The French Revolution

By Tynan

  • Calling of the Estates-General

    A meeting of the Estates-General is called by Louis XVI in Versailles to discuss and approve a new tax plan
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    National Constituent Assembly

  • The Tennis Court Oath

    After being locked out of their meeting room, deputies of the Third Estate assembled on a tennis court and swore not to separate until a constitutional regime was established.

  • Storming of the Bastille

    Symbollically marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Monarchy was overthrown and a republic was set up based on the ideas of equality, liberty and brotherhood.

  • "The Great Fear" Emerges all over France

    A period of paranoia and riots by the French public due to rumours about a conspiracy by the King and the rich to overthrown the Third Estate.

  • Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen Approved and Became the French Constitution

    Using the US declaration to model theirs after, the French establish the French Constitution, also known as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.

  • October Days/March to Versailles

    Parisians, led by a large number of women, march upon Versailles and force the royal family back to Paris. The Assembly, still in Versailles, declares, in the spirit of constitutional monarchy, its inseparability from the king.

  • Civil Constitution of the Clergy

    A law passed which subordinated the Roman Catholic Church to the French Government.

  • The King Flees to Varennes

    Louis XVI and his family are arrested while trying to flee from France.

  • Legislative Assembly Formed

    The legislature of France is established. It consisted of 745 members. Few were nobles, very few were clergymen, and the great body came from the middle class.
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    Legislative Assembly

  • France Declares War on Austria

    France declares war on Austria. Prussia later joins the Austrian side of the war.

  • Attack on the Royal Household

    Resulted in the fall of the French monarchy after the storming of the Tuileries Palace by the National Guard of the Insurrectional Paris Commune and revolutionary federes from Marseilles and Brittany.
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    September Massacres

    The September Massacres wave of killings in Paris and other cities in the late summer of 1792. There was a fear that foreign armies would attack Paris and that the inmates of the city's prisons would revolt and massacre the people.
  • Period: to

    National Convention

  • France Declared a Republic/Abolition of the Monarchy

    The Legislative Assembly votes to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic.

  • National Convention is Formed

    Assembly formed that governed France for three years

  • King Louis XVI Executed - Britain Declares War on France

    A major event of the French Revolution, King Louis XVI was executed in the "Revolution Square". Britain declared that unless France gave up its conquests, war was unavoidable.

  • Reign of Terror

    After the execution of King Louis XVI, the "Reign of Terror" begins.

  • Marie Anotinette Executed

    Marie Antoinette was convicted by the Revolutionary Tribunal of treason to the principles of the revolution, and was executed.

  • Robespierre Executed

    Robespierre and his allies were placed under arrest by the National Assembly. The next day, Robespierre and 21 others were guillotined (executed) without a trial in the Place de la Revolution.

  • Coup D'Etat

    Napoleon Bonaparte is brought to power as First Consul of France. This event is considered by many as what ended the French Revolution.

  • Concordat of 1801

    An agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII that solidified the Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France.

  • Napoleon Declares Himself Consul for Life

    A national referendum was held to declare Napoleon as "Consul for Life". A vote was 99.8% approved.

  • Napoleonic Code Established

    A French civil code that forbade privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs should go to the most qualified.

  • Napoleon Becomes Emperor

    Napoleon is crowned Napoleon I, and became the first Frenchman to hold the title of Emperor in over a thousand years.

  • Napoleon Loses the Battle of Trafalgar

    The royal navy fought against fleets of French and Spanish. The royal navy overwhelmingly defeated the French and Spanish.

  • Battle of Austerlitz

    The French empire fought the Third Coalition, and crushed them.

  • Russian Campaign

    Napoleon's Army crossed the Neman River in an attempt to engage and defeat the Russian Army. The result was a decisive Russian victory.

  • Napoleon is Exiled to Elba

    Napoleon abdicates his thrown and is banished to Elba, a Mediterranean island.

  • Congress of Vienna

    A conference of Ambassadors of European chairs by Austrian statesman, Klemens Wenzel von Metternich. It lasted until June 1815.

  • Battle of Waterloo

    A battle between France and the Seventh Coalition. France was defeated, thus ending Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French.

  • The Holy Alliance Treaty

    The Holy Alliance Treaty was a treaty between Austria, Prussia, and Russia, signed in 1815.

  • The Second Treaty of Paris

    A treaty that was signed following the defeat and abdication of Napoleon Bonaparte.

  • Death of Napoleon

    Napoleon dies on May 5th, 1821.His last words were, "France, army, head of the army, Joséphine."