caused prices to increase rapidly. The French people had to pay large amounts of money just to feed their family. This caused riots to begin all over the country.

French Monarchy Weakened from Debt

Mar 11, 1788

Photo[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=26L6R3WDJH6Z9BCYN8KSTG6688&edition=STUDENT )The French monarchy has been weakened from waging war with Britain. Britain’s army is extremely powerful; the French army can not continue fighting for much longer. The war is expensive and is taking a toll on the government and economy.

Call of the Estates General

May 5, 1789

[Photo](upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Estatesgeneral.jpg)[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=26L6R3WDJH6Z9BCYN8KSTG6688&edition=STUDENT )The Call of the Estates-General was held by Louis XVI in the Palace of Versailles. The three states debated about creating a constitutional government, which would result in nobility and clergy contributing to taxes. The third estate was outvoted by the other two estates and received no help from the king due to his favor of keeping the current government in place.

Tennis Court Oath

Jun 17, 1789

[Photo](cdn.thinglink.me/api/image/586954871136059392/1240/10/scaletowidth)[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=26L6R3WDJH6Z9BCYN8KSTG6688&edition=STUDENT)After the third estate failed to gain the majority vote, they declared that they would draft their own constitution as the national assembly. When the third estate gathered at their planned meeting placed, they were trifled with the fact the doors were locked. They then went into a indoors tennis court and swore to not stop meeting until their demands of instituting a new constitution was fulfilled.

Storming of Bastille

Jul 14, 1789

[Photo](upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Anonymous_-_Prise_de_la_Bastille.jpg)[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=26L6R3WDJH6Z9BCYN8KSTG6688 )Large numbers of Parisians collected in the courtyard of Bastille. The battle continued for hours, until the warden surrendered. The warden was killed and Bastille was destroyed by the rebels.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Aug 26, 1789

[Photo](i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/03313/Declaration_of_the_3313258b.jpg)[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=26L6R3WDJH6Z9BCYN8KSTG6688 )The Declaration of the Rights of Man was adopted on August 26, 1789. It gave French citizens the right to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.

March on Versailles

Oct 5, 1789

Photo [Information](www.historywiz.com/womensmarch.htm )Parisian women were frustrated with the lack of food that their families had. They gathered together and marched to Versailles to demand food. This ended with the king giving all of the bread in Versailles to the crowd and saying that he and his family will move to Paris.

Execution of the King

Jan 17, 1793

[Photo](upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Hinrichtung_Ludwig_des_XVI.png)[Information](www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-louis-xvi-executed )King Louis XVI was arrested for treason by the National Convention. He was later found guilty and executed by guillotine on January 17, 1793. His wife, Marie Antoinette, was later executed by guillotine as well.

Beginning of Reign of Terror

Feb 1, 1793

PhotoInformationA group known as the Committee of Public safety arrested, convicted, and killed thousands of French citizens. This was the bloodiest part of the French Revolution. It ended with a death toll of about 40,000 people. 16,000 of the executions were by guillotine. Most of these executions were open to the public for entertainment.

The French Build an Army

Aug 23, 1793

Photo[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=67DYFGL7DCNXKVG2ZZ9GJGFTYQ&edition=STUDENT )The Committee of Public Safety called for an army to be built in order to be prepared for attack. There were more than a million soldiers in the military by September, the largest in Europe at the time. This army defeated many enemies and helped the French greatly in war.

End of Reign of Terror

Sep 5, 1793

Photo[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=67DYFGL7DCNXKVG2ZZ9GJGFTYQ )The Reign of Terror ended with the death of Robespierre. The National Convention overpowered the Committee of Public Safety. Changes made during the Reign of Terror were undone through the new constitution.

The First Day of the Revolutionary Calendar

Sep 22, 1793

[Photo](1.bp.blogspot.com/-G2hs54uNWeI/VCDLED4Qi0I/AAAAAAAAHJk/SZw0VBLsdl0/s1600/0republican_calendar.jpg )[Information](www.wired.com/2011/09/0922revolutionary-calendar/ )The first day of the Revolutionary Calendar was September 22, 1793. The public had no knowledge of the new calendar. They did not learn about it until the official law was passed on October 5, 1793 to use this calendar. This new calendar did not recognize church observances, even Sundays, the day of rest.

Robespierre is Overthrown from National Assembly

Jul 17, 1794

Photo[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=67DYFGL7DCNXKVG2ZZ9GJGFTYQ )Robespierre has changed the culture of France and banned things he believes to be corrupt. The National Convention voted in favor to execute him, out of fear that they would be killed next. He was executed by guillotine on July 28, 1794.

Napoleon Takes Power of France

Nov 9, 1799

[Photo](www.history.com/s3static/video-thumbnails/AETN-History_VMS/21/125/History_Nostradamus_Predicts_Napoleon_V3_SF_HD_still_624x352.jpg)[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=67DYFGL7DCNXKVG2ZZ9GJGFTYQ&edition=STUDENT )Napoleon became a captain in the military in 1792. He fought in a series of battles and won them for the French. He continued to work his way up through the military. The French wanted to take control of Egypt in order to defeat the British, but Napoleon thought this was doomed to fail and left.

Napoleon Crowns Himself

Nov 1, 1804

[Photo](pennstatermag.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/img_8385_napoleon_crowning_himself.jpg)[Information](connected.mcgraw-hill.com/ssh/book.lesson.do?bookId=VZMN9MGP58FSN1P2JR9WN1T4SQ&nodeId=67DYFGL7DCNXKVG2ZZ9GJGFTYQ&edition=STUDENT )Napoleon participated in a coup to overthrow the Directory. Napoleon then became the first consul. He later became consul for life in 1802. This convinced him to crown himself emperor and give himself absolute power.