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Louis XIV Calls the Estates General
(Part 1) France faced a high national debt for two main reasons. Those two reasons were the unnecessary spending on monuments for royalty, and the costly spending on war.
(Part 2) With no other choice, Louis XIV called for the Estates General to meet. When they met, the third estate determined that they should have the majority of representation and not be so heavily taxed because they represent 97% of the population. -
Parisians Storm the Bastille
The Storming of the Bastille took place in Paris, France on July 14, 1789. Revolutionaries stormed the Bastille due to the fact that it represented the strict monarchy. This monarchy was not very well supported, so many people felt the need to fight for there cause. The Storming of the Bastille sparked the start of the French Revolution. -
Writing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man
The Declaration of the Rights of Man is arguably one of the most important documents in French history. The main purpose was to state the natural rights and freedoms of everyone, as well as the even separation of powers. This also inspired the French Revolution. -
Establishment of the New Constitution
The establishment of the short but sweet New Constitution was the response to the collapse of absolute monarchies. The new constitution kept some monarchy, but there was now a Legislative Assembly which didn't improve anything. -
Execution of the King and Queen / Beginning of the Reign of Terror
King Louis XVI was convicted with treason after he attempted to flee the country among peasants after the threat of him being overthrown occurred. A day later he was executed by the Guillotine. Shortly after, the Reign of Terror was started, and a year of nonstop speculation about people happened. About 40,000 people were murdered during this time. -
Napoleon overthrows the Directory
Napoleon Bonaparte was a military leader, and was very good at that. He thought that he would rule France better than the Directory, so he overthrew them by force, and starting his own dictatorship. -
Napoleon Builds an Empire
Napoleon built his empire through his biggest strength, war. He conquered majority of Europe with only one failure. (Continental System) He conquered the countries; Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and most of Western Germany and northern Italy. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
Before Napoleon invaded Russia, he suffered no setbacks whatsoever, but that would change. He got power hungry, and attempted to invade Russia unprepared for the unbearable conditions. Roughly 400,000 soldiers died on this failed, unneeded conquest. -
The Congress of Vienna Meets
The Congress of Vienna met after the exiling of Napoleon after his costly defeat. They attempted to establish a long-lasting peace between all of the European countries. They gave land back to the captured countries to offer peace. -
Napoleon Defeated at Waterloo
Napoleon attempted to block all of Britain's trade routes to hurt them, but other countries were affected, so France was outnumbered. Then, at the Battle of Waterloo he Napoleon was defeated by Britain and Prussia. That defeat was the true end to the Napoleon era.
