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Calling of the Estates-General
The Meeting of the Estates-General, called by King Louis XVI, was the first meeting for over a century. France was in great national debt and it suffered a huge financial crisis. The meeting allowed members from the First Estate, Second Estate and Third Estate to come together to discuss the government's financial problems and to discuss their grievances. -
The Tennis Court Oath
On June 17, 1789, a group of people from the Third Estate formed the National Assembly. On June 20, as the Third Estate went to meet with the King, they found out that they were locked out of the meeting. Instead, they met at a nearby tennis court where they swore that they would never separate until they had written a constitution and a fair government was formed. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a huge prison in Paris and it was a symbol of royal authority. After storming the Hôtel des Invalides and obtaining arms, a mob stormed the Bastille to gain gunpowder and ammunition. The mob eventually captured the fortress and killed the soldiers. This event marked a series of violent events associated with the French Revolution. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was a fundamental document in the French Revolution. The Declaration embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment and established fundamental rights and freedoms for the citizens of France, though these rights did not apply to women or slaves. -
Implementation of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Prior to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, the tithes were abolioshed and all Church property was transferred to the State and sold. As a result, the Church lost a lot of power and had to swear an oath of loyalty to the Constitution. -
King and Family's Flight to Varennes
After the royal family was taken from their palace at Versailles and placed under house arrest at the Tuileries Palace, they tried to flee France for Austria as there was increasing violence in the streets of Paris. They tried to flee to Marie's family in Austria but failed. They were captured and the hostility against the King only increased. -
King Louis XVI Is Executed
Louis XVI was put on trial by the National Convention and was charged for numerous crimes including treason and conspiring against the Revolution. He was given the death penalty and was taken to the guillotine to be executed. His death symbolized the abolishment of a monarchy in France. -
The Reign of Terror
After escalating conflicts between the Jacobins and the Girondins, the Jacobins overpowered them and took control. Leading the Jacobins was Robespierre and he sent France into a Reign of Terror. Thousands of people were sent to the guillotine and the Jacobin Party ruled France through fear. -
Execution of Robespierre
Robespierre, the man in charge of the Reign of Terror, was arrested and later executed. In captivity, he tried to suicide though it was unsuccessful. He and his allies were given the same fate that he had inflicted on others. The public execution of Robespierre signaled the end of the Reign of Terror. -
The Directory Takes Control of France
After the execution of Robespierre, a group of directors established the Directory and assumed the role of governing France. It was designed to ensure order in France and to balance the power of the government. Little was accomplished. They continued ruling until 1799 when Napoleon took over.
