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Estates General meets at Versailles
The assembly of the three estates, clergy, nobility, and commoners, met at Versailles for the first time in many years. They could decide on new taxes and reforms of France. This was the start of the French Revolution, as the third estate was being treated unfairly. They would be overruled by the first and the second estates because two votes are greater than one, even if the third estate made up 98% of the population. This began the French Revolution which changed France in many aspects. -
The Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly
The third estate declared itself the National Assembly, meaning that it was an assembly of the people and not of the estates. This was caused by the failure of the other estates trying to reconcile with them. (Since each estate counted as one vote and the third estate was always overruled.) This was the first event clearly opposing King Louis XVI. He had the first and second estates join them to try and show he was in totally control of France, when in fact the National Assembly had more power. -
The Oath of the Tennis Court is sworn
The Oath of the Tennis Court was when members of the third estate swore to remain assembled until a new constitution was written. It was taken in Versailles, on one of the indoor tennis courts. This is because Louis XVI and his ministers had presumably locked the meeting hall, so they gathered and took an oath. It was written by Emmanuel Sieyes and administered by Jean-Sylvain Bailly. King Louis XVI responded two days later, trying to force them back to their estate, but they refused. -
Storming of the Bastille
The people of France (the Third Estate) stormed the Bastille. A Bastille was originally a fortress to protect France, but turned into a prison in Louis XVI's time. The people broke into the main fortress after being refused that morning by the military leader, Governor de Launay. They stormed it because the people had demanded a voice in the government, they became worried the king was preparing an attack on them so they attacked first. They were successful, as De Launay surrendered to them. -
The Great Fear
The Great Fear took place in July and August of 1789. It was when the commoners of the Third Estate heard rumors that the other estates were planning to overthrow them. In fear of this, the Third Estate attacked any nobility or clergymen they could, killing them. Part of this was the Storming of the Bastille, out of fear the peasants attacked the king's prison and destroyed it. But, this event led to the National Assembly introducing the Declaration of the Rights of Man. -
National Assembly ends Feudal Privileges
The National Assembly ended feudal privileges after the Great Fear prior to it. Ending feudal privileges meant that the peasants and serfs of France no longer had to work on the nobility or clergy's land. The act announced both of their rights to that had been abolished entirely. They hoped this would prevent the Great Fear from happening again. This helped the peasants gain more privilege, as they previously had none, and angered the first and second estates. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The Declaration of the Rights of Man is a declaration about the freedoms of humans, which inspired the peasants to continue the French Revolution. It has many articles, serving later as the preamble to multiple constitutions. The main points are that all men are born free and equal in rights and no one is allowed to take away from that, especially not the government. All the systems are required to remain fair and equal. It takes from major Enlightenment views. -
Women's March on Versailles
The Women's March on Versailles took place in Paris. It started off in a marketplace as a small revolt of them not being able to afford bread for their families. As the numbers of the women grew, they began marching through Paris, thousands of people joined demanding bread at a better price. They marched to Versailles, demanding the king. They were outside the palace for a night. But the next day, they went into the palace and ran violently through the halls, wanting to kill the queen and king. -
The Civil Constitution establishes a National Church
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy wanted to regulate the Catholic church of France. It wanted to appeal to the revolution while also aligning with the state. It made changes in the staff and the wages they made and had them swear their loyalty to the church. It sought to eliminate the evil in the church too. All that being said, it didn't end up accomplishing much except dividing France even more and complicated the revolution further. -
The Royal Family Flees
King Louis XVI, Marie Antionette and their immediate family attempted to flee Paris. They were caught in a small town called Varennes and were arrested. This furthered the anger toward the French monarchy, and led to Louis XVI's execution because he was being tried for treason. Although, it failed for many reasons. It was due to the lack of the king's abilities. He delayed it many times, he didn't react well to issues and allowed them to get bigger and more. This led to his demise. -
September Massacres
The September Massacres were a series of killings in Paris and nearby cities occurring in early September of 1792. More than 1,000 prisoners were killed in less than a day and this was done by groups of revolutionary people. More prisoners were killed, the number was down by half of what it was. But many weren't prisoners, common women and children, convicts, small criminals. The government turned a blind eye to all the meaningless slaughters going on around them too. -
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Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was when Robespierre and his Committee of Public Safety "ruled." It was when public executions and massacres were a response to people against the revolution. Not to mention Robespierre and his committee accusing everyone of treason and putting them in jail (or death.) This started around the September Massacres of 1792 and ended when Robespierre was executed. It is a significant event in the French Revolution, and more than 16,000 people died. -
The National Convention is Established
The National Convention was a single-chamber assembly and the first government of the French Revolution. It was organized as a republic, and followed the National Constituent Assembly and the Legislative Assembly (both only lasted a year or so.) It was founded because the former assemblies didn't work well with the king, so this republic abandoned monarchy all together. It was the first French assembly which elected people not based or separating by estates. It only lasted until 1795. -
Louis XVI is executed
Louis XVI was executed by way of the guillotine. It was voted on by the National Convention, and it was unanimous (no one voted not guilty,) although some didn't vote at all. Louis XVI ended up being executed because of being put on trial because of many reasons, from treason to being the fault of the crashing economy and society in the eyes of the people of France. This was a turning point in the French Revolution, now there was no set leader and no set person to blame everything for. -
Robespierre is executed
Many revolutionary leaders were done with Robespierre's horrible rule. They went against him and had him arrested. They didn't like his rule because anyone who opposed the revolutionary ways of the government was arrested or executed. He wanted to show other countries not to mess with France, not to come and try and take it over. It was known as the "Rule of Terror" for this exact reason. Many of his supporters were also executed with him on July 28th, 1794 by way of the guillotine. -
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Directory is in charge
The Directory was made up of five members that governed France after Robespierre's rule, until it was overthrown by Napoleon. It dealt with the aftermath of the Reign of Terror, which meant welcoming people back in and abolishing political clubs/gangs. Then it dealt the horrible economic status of France, with all the unemployed and the currency mishaps. Plus, it had to deal with the foreign affairs of the wars with all the other countries. It was the last four years of the French Revolution. -
The Second Coalition is formed against France
The Second Coalition was made up of other countries (Turkey, England, Austria, and Russia) to attack France and defeat it before it got even more out of hand. The First Coalition was also established to defeat France but it failed, and years later a second one with the exact same goal was formed. This time, completing it. It pushed France back into it's own territory, as France was not only trying to have a revolution but also fight wars with other countries. It lasted until about 1802. -
Napoleon takes over
Napoleon taking power in France is what ends the French Revolution. He overthrows the Directory and replaces it with the French Consulate. The Directory was made after Robespierre died and consisted of Paul Barras, Abbe Sieyes, Moulin, Roger Ducos, and Cohier. France's economic state was awful, the government was bankrupt and the country was being taxed so much and many had lost their jobs. Napoleon stepped in and took over with thousands of men in his troops and took over the capital.
