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Dawn of the Revolution
• Louis XVI called an emergency Estates-General meeting due to the lack of funds in the country. When the Estates-General met it was clear that the Third Estate would not be given a fair vote so they decided to form the National Assembly of France. They said they would not stop until they had created a constitution.
• This was important because the Third Estate could see there was no other option but to revolt against the monarchy. -
Storming of the Bastille
• When the National Assembly of France heard that foreign troops were coming to Paris they decided to storm the Bastille. The Bastille was an armory as well as a holding place for political prisoners. The National Assembly of France invaded to seize the prisoners and weapons.
• This was important because the revolutionaries saw the Bastille as a symbol of the monarchy’s abuses. The revolutionaries saw this as their time to take back their country. -
Women's March on Versailles
• A large group of women were protesting the high price of bread if they were lucky enough to find some when they got swept up with some revolutionaries. The women stormed the palace at Versailles looking for the king and queen. The women demanded that the Royal Family move to Paris and see how the people lived. The next day the Royal Family did move.
• This was very significant because it turned the power from the French Nobility to the nation’s common people. -
Flight to Varennes
• Louis XVI and his wife and immediate family attempted to flee Paris and go to Austria where the queen was from. Their attempt was unsuccessful due to many small mistakes but mostly the king’s indecision slowed them down. They were captured in the small town of Varennes where they were arrested.
• This incident was a turning point because it started hostility towards the French monarchy and the king and queen which provoked charges of treason that led to his execution. -
France proclaimed they were a constitutional monarchy
• The National Assembly was replaced with the Legislative Assembly. All new members were put on the Legislative Assembly per the agreement made in the Tennis Court Oath. The result was the loss of everyone with valuable political experience. • This was important because it provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law-making between the periods of the National Constituent Assembly and of the National Convention. -
The Fall of the French Monarchy.
• A crowd of about 20,000 people attacked the Tuileries Palace. After the King and his family escaped the palace they then placed themselves under the protection of the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly was fearful of violence so they placed them under arrest.
• This was a defining event in the French Revolution because it was the fall of the French monarchy. -
The trial and execution of Louis XVI
• Louis XVI was charged with 33 counts against him. Charges ranged from shutting the Estates-General to disgracing the French nation to causing the blood of the Frenchmen to flow. Louis XVI was guillotined on January 21, 1793 in Place de la Révolution.
• This was a very important event in the French Revolution because it was the first time a former king was brought before the National Convention and resulted in death. -
Reign of Terror
• Maximilien Robespierre dominated the newly formed Committee of Public Safety. He established himself as the leader of the Reign of Terror. He wanted to rid France of all enemies of the Revolution. He sent an estimated 16,000 people to the guillotine and another 40,000 were killed by shooting.
• This was important because the country was still poor, broke and now bloodshed was everywhere. No one knew how to stop the madness at this time. -
Napoleon makes a name for himself at 13 Vendémiaire
• This battle between the French Revolutionary troops and Royalist was fought at the Tuileries Palace. This time the Royalists outnumbered the revolutionaries but an artillery captain named Napoleon helped to win against the Royalists because of Napoleon’s ‘grapeshot cannon”
• This battle made Napoleon a national hero and put his name on the short list. He made a name for himself and he knew he could do more. -
Napoleon the Authoritarian Ruler of Franc
He sees that the Directory is very unpopular, so he and a few others come up with a way to plan a coup. After, Napoleon makes sure to get 1st seat on the French Consul. This is the point that Napoleon puts himself as the authoritarian ruler of France. So at the beginning of the French Revolution people had one ruler, no food, high taxes, and were not happy. At the end of the revolution they still have the same problems.
