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Meeting of the Estates General
meeting that opened at Versailles to discuss political and economic reforms; $$$ cash problems, need of taxes, each estate had 1 vote, third estate wanted each deputy to have a vote -
Tennis Court Oath
A pledge made by the members of France's National Assembly in 1789, in which they vowed to continue meeting until they had drawn up a new constitution -
Storming the Bastille
There had been a rumor that the king had been planning a military coup against the national Assembly. The people decided to defend their city and marched to the Bastille prison for gunpowder. The governor of the prison refused them, so they fought until the prison surrendered. This saved the National Assembly. Is now called the "Bastille Day" and is France's Independence Day. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen
Inspired by the American Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen is drawn up and outlines equality and independence for all men under the state. Even though it was one of the main documents of the Revolution, women and slaves were not covered under this Declaration. -
Women's march on Versailles
An angry mob of Parisian women stormed through Versailles demanding Louis XVI end the nationwide food shortage and that the royal family return to Paris with them. -
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy goes into effect
The newest Civil Constitution of the Clergy forces the papacy of the First Estate to swear their primary allegiance to the king, not to religion. The church is also to give its currently owned lands to the state, thus beginning the secularization of France. -
Royal family tries to leave France
King Louis XVI and his family attempt to flee to Austria to escape the upheaval in France, but are recognized and intercepted at the border and placed under house arrest for attempting to abandon their country. -
King Louis XVI is executed
After being put on trial in August of 1792, on January 17 King Louis XVI is condemned to death on charges of "conspiracy against liberty." He is executed by guillotine on January 21 -
The Reign of Terror begins
The most violent era in the French Revolution begins as a massive political battle between the two factions, the Jacobins and the Girondins. Thousands of people were sentenced to death by execution during this period, and thousands more were killed during in surges of violence. -
The Directory comes into power
The Directory, created by a new constitution, assumes the role of governing France until November 10, 1799, when it is overthrown by Napolean Bonaparte. During its reign of government, it only held legislative power.
