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The Estates- General
A meeting of all the estates. They voted on tax reform and the 3rd estate was ALWAYS outvoted by the 1st and 2nd estate. It took place in Versailles and was the first meeting in 175 years. -
Tennis Court Oath
The 3rd estate was locked out of their meeting room so they stormed in to an indoor tennis court, refusing to leave until they had drawn up a new constitution. -
National Assembly
Abbe Sieyes convinced 3rd estate to form their own group the National Assembly and to make reforms/laws in the name of the french citizens. It was announcing the end of an absolute monarchy and the start of a representative government. First act of the revolution. -
The Storming of the Bastille
The King sensed trouble and didn't trust the french soldiers so he hires Swiss mercenaries. The french citizens heard rumors that the forgien troops were going to murder them. So an angry crowd of citizens broke in to Bastille to get gun powder and they defeated the King's guards. This became a symbolic act of the french revolution and their independance day. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
National Assembly created a document of ideas called the declartation of the rights of man and citizen. It reflected the influence of enlightenment ideas and America's declaration of independance. It guaranteed freedom of speech, religion and the natural rights: life, liberty, and property. But it didn't apply to women. -
Great Fear
There were rumors that nobles hired outlaws to terrorize peasants. So in response the peasants broke in to Nobles manors, tore up legal papers and sometimes burned the houses. Also a group of men and women marched to Versailles, angry with the King and Queen. After words were exchanged the royal family moved to Paris, it was a signal of the change of power about to take place. -
Legislative Assembly
Power handed over to the new assembly, Legislative Assembly. They were able to create laws and approve/prevent any war the king declared on other countries. -
National Convention
New government -
Execution of Louis XVI
The radical Jacobins tried Louis for treason and found him guilty then by a close vote he was sentenced to death. His head was chopped off by the guillotine. -
Period: to
Reign of Terror
Maximilien Robespierre was a radical who had slowly gathered power. Him and his supporters wanted a "republic of virtue" and they tried to wipe out any sign of the old monarchy. He ruled France like a dictator and about 3,000 people had been executed during the Reign of Terror. -
Execution of Robespierre
The members of the National Convention knew that they weren't safe from Robespierre so they turned against him and demanded him to be arrested shouting, "Down with the Tyrant!" -
Creation of the Directory
National Convention created a new plan for government. It gave France a period of order.
