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The French Revolution
Rough date line surronding the French Revolution, includes extra dates just to be safe. -
National Assembly
SourceWhen the first and second estates refused to change the rules in oder to give the third a better share of power, they got together to create the National Assembly. It set out to reform France's government and abolish monarchy in the country. However, it was not intially sucessful as they were locked out of their own meeting room and forced to meet in a tenis court they broke into. This event showed signs of change in the govenment and motivated the people of the lower classes to take action. -
Storming the Bastille
SourceA mob stormed the Bastille on this day, a huge French prison. They did so as an act of rebellion and to search for gunpowder and weapons stored at the prison. They killed many guards and prisoners, and today Bastille day is celebrated as a kind of independance day in France. This was significant as it was a major outcry against traditional methods and showed the people taking action for themselves rather than waiting for others to change things to benifit them. -
Fall of the Old Regime
SourceFrench Noblemen make speeches about liberty and equality. These sentiments are somewhat motivated by actual intent, but mostly to avoid the wrath of the National Assembly. This brings about the fall of the old regime, which looses much suport from its Noblemen patrons. This is important to the revolutions as it was a crucial step in changing government from the noble and church biased organization it had been before. -
Royal Family Flees
SourceIn July of this year, the royal family attempted to escape France and the events happning there. They sought to travel to Austria-Netherlands to seek assylum. However this did not work out and they were captured and returned to Paris. This served to greatly inprove the influence of the National Assembly as the King and his family had attempted to flee the situation rather than dealing with it. -
New Constitution
SourceIn September of this month the National Assembly completed its new constitution. The king reluctantly signed and aproved it. It took away much of his power and created a legeslative assembly. This was important as it was a huge step towards a government that was actually controlled by the people it effected. -
War Time
SourceIn April of this year the legeslative assembly declares war on Austria and Prussia. The reason behind this? Those two countries dared to sugest that they should reinstate thier monarch. And so there was no peace in Europe again. This was important as it showed the lengths that the new government was willing to go to in order to protect its newfound power. -
Prussia and France
SourceIn the summer of this year, Prussia reaches Paris in an attempt to restore the monarchy.They threaten to destroy the city if anything happens to the royal family. In turn, the people take the royal family hostage and tell the Prusians to go away. This once again showed the resolve of the French people in the face of European opposition. -
New Government Again
SourceThe National Convention takes over the government. It then abolishes the monarchy and declares itself a republic. This movement is mostly led by the Jacobians. This is important because it shows that the French government is still in flux, and has a chance of bouncing back to another form before the revolution is over. -
Death of the King
SourceKing Louis was finally put on trial after being reduced from king to a common prisoner. He was tried, and sentenced to death for treason. He was later sent to the guillotine and much of France came to watch his execution. This was important as it signaled that there was no going back to a monarchy for the people of France. -
Napolean as Leader
SourceIn November of this year, Napolean siezes control and becomes dictator of the country. He had previously been apointed as general of the army. He was also well know at the time for his many victories against the rest of Europe. THis was important as it showed that even though France had revolted, it might not have ended up with the kind of government it wanted in the long run.
