-
The Estates-General called by King Louis XVI
King Louis XVI brought together the Estates-General, a French congress that contained three estates. The First Estate was the clergy or the representatives of the church. The Second Esate was the nobility or those who were born into a royal family. The Third Estate represnted the rest of the French society. -
The Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly
After being out-voted by the First and Second Estate, the Third Estate was fed up with the mistreatment. They said that even though the small minority of the population controlled France, the country should belong to the masses. So they broke away from the Estate-General and proclaimed itself the National Assembly. -
National Assembly members take the Tennis Court Oath
When the men of the Third Estate arrived at a meeting meant for all of the Estates, the meeting hall was locked shut. They believed King Louis XVI was trying to silence their demands. But instead of giving up, the Third Estate went to a nearby indoor tennis court to hold their own meeting. There, all but one man agreed to an oath of allegiance and promised to remain assembled until a constitution was written. -
The Revolutionaries Storm the Bastille
After King Louis XVI dismissed Jacques Necker, the French Director of Finance, the public was upset. They were scrambling to find arms, or weapons. when they realized the Bastille, a medieval fortress and prison in France, had a large armory, they stormed into it. This was a symbolic event in the Frnech Revolution. It showed how the revolutionaries were able to gain victory over the Od Regime. -
The National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. This document was influenced by the thoughts of the era's greatest thinkers. It stated that every French man was equal. The French people embraced this new declaration, and of course the king and nobles were against it. -
King Louis XVI attempts to flee France
King Louis XVI asked foreign allies (Austria, Prussia, and Sweden) for help restoring his family to power. He and his familytried to escape in disguise. They were meant to meet the Austrian army at the border and arrange an attack on the revolutioanries. However, King Louis XVI and his family was caught and brought back to Tuileries in Paris. -
The Execution of King Louis XVI
After the monarchy in France was abolished, the resentment towards the royal family resulted in the proposal to exectute King Louis XVI. He was found guilty of treason in his trial and was executed by guillotine. -
Reign of Terror Begins
During this nine-month period, between 15,000 to 50,000 French citizens were beheaded by the guillotine. Anyone who was accused of having the wrong beliefs were executed. -
The Constitution of 1795 and the Directory
A new constitution was ratified. The new legislature had two houses: The Council of Ancients and the Council of Five Hunded. The gorvernment also had a group of five officers called the Directory. The Directory didn't have legislative power, but it choose who would fill a position. -
Napoleon Bonaparte overthrows the Directory
After Napoleon returns to France, he works with Emmanuel Sieyes to overthrow the Directory. He gained a powerful position in the French government, which was an advantage later in his life.
