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King Louis XVI
Louis XVI takes the throne at the age of 19. He is a weak leader who was dominated by his wife, Marie Antoinette. -
Storming of Bastille
The people of Paris storm the Bastille, a much hated prison that symbolized autocratic rule. The Revolution had begun. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This document guaranteed the rights of liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression to all people. -
Storming of Versailles
Peasants were fearful that the nobles were hiring outlaws to terrorize them. Peasants started to riot then they stormed Versailles and demanded that Louis and his wife come to Paris. -
National Assembly is disbanded
National Assembly is disbanded so the new Legislative Assembly can take over. They create a constitutional monarchy that takes away power from the king and that gave the Assembly the power to create French law. -
The Revolution Splits
The Revolution leaders start to turn on each other and three factions in the Legislative Assembly form. Radicals, Moderates, and Conservatives. -
Parisians invade the Royal Palace
20,000 Parisians invade the Royal Palace. Then Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and their children are imprisoned. -
Louis XVI is put to death
Louis XVI was found guilty in a court case of treason and was sentenced to death. He was beheaded by a guillotine. -
Robespierre takes power
Robespierre governed France as a dictator. This period became known as the Reign of Terror. Almost 3,000 were executed in Paris. And as many as 40,000 people were killed in total. He is then later labeled a tryrant and the National Commitee has him put to death. -
A New Constitution
Leaders in the National Convention create a new Constitution. This creates a two house legislature and an executive body of five men, known as the Directory. Napoleon Bonaparte is then chosen to lead France’s armies.
