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Beginning of the Estates General
For the first time in 175 years, King Louis XVI called a meeting of representatives from all three estates to vote to raise taxes. -
Period: to
The French Revolution
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End of the Estates General and the formation of The National Assembly
The representatives of the Third Estate, after finding themselves shut out of the Estates General, form their own revolutionary assembly to reflect the true views of the people. -
The Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly took this oath, and swore to keep convening until they wrote a new constitution for France. -
The Storming of the Bastille
A prison and symbol of monarchical despotism, the Bastille was stormed by a mob to gain control of gunpowder, and to send a message to the crown. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is Written
A fundamental document of the French Revolution, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was to the French what the Declaration of Independence is for Americans. In it, the National Assembly called for many ideas from the Enlightenment to be implemented in government. -
The Legislative Assembly makes laws.
The Legislative Assembly was a lawmaking body comprised of Conservatives, Moderates, and Radicals. It existed from 1791-1792. -
The Execution of King Louis XVI
Caught attempting to leave the country, King Louis is brought back to Paris to face trial, is found guilty of various crimes, and is sentenced to death. -
The Committee of Public Safety Governs France
A 12 man council led by Robespierre makes radical changes to France. It ruled with an iron fist from April 1793 to 1795. -
The Reign of Terror
The time period when the Committee of Public Safety instituted extreme measures to protect the revolutionary state, which included executing very large numbers of people. It lasted from September 1793 to July 1794. -
Dechristianization
A move by Robespierre to remove The Catholic Church from prominence in France and institute a religion with a rational state. -
Execution of Maximilien Robespierre
Robespierre, having become to radical and immersed in his own reality, shown by his instituting a rational religion, is executed. -
The Directory controls France
From 1795 to 1799, France was controlled by a council that was very indecisive and was disliked. -
Napoleon takes over in a coup d’etat
Napoleon takes control of France by military force. -
Napoleon signs Concordat with Catholic Church
Napoleon signs an agreement with the Catholic Church, agreeing to recognize the influence of The Church, but to keep The Church out of national affairs. -
Napoleon creates the Napoleonic Code
Napoleon institutes a uniform set of laws for France that limited liberty and promoted order and authority. -
Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France
Napoleon signals that he is more powerful than The Church by taking the crown from the pope and placing it on his head himself. -
Napoleon dies after he is banished to island of St. Helena
After being defeated for the last time at Waterloo, Napoleon is given to the British and exiled to St. Helena, where he died.
