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King Louis calls the Estate General
King Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates General because France was having many financial difficulties. The Estates General had not been called 1614. -
The Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate found themselves locked out of the meeting hall of the National Assembly. They thought that the King was trying to break up the group so they met on a tennis court that was near the meeting hall. At this meeting they declared that they would not disband until a written constitution was written for France. -
First and Second Estates join the Third Estate in the newly formed National Assembly
The National Assembly consisted of the Third Estate. It was created after the meeting of the Estates General. The Third Estate thought that it was unfair that the First and Second Estates had the same amount of voting power, so they created the National Assembly. They called for economic changes for France like making sure that there was enough food for the people of the Third Estate. -
Storming of the Bastille
This is considered to be the start of the French Revolution by many people. Members of the Third Estate were responsible for the storming of the Bastille. They had heard rumors that the building contained gun powder that they needed for the muskets that they had after they took over the Hotel des Invalides. July 14th is known as "The National Celebration" and it is very similar to the United States "Fourth of July". -
Great Fear in the countryside
This was an influx of riots and brutality from the members of the Third Estate. It started with the storming of the Bastille and lasted through August of the same year. The chaos came from the fears that there would be no economic change among other things. -
Women's March on Versailles
Many people who were in the Third Estate mainly ate bread. The Women's March was started because the women wanted fair bread prices. The group did not only contain women despite the name. They marched to the palace in Versailles and a small group went and visited the King and Queen who promised them more food in the future. -
Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria
In 1792 most of the French wanted war for some reason. The French Revolutionaries declared war on Austria because they thought that the war would help to unite the country. The Monarchy and the Reactionaries wanted war because they thought that the new governing system would fall apart. -
King Louis XVI is executed at the guillotine
King Louis XVI was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to be guillotined. The Third Estate believed that the King and Queen were unjust to them. The people rose up against the monarchy and demanded change. -
Robespierre's Reign of Terror
This was a time that was chaotic and brutal during the French Revolution. Maximilien Robespierre took over the government. It lasted from September 5, 1793 until July 27, 1794 when Robespierre was removed from power. People had to be extremely cautious of what they did or said. Even a slight suspicion could lead to death. -
Napoleon declared Emperor
Napoleon was a great military leader who was a soldier during the French Revolutionary War. He got France through the foreign wars by reorganizing the armies. He established the Napoleonic Codes and the French Empire. -
Napoleon is defeated by Horatio Nelson
Horatio Nelson was a British captain who defeated Napoleon in the Battle of Trafalgar. He destroyed 19 of Napoleon's ships while maintaining his entire fleet. There were however, many British lives lost. Nelson was shot in the chest and shoulder shortly before the British victory. He died after saying "Now I am satisfied. Thank God I have done my duty." -
Continental System implemented
The Continental System was one way that Napoleon attempted to defeat Britain. He made it so that no ships from Britain or the British colonies could dock at a harbor that was under French control. Russia signed an agreement that prevented the British from getting their goods through the Baltic and Adriatic Seas. -
Spanish nationalists overthrow
The French forced King Charles IV of Spain to abdicate his throne after they invaded Spain. This was the start of the Peninsular War. Napoleon's brother became the new king of Spain which lead to anti-French beliefs across Spain and Portugal. The British came in and assisted the Spanish in driving the French out. The French were out of Portugal but many remained in Spain. By October 1813 the Iberian Peninsula was free of the French. This war ended when they heard that Napoleon abdicated. -
Napoleon exiled to St. Helena
Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba in 1814 after he lost in the Battle of Leipzig. He was back in less than a year trying to get back onto the throne. After the defeat at Waterloo in June 1815, Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena where it would be very difficult to return to the mainland. -
Napoleon defeated at Battle of Waterloo
This was the final battle that Napoleon lost. He was defeated by the British, Belgians, Dutch, and Germans and suffered over 33,000 French casualties. He abdicated for the second time and was placed on Saint Helena until his death six years later.
