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The Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembeley, consiting of the Third Estate, was created June 17, 1789. Three days later, when they arrived to the courts, they were shocked that King Louis XVI had locked them out. They then gathered in a nearby tennis court swearing that they to " never cry to the King, and to meet quietly when the circumstances demand, until the constituion of France is happily singing." -
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Key points in the French Revolution
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The Storming of the Bastille
The morning of July 14, 1789, the Bastille, a prison the showed the power of the king, was attacked. A large group of craftsmmen and salesmen, who were mad at the king, decided to steal about 28,000 rifles and attack the Bastille. This showed the king that his people wanted to fight back. -
The Decloration of the Rights of Man
The representatives of the people of France organized a declaration that states the sole causes of public miseries and corrupt governments. It also explained the sacred and inaleinable rights of man. It represented the whole social body. -
The Passing of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
After the representatives "undertook the reform of the Church", the Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed. This legislation resulted in a loss of power for the Church - their lands were sold, clergy was paid by the state and swore oaths of loyalty to the new Constitution. -
The Flight to Varenns
Two years after the royal family was placed under house arrest in the Tuileries Palace, they finally escaped. They managed to reach the town of Varennes, nearly reaching their destination of Austria, but were captured. The failure of the escape plan was ultimately due to the king's inability to commit to a plan, and the queen's wish for the entire family to remain together. Following this, their popularity declined further, and the Jacobin party voiced its wish to end the monarchy in France. -
The September Massacres
The massacres started on September 2, 1792. They lasted five days. They consited of attacks on several prisons around paris. Approximately 1,200 prisoners died in these attacks. It was half of thge prison population. -
The Exocution of King Louis XVII
After King Louis XVII was found guilty for high treason, he was sentenced for the death penalty. His beheading was the first of many in the reign of terror. -
The Reign of Terror
For over a year violence erupted in France. Over this time peroid over 16,000 french citezens were guillotined. These people included King Louis XVI and the Princess of Lamballe. The end of the reign of terror was marked by the behaeding of Robespierre. -
The Execution of Robespierre
Robespierre was found guilty of "setting himself up as a dictaor of France." He was executed during a ceromony with 21 others on June 28, 1794. -
The End of the Directory
The Executive Directory, which had been a executive power in France since 1795, had been overthrow by Napoleon Bonaparte. It was replaced by a consulate. This event marked the end of the French Revolution.
