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The Meeting of the Estates General
France is out of money, so members of each estate (clergy, noblemen, peasants) were present at a meeting to make decisions about how to gain money. Each estate was given one vote to voice their decision despite the fact that the peasants made up 98%+ of the country. The motion was made that the peasants be taxed, and surprisingly enough, it passed, 2-1. -
The Tennis Court Oath
The members of the third estate (peasants) pledged to continue meeting until the king stopped them or until they had written a constitution for France. -
The Storming of the Bastille
The peasants raided the prison of Bastille to gain gunpowder -
The Reign of Terror
France was ruled by the committee of public safety. Anybody thought to be disloyal to the revolution was arrested and executed. The reign of terror lasted from September 5, 1793 until July 27, 1794. -
The Rise of Napoleon and the Creation of an Empire
Napoleon allied with a group of revolutionaries known as the Jacobies and on November 9, 1799, he overthrew the current government, the directory, and set up his own government called the Consulate. He made himself the First Consul, giving himself the most power and ending the French Revolution. -
Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
After conquering the rest of Europe, Napoleon decided to invade Russia. His army was spanked and he returned to France with his army in a bad state. Europe turned against him, conquered him, and exiled Napoleon to the island of Saint Helena. -
The Congress of Vienna
After Napoleon was exiled, the leaders and diplomats from all over Europe met in Austria to determine what their next moves would be and what their goals for Europe were. They formed the Congress of Vienna from 1814-1815.