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Estates-General
The meeting that the Second Estates forced Louis to call was held (Estates-General; an assembly of representatives from all three estates to approve this new tax) -
National Assembly
The Third Estate voted to establish National Assembly, in effect proclaiming the end of the of absolute monarchy and beginning of representative government. It was the first act of revolution as well. -
Bastille Day
A mob searching for gunpowder and arms attacked the Bastille, a Paris prison. The mob killed several guards and took control over the building. Then they paraded around the streets with the dead men’s head on pikes. This became a French national holiday. -
Grand speeches
Noblemen made speeches declaring their love of liberty and equality. They joined other members of the National Assembly and got rid of the feudal privileges of the First and Second Estates. Made commoners equal to nobles and the clergy. By morning the Old Regime was dead. -
Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The National Assembly adopted a statement of revolutionary ideas, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Document stated that “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights” -
Great Fear
Thousands of Parsian womens rioted over the rising price of bread. Brandishing knives, axes, and other weapons, women marched on Versailles. They demanded that the National Assembly take action to provide bread. Then it turned their anger to the king and queen. They broke into the palace and killed guards. Women demanded that Louis and Marie Antoinette return to Paris, after some time Louis agreed. -
National Assembly Took Over Church
The government took control over the church, and the church became part of the state. -
Royal Family Tried to Escape
The royal family tried to escape to the Australian Netherlands. As they neared the border, they were stopped and returned to Paris by a guard. Louis’s attempted escape increased the influence of his radical enemies in the government and sealed his fate. -
New Constitution
National Assembly completed new constitution which Louis approved. The constitution created a limited constitutional monarchy. It created a the Legislative Assembly. It had the power to create laws and to approve or reject declarations of war. The king still held the executive power to enforce laws. -
Legislative Declared War
The Legislative Assembly responded by declaring war after Austria and Prussia urged the French to restore Louis to his position as an absolute monarch. -
France Became a Republic
The new governing body, the National Convention took office. It abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic. Males were able to vote and take office while women didn't have the right to vote even if they had played an important part in Revolution.
