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bad harvest in 1787 and 1788 became a slowdown in manufacturing, led to food shortages, rising prices for food, and unemployment
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the first and second Estates each had about 300 representatives. The third Estate had almost 600 representatives.
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The Third Estate boldly declared that it was the National Assembly and would draft a constitution
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Jacques-Louis David, a representative of the Third Estate, depicted its challenge of the king's authority in his painting.
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about 900 Parisians gathered in the courtyard of the Bastille - an old fortress, used as a prison and armory.
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the National Assembly decided to abolish all legal privileges of the nobles and clergy
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the National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.
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thousands of Parisian women- described by an eyewitness as "detachments of women coming up from every direction, armed with broomsticks, lances, pitchforks, swords, pistols and muskets" - marched to Versailles
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the new constitution set up a limited monarchy. There was still a king, but a Legislative Assembly would make the laws. the new body was designed to be conservative.
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the royal family attempted to flee France in disguise. they almost succeeded in reaching allies in the east, but they were recognized and were captures at Varennes and brought back to Paris.
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the french fared badly in the initial fighting. A frantic search for scapegoats began. the Legislative Assembly decided to strike first.
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angry citizens demonstrated to protest food shortages and defeats in the war. A popularly run city council - and organized a mob attack on the royal palace and Legislative Assembly.
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the newly elected National Convention began meeting. the Convention had been called o draft a new constitution, but it also served as the ruling body of France.
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napoleon rose quickly through the ranks. 1792 he became a captain.
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the monarchy was over. Rallied by the newly appointed minister of justice, Georges Danton, the sans-culottes attacked the palace, and the royal family had to seek protection from the Legislative Assembly.
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national convention's first major step on September 21 was to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic, the French Republic.
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the mountain convinced the Convention to pass a decree condemning Louis XVI to death
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by late spring 1793 the coalition was poised to invade. it seemed possible that the revolution would be destroyed, and the old regime established.
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louis XVI executed after a 380 to 310 vote
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european monarchs rally troops to restore French monarchy
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revolts begin in western France; counter revolutionaries executed; anti-catholic laws passes
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committee of public safety institutes a levee en masse drafting men into the army
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1,880 citizens of lyon executed as example of revolution. the revolutionary calendar is introduced
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the king was beheaded on the guillotine. revolutionaries had adopted this machine because it killed quickly and they believed, humanely.
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committee of public safety orders robespierre's execution
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robespierre addresses "on political morality" to the convention, stating that a combination of virtue and terror would save the republic from its enemies
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law of 22 prairial gives robespierre more power french army ends threat of foreign invasion
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law of 22 prairial repealed release of prisoners begins
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napoleon at age 24 the committee of public safety made him a brigadier general 1796 he became commander of the french armies in Italy.
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napoleons returned to france as a hero he was given command of an army in training to invade Britain,but he knew the French could not carry out the invasion
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the successful and popular general Napoleon Bonaparte toppled the directory in a coup d'etat. napoleon then seized power
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his role in the french revolution is complex. he brought it to an end and when he came to power in 1799
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the british had defeated the French naval forces supporting Napoleon's army in Egypt
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in paris napoleon took part in the coup d'etat of 1799 that overthrew the Directory and set up a new government, the consulate
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napoleon came to an agreement with the pope, which recognized Catholicism as the religion of a majority of the French people
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napoleon was made consul for life two years later he crowned himself Emperor Napoleon I
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a peace treaty was signed but it did not last long
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war with britain broke out again, britain was joined by Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Prussia
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napoleon hoped to invade britain, but the british defeated the combined French-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar. this battle ended Napoleon's plans for invasion
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in a series of battles at Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena, and Eylau, Napoleon's grand army defeated the Austrian, prussian, and Russian armies
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napoleon was the master of Europe. his grand empire was composed of three major parts: the French Empire, dependent states, and allied states
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Napoleon created about 3,200 nobles. nearly 60 percent were military officers, while the rest were civil service or state and local officials. socially only 22 percent of this new aristocracy were from noble families of the old regime; about 60 percent were middle class in origin.
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others resisted Furthermore, new markets in the middle east and in latin america gave britain new outlets for its goods. british overseas exports were at near-record highs
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napoleon's downfall began in 1812 when he decided to invade russia, within only a few years his fall was complete
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a grand army of more than 600,000 men entered russia, napoleon's hopes depended on a quick victory over the russians
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paris was captured in march 1814 napoleon was soon sent into exile on the island of elba, off the northwest coast of italy
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napoleon entered paris in triumph. russia, great britain, austria, and prussia responded to napoleon's return they again pledged to defeat the man
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napoleon met a combined british and prussian army under the duke of wellington and suffered a bloody defeat
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atlantic napoleon remained in exile until his death in 1821, but his memory haunted french political life for many decades
