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Meeting of the Estates General
The meeting of the Estates General was an assembly of representatives from all 3 estates held in Versailles on May 5, 1789. It was the first meeting held in 175 years. The purpose of the meeting was to approve the new tax that King Louis XVI was trying to impose on the Second Estate. -
Period: to
French Revolution
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Established National Assembly leads to Tennis Court Oath
During the Meeting of the Estates General, the Third Estate,were eager to make changes in the government. The Third Estate was determined to have more power so, on June 17, 1789, the National Assembly was formed to end absolute monarchy, 3 days later, the National Assembly were locked out of their meeting room so they went to an indoor tennis court to pledge the Tennis Court Oath. Soon, some nobles and clergy also started to join them. -
Storming of the Bastille
In Paris, some rumors started saying that the King was planning to use military force in order to dismiss the National Assembly. People began to gather weapons to defend the city. On July 14, a mob searching for gunpowder and arms stormed the Bastille, a Paris prison. This became a great symbolic act of revolution to the French people. -
Feudalism and Division between Estates is ended.
Throughout the night of August 4, noblemen, motivated more by fear than by idealism, joined other members of the National Assembly in sweeping away the feudal privileges of the First and Second Estates, therefore making everyone equal. By morning, the Old Regime was dead. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The National Assembly created a statement of Revolutionary Ideals, "The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen". Reflecting the influence of the Declaration of Independence, the document stated that “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” These rights included “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” The document also guaranteed citizens equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. -
Women's March on Versailles
In October 1789, thousands of Parisian women rioted over the rising price of bread. The women marched on Versailles, first demanding that the National Assembly take action to provide bread. Then, they turned their anger on the king and queen. They broke into Versailles, killing some of the guards. The women demanded that Louis and Marie Antoinette return to Paris. After some time, Louis agreed.A few hours later the king, his family, and his servants left Versailles. -
Royal Family attempts to escape
As the National Assembly reformed France, the king felt that he was in danger. Many supporters of the monarchy thought France was unsafe and left the country. Then, in June 1791, the royal family tried to escape from France to the Austrian Netherlands. However, as they neared the border, they were caught and returned to Paris. King Louis' escape attempt increased the influence of his radical enemies in the government. -
New Constitution and Legislative Assembly is formed
In September 1971, the National Assembly completed a new constitution which the king reluctlantly approved. The constitution created a limited constitutional monarchy. It stripped the king of much of his authority. It also created a new legislative body, the Legislative Assembly. This body had the power to create laws and to approve or reject declarations of war. However, the king still held the executive power to enforce laws. -
Legislative Assembly declares war on Austria and Prussia
Monarchs and nobles in many European countries watched the changes taking place in France with fear. They were afraid that similar things might happen in their country. Some countries took action. Austria and Prussia,urged the French to restore Louis to his position as an absolute monarch. The Legislative Assembly responded by declaring war in April 1792. -
Storming of Tulleries Palace and King is arrested
On August 10, about 20,000 men and women invaded the Tuileries, the palace where the royal family was staying. The mob massacred the royal guards and imprisoned Louis, Marie Antoinette, and their children. -
Jacobins take over the government
Most of the people involved in the governmental changes in September 1792 were members of a radical political organization, the Jacobin Club. The National Convention had reduced Louis XVI’s role from that of a king to that of a common citizen and prisoner. Now, guided by radical Jacobins, it tried Louis for treason. The Convention found him guilty, and, by a very close vote, sen- tenced him to death. -
France abolished the Monarchy
Under pressure from radicals in the streets and among its members, the Legislative Assembly set aside the Constitution of 1791. It declared the king deposed, dissolved the assembly, and called for the election of a new legislature. This new governing body, the National Convention, took office on September 21. It quickly abolished the monarchy and declared France a republic. -
King Louis XVI is executed
On January 21, 1793, the former king, King Louis XVI, was beheaded by a guillotine. -
National Convention orders draft of 300,000 men to fight in army
At about the time the Convention took office, the French army won a stunning victory against the Austrians and Prussians at the Battle of Valmy. Early in 1793, however, Great Britain, Holland, and Spain joined Prussia and Austria against France. Forced to deal with so many enemies, the French suffered a string of defeats. At their urging, in February 1793 the Convention ordered a draft of 300,000 French citizens between the ages of 18 and 40. By 1794, the army had grown to 800,000. -
Robespierre becomes the leader of the Committee of Public Safety
In July 1793, Robespierre became leader of the Committee of Public Safety. For the next year, Robespierre governed France virtually as a dictator, and the period of his rule became known as the Reign of Terror. -
Robespierre is executed. End of Reign of Terror.
In July 1794, fearing for their own safety, some members of the National Convention turned on Robespierre. They demanded his arrest and execution. The Reign of Terror, the radical phase of the French Revolution, ended on July 28, 1794, when Robespierre went to the guillotine.
