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Third Estate Establishes National Assembly
The Third Estate, which represents over 95% of the people, gets frustrated with their lack of power in the Estates-General. They create an assembly in order to pass laws for the French people. Soon, their plan backfired when King Louis XVI tried to stop them. This was significant because it was the first open act of revolution. History Text -
Assault on Bastille
Rumors circulated that Louis was going to use military force on the National Assembly or that foreign troops were heading towards Paris. A frenzied mob attacked the French prison Bastille and killed the guards. There, they looted the large cache of weapons. This is significant because it was the first violent act in the Revolution. History Text -
National Assembly Formally Abolished Feudalism
In the wake of the Great Fear, which caused peasants to loot and burn homes of nobles, the assembly votes to abolish feudalism. This made the commoners essentially equal to the nobility. This was a radical change that greatly impacted French society. It's significant because the Assembly had and used power and established a precedent for the abolishment of feudalism. history.com -
Departure of Versailles
An angry mob nonviolently stormed the castle of Versailles. Louis, under duress, gave them bread and then departed for Paris. This would be the last time Louis set foot in Versailles. This is significant because it shows the king not actively trying to kill the rebels and instead submitting to their demands, as well as being the last time an absolute monarch ruled from Versailles. (http://en.chateauversailles.fr/history/the-great-days/most-important-dates/1789-the-departure-of-the-king) -
The Constitution of 1791
The National Assembly passed a constitution with radical reforms. It retained the monarchy, but severely limited its power. It established a representative democracy. giving roughly two thirds of adult men the right to vote. It took over two years to complete. This was significant because it was one of the first constitutions, the first in Europe. It led the king to push against it, and would last less than a year. http://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/constitution-of-1791/ -
France Declares War on Austria
The newly elected Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria and Prussia, whom it believed were conspiring against it. The beginning of the war went badly for France, as they had lost many skilled generals in the revolution. Soon, though, France would win major victories, hoping to spread revolutionary ideas throughout Europe. This was significant because it impacted all of France and was the beginning of the Revolution's continental impact. http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution -
Jacobins Arrest the King
The radical Jacobins arrested Louis at his royal residence. They seized control of France and executed hundreds of accused counterrevolutionaries. The legislative assembly was soon replaced with the National Convention, controlled by moderate Girondins, which abolished the monarchy. This was significant because it ended absolute rule in France and changed the governing system from the Legislative Assembly. http://www.history.com/topics/french-revolution -
Louis XVI is Executed
The National Convention formally abolished the monarchy. Over the course of almost a year, it tried Louis XVI for high treason. This culminated in execution for him, and would lead to the execution of his wife Marie-Antoinette less than a year later. This was significant because it rallied the people behind the idea of a republic and ended the monarchy completely. history.com -
The Reign of Terror
After the death of Louis XVI, a leading radical revolutionary named Maximilien Robespierre and the Jacobins took over the government. Over the course of the next year and a half, thousands of people were sent to the guillotine for suspected of being counterrevolutionary, often on minimal evidence. In addition to killing thousands, the Jacobins also established a new calendar and banned religion. This was the culmination of the Revolution and lead to its end. http://www.historywiz.com/terror.htm -
Robespierre is Executed
After a year of terrorizing France, Robespierre was turned on by members of his own party, who deemed him too radical. The Convention arrested him and had him executed after he proposed a new purge. A year later the National Convention approved a new constitution that gave the government a balance of power. This was enforced by a rising general named Napoleon Bonaparte. This marked the end of the French Revolution. history.com
