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Period: to
The French Revolution
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The Calling of the Estates General
Previous to the French Revolution, France had been divided into three estates: The First was the clergy, the second was the nobility, and the third was the rest. The Estates General was a meeting where all three estates would discuss political issues, and an opportunity for all the estates to share their grievances. The Estates General had not met since 1615, and was an admission that traditional absolutism had failed. The King needed an answer to the financial bankruptcy of the country. -
Establishment of the National Assembly
The National Assembly was an establishment of the people made by the third estate and the lower clergy. At the Estates General the King responded to their establishment by locking the third estate out of the meeting hall. The National Assembly moved to a near by tennis Court and vowed not to disband until France had a constitution and took The Tennis Court Oath. -
The Storming of the Bastille
The storming of the Bastille was the first violent act taken towards the revolution, as the people of the third estate in Paris became afraid of the approaching French Militant sent by the King to keep riots and revolts down. When they heard of the approaching soldiers the people stormed the Bastille to capture the caches of ammunition and weapons guarded there. The Bastille was also a symbol of the ancient regime and feudal France. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was a statement of principle which reflected the ideas of the Enlightenment. The declaration stated that the remnants of feudalism were to be abolished meaning all French peasants were to be freed of all seigniorial obligations. The Declaration establishes fundamental rights for the French people. This Declaration began a new era of liberty, freedom and independence. -
The Women’s March on Versailles
A crowd of women whom assembled at the Parisian Markets marched to the Palace of Versailles to protest the harsh economic situation they had faced, and the shortage of bread. The women also wanted the royal family to move to Paris to witness the widespread poverty in Paris. The march was successful and on October 6, 1789, the royal family left Versailles. The women of Paris had brought the Revolution to the Gates of Versailles. -
The King, Louis XVI was Put on Trial
The King of France, Louis XVI was put on trail for treason against the French State and convicted at the Convention. This was the first time the King of France had been put of trial. -
The King, Louis XVI was Executed
After Louis XVI trial and conviction of treason, he was brought to the guillotine as citizen Louis Capet, stripped of his royal title. -
The Reign of Terror
The radical party of the Jacobins had gained power over the Convention and set up a Committee of Public Safety to protect the state. Under Jacobin rule and the influence of Robespierre, the period known as the Reign of Terror commenced. This was an attempt to destroy the enemies of the revolution who were still in France. Anyone accused of counter-revolutionary activities or opposing the revolution was arrested, had a quick trial then executed by the guillotine. -
Robespierre is executed
Robespierre, the leader of the Jacobin party, had been the inciter of the Reign of Terror. The people of France were no longer inclined to accept the continuation of Jacobin rule and executed Robespierre on the Guillotine. -
The Directory takes control
After the fall of the Jacobins, a party made up of directors chosen by two houses of parliament and was designed to balance the power among all parts of government, took control of France.
