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King Louis XVI calls Estates General due to noble influence.
The king angered the nobles, putting himself in a troubling position. The nobles were not happy with his attempt to tax their estate. The nobility wanted the king to charge the Third Estate instead. -
Estates-General Meets in Paris
King Louis XVI calls body into session to approve a new tax on the Third Estate. Had not met in 175 years. -
Third Estate unsatisfied with King's order for 1 vote per estate.
The Third Estate is always outvoted by the First and Second Estate. The Third Estate was unstatisfied with the inequality because the upper estates will always out vote the Third Estate because the majority rules. -
Tennis Court Oath
Regardless of the condition of the Estates General, the National Assembly continued to run. On this day, an oath signed by 577 people stated that the group would not fully leave the Tennis Court until a constitution was written and agreed upon. In the case of extended stay, plans were made for individuals to obtain materials such as food. A plan of evasive actions was also made in the case of the king sending troops to forcibly end them: they would flee to Paris, which is synonymous to revolt. -
Storming of the Bastille
Marquis de Launay and 32 Swiss men prepared for an attack two weeks before this day, intending only 100 show up. But their reinforcements had not taken account of 300 of their guards fleeing and over 300 attackers. These men and women, led by Pierre-Augustin Hulin, intended to search the fortress for prisoners and gunpowder. After seeing himself overwhelmed, Launay threatened to ignite a large amount of gunpowder to destroy the entire fortress. Ignoring the threat, the invaders pressed on. -
Great Fear Begins
Rural unrest had been present in France since the worsening grain shortage of the spring, and the grain supplies were now guarded by local militias due to rumors that bands of armed men were roaming the countryside.In response to rumors, fearful peasants armed themselves in self-defense and, in some areas, attacked manor houses. -
National Assembly abolishes Feudalism with August Decrees
National Assembly takes away exclusive privledges from upperclass and eliminate the feudal dues/services that peasants owe to land owners. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
With the help of Thomas Jefferson, Marquis de Lafayette wrote a document for the National Assembly based slightly off the Declaration of Independence created recently by America. This document was aimed at the view that ignorance, neglect, and contempt cause all the sufferings that had existed. With that in mind, it stated 17 points that were assumed the rights of all men. Louis XVI was forced to sign it, but had not agreed to supporting the document. -
Women of Paris March to Versailles for Bread
Even with the rain, over 6,000 women gathered to reach the king in Versailles, and with each door they passed, more women joined. Upon hearing the crowd would arrive, Louis XVI stated that he would distribute all the bread in the city for the women. After their arrival, the king and queen gave a small speech to regain the favor of the people. Fearing for the king's safety, the National Guard led him to Paris. -
Royal Family's Flight from Varennes
The king and his family attempted unsuccessfully to escape from Paris in order to initiate a counter-revolution. Their destination was the fortress at Montmédy in northeastern France, a Royalist stronghold from which the king hoped to start a military campaign which would restore his rule. They were only able to make it as far as the small town of Varennes. -
New Constitution adopted
The new constitution created by these moderate revolutionaries declared France to be a constitutional monarchy. Within this new government, all legislative powers went to a single Legislative Assembly, which alone had the power to declare war and raise taxes. -
Beginning of Legislative Assembly
A collection of men who were chosen to form new policies and look for the general benefit of the people. Maximilien Robespierre convinced the group that only those who were not in the National Assembly at any point should be included. This left the group with many young and inexperienced middle class politicians. With the 745 members of varying positions on the political scale, little was done due to the common arguments made frequently. -
Brunswick Manifesto warns that Royal family must not be harmed
When Louis XVI published this Brunswick Manifesto, it seemed the final proof that he was in league with the enemy. This threat drove the revolutionaries to take further action. The Brunswick Manifesto was distributed throughout Paris. The Duke of Brunswick warned Parisians to obey Louis XVI. He threatened them with violent punishment if they did not. The Assembly was offended and ordered the sections of Paris to ready themselves. The Manifesto created both fear and anger in Paris. -
Storming of the Tuileries Palace
Attacking a total of four times, over 30,000 French men and women attacked the Palace of Tuileries. Fleeing in advance, the king was brought to the Legislative Assembly building in Versailles. He gave no further orders, resulting in the revolters killing 600 of the 900 Swiss guards. The king was later captured within the building he fled to, but only after all the guards with him were also killed, leaving only him and Marie Antoinette. -
French Monarchy is oficially abolished
Revolutionary government votes to abolish the monarchy and establish the first Republic. The Royal family was imprisoned. -
French defeats foreign invaders who attempts to preserve monarchy
France turns the tide of the war and takes the offensive against the invaders. -
Execution of King Louis XVI in Paris
After being trialed by the National Convention for a chance of life, he was declared guilty. This led to the execution of both him and his wife by means of the guillotine. -
Committee of Public Safety Established
Started by the National Convention, the nine members were to administrate executives and ministers. With the failure of the Girondins' attempt to gain power, Robespierre led this group along with Saint-Just and Georges Couthon. Robespierre eventually creates a dictatorship, creating for himself 14 armies. -
Law os Suspects Passes-Beginnning of the Reign of Terror in France
A phase of political conflict between various factions including the Girondins and the Jacobins. In order to gain an advantage, many used the guillotine on their opponents. To further increase the use of the guillotine, the Law of Suspects allowed tribunals to try opposition. Those would then be executed. -
End o Reign of Terror-Execution of Robespierre
Robespierre is executed after the Battle of Fleurus. He had inspired the killers with his own views of virtue. Robespierre however, attempted to commit suicide the day before his execution. -
National Convention dissolved and Creation of Directorate
A college of people were selected to rule France. These people would perform presidential, republic, and parliamentary duties for the people. -
Napoleon named first consul
Invited to join the triumvirate after returning from Egypt, Napoleon performs a coup d'etat with Abbe Sieyes to take control of France, indefinitely ending the feudal system. In his rule, he creates a more efficient France which made most of the common folk support him. Those who opposed were executed. -
Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor of France
Surrounded by the aristocrats that support him, Napoleon lives a life of luxury not unlike that of his predecessor Louis XVI. But unlike him, Napoleon manages to maintain power by unifying the country, mostly by placing monuments of himself in various locations and censoring the press. He did however, create a new law code (named after himself), and created better roads and more canals. But his life was not only in France, but all over Europe, as he was fond of attacking neighboring coutries.
