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That time when the people of France guillotined some silly Monarchs
They were pretty mad -
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Reign of King Louis XVI
At just 20 years old Louis XVI proceeded his grandfather as the King of France. His antics and lavish life combined with the poverty of the French people caused severe unrest among the poor ultimately leading to his execution. -
Meeting of the Estates General
The Three Estates meet for the first time in a century to discuss the contagious poverty and food shortage. The First Estate was made of mostly clergy. The Second Estate made of the upper class, and the First Estate made of representatives of the common-folk. -
Creation of the National Assembly
The Third Estate made up of Representatives of the general population comes to find they have been exiled by the two other estates. In response they go to the handball courts across the street and make their own assembly discussing issues most relevant to them. They quickly work into a frenzy and delve into talk of Enlightenment Philosophies, and revolution. -
Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly swears that they will not stop meeting, and fighting for the poor of France until there has been a formal constitution written for the people. -
Storming of the Bastille
The King moves part of his Army just outside the walls of Paris. Thinking the move is too quell the unrest of the people, they storm the the Bastille, a symbol of oppression from feudal times. They slaughter all the guards and steal the guns and gunpowder. In their frenzy, they kill the commanding officer and parade his head around the city on a pike. And as for the looming bastille they tore it down, stone by stone. -
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The Great Fear
The peasants of France riot and rage after rumors of a conspiracy against the Third Estate circulate. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The constitution that the National Assembly had sworn to make happen was passed by the King and the first and second estates. -
King Louis moves to Tuileries
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King and Queen Flee Tuileries Palace
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Creation of the Legislative Assembly
Created to focus on debate and making laws to benefit the lower class. It also developed the left-right political spectrum that is often described in modern politics. -
King and his Family are Imprisoned
King Louis was caught trying to smother the revolution and collaborating with foreign governments. For this he was charged with treason and jailed along with his wife. -
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National Convention
After the imprisonment of King Louis the people gather to decide how the country should be run. -
France Declared a Republic
With King Louis power nullified the country has a full legislation with no Monarch. -
Execution of Louis XVI
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Reign of Terror
Two rival political parties incite conflict against each other stirring people into frenzies. Over 2,000 people were executed in Paris alone by guillotine. Over 500,000 people die un-officially as a result of the conflict. -
Execution of Robespierre
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The Directory
The French Revolutionary's government instilled after the defeat of the conservative parties, and King Louis XVI -
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Napoleonic Wars
A series of wars between France and other European alliances. Napoleon was at the head of these wars earning the respect and admiration of the French people. -
Napoleonic Code
French civil code written by four people and passed in 1804. -
Napoleon Crowned Emperor
Napoleon conquests earned enough respect among the people that they embraced his emperorship. -
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Russian Campaign
Napoleon see's an opportunity on the Russian front to take easy victory and increase French Morale. However the Russian's put up a greater fight than expected, and the campaign lasts into the winter leaving the French freezing and in retreat. -
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Congress of Vienna
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Hundred Days
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Battle of Waterloo
Major French loss against two coalition army's led by Prussia, and the Anglo's. This loss ended the Napoleonic Wars and brought four decades of peace to Europe.
