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The Estates-General is Called
King Louis XVI announced the Estates-General was to meet for the first time in about 100 years. Lists of grievances or cahiers de doleances were written by each estate asking predominately for freedom of speech and press as well as a constitutional monarchy. When the Estates-General met on May 4th, the third estate tried to persuade others to join them, and most of the lower clergy did. They decided to call themselves the National Assembly and the King responded by locking them out of the hall. -
The Third Estate Swears a Tennis Court Oath
When the third estate found they were locked out, they refused to be held down by the King. Instead of giving up, they moved their meeting to a tennis court nearby. Jean-Jaques Mounier, a French politician and judge, proposed the third estate should take and oath to say that they would stay together until they had written a constitution. The oath stated that sovereignty lies with the people and not with the King. About a week later, the King called the Estates General to write a constitution. -
The Storming of the Bastilles
The Bastille was a symbol of violence and oppressive power. The mob was comprised of a huge group of French guards and angry citizens who tried to break into the fortress. The commander of the fortress, Marquis De Launay and his guards attempted to surrender tried to surrender, but he was killed along with every one of his guards. Afterwards, the mob released the prisoners, who were enemies of the King and friends of the revolution, and paraded through Paris with their captive’s heads on sticks. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizenship
The National Assembly could agree that a declaration of rights was highly important, but they still had to compose one that everyone would accept. The debates on what the declaration should be went on for days, but eventually they agreed on 17 key points or articles. The 17 articles put down a new regime that favoured the ideas of the Enlightenment such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press not taxation without representation, where natural rights played a key role. -
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was implemented
King Louis, along with Necker, decided to give the lands owned by the Church back to the people, hoping they would be happier. In November, a decree was passed that stated that all clergy must take an oath of loyalty to the Civil Constitution and that those who didn’t would be fired. King Louis XVI signed it on December 26. Only eight clergy signed the oath and those against the revolution argued that they fought to protect the church. -
The King tried to leave France for Austria
King Louis XVI and his close family tried to flee France and take refuge in his wife’s home country, Austria. This further sparked hostility against the monarchy as an institution. They were only able to make it as far as Varennes when they were discovered and captured. -
The trial and execution of King Louis XVI
King Louis XVI was put on trial before the National Convention in 1792, which eventually led to his execution the following year. He was charged for 33 different charges including conspiring with foreign countries, tyranny and treason. Louis was found guilty and executed in 1793. The people of France were free to make their own decisions, ending the absolute French monarchy. -
Reign of Terror
After King Louis XVI was executed, Robespierre, along with the Jacobins (Committee of Public Safety) led the takeover of the French government. Anyone who opposed them was arrested and executed after a brief, often unfair trial. About 30,000 people were murdered during the Reign of Terror. (27 June 1793 – 27 July 1794) -
The execution of Robespierre
Eventually, people began to feel the Terror must be stopped, even the Jacobins, Robespierre’s supporters. Danton called for an end to the Terror, but was executed soon after. Cambon stated at the Convention, "It is time to tell the whole truth. One man alone is paralyzing the will of the Convention. And that man is Robespierre." Others soon followed him and Robespierre was arrested for tyranny. Robespierre was executed by the same machine that he made famous, the guillotine, later that year. -
Directory assumed role of governing France
Afterwards, Paul Barras and five republicans established a Directory to rule the newly republic France. For four years, the Directory ruled France, though its problems were not solved. Prices skyrocketed in France, making the poor suffer, and the directors did nothing about it. Eventually, Napoleon took control.
