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Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was an agreement between representatives of the Third Estate hastily made at the Royal Tennis Court in response to their marginalization by the other two estates. The Third Estate vowed to remain united at all times. This was a revolutionary act because it showed that representatives of the people could make decisions on their own, without approval from a monarch or small, powerful elite. -
Louis XVI formally recognized the National Assembly
After rioting and incereased social unrest weakened the authority and power of the Bourbon Monarchy, Louis XVI was forced to formally recognize the National Assembly as a governing body of France. The National Assembly was mainly influenced by the Jacobins, who gained a large amount of power as a resut of this event. -
Storming of the Bastille
A group of Revolutionaries entered an important Parisian prison known as the Bastille. Many political prisoners, enemies of the old regime, were being kept here. They were liberated by the mob, who tried to destroy the prison altogether because it was a relic of the old regime. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen signed
This was one of the founding documents of the French Republic. It set apart basic human rights, and claimed that these rights applied to "all men." Basic rights outlined included freedom of speech, and social equality. However, in practice there were some exceptions to the "all men" clause: women's rights were still not fully recognized, and slavery was not abolished in French colonies. -
Louis XVI and his family relocate to Paris
The people of Paris believed that the king should no longer live in Versailles, as it was too far out of their reach. Wanting to put an end to the uncontrolled debauchery by the royal family, a group of women marched into the palace at Versailles, almost killing Marie
Antoinette. They forced Louis XVI to move to the Tuileries in Paris. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy implemented
The revolutionaries forced King Louis XVI to sign this new legislation, under which the power of the Roman Catholic Church was completely subordinate to the State. Previous regulations had already taken away all of the Church's land and placed it under state control. Now, the Pope could no longer appoint religious leaders in France. Bishops would be locally elected, and were required to swear allegiance to the State. -
Louis XVI tried to leave France
Louis XVI and his family escape to the town of Montmedy near France's eastern border. He plans to leave for Austria, and then try to recapture France with help from other countries. This plan fails, and he is captured four days later at the town of Varennes, after a guard recognizes him. -
Execution of Louis XVI
After Louis' planned escape from France, he is increasingly seen as a traitor, and an enemy of the revolution. He is arrested and tried for treason. He is found guilty. The Jacobins want him to suffer the death penalty, while the Girondins oppose this. In the end, he is guillotined in Paris. -
The Reign of Terror begins
After the death of Louis XVI, more bloodshed ensues in what is called the Reign of Terror. The Jacobins were the most powerful group in France. All enemies of the Revolution were executed, with over 16 000 deaths in total. -
Period: to
Reign of Terror
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the Directory assumed the role of governing France
After the Reign of Terror, the First Republic of France is established, with the Directory as the executive governing body.
