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After bad harvests and costly wars, King Louis XVI is forced to convene the Estates General assembly (meeting of representatives of the Three Estates) in order to raise taxes.
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Revolutionary government led by the Third Estate
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Tennis Court Oath. Nat. Ass. resolves not to disband until it has written a constitution.
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Bastille stormed and taken by a Paris mob.
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peasants attack noble manors.
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Nobles in National Assembly renounce feudal rights; Jacobin Club formed.
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Assembly issues Declaration of the Rights of Man.
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King Louis brought from Versailles to Tuileries palace in Paris.
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King flees to Austria, is caught at Varennes.
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Constitutional Government by elected officials
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Paris mob storms royal palace; Legislative Assembly government collapse. Minister of Justice Danton purges (kills) thousands of presumed traitors (enemies of the state).
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Day 1 of new Revolutionary calendar
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elected by universal male suffrage to rewrite constitution
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National Convention (new gov’t) abolishes monarchy and declares France a republic.
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Revolutionary calendar introduced with new day and month names.
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National Convention condemns and executes the King.
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Counter-revolutionary revolt in the Vendee region begins.
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"Reign of Terror" by Committee of Public Safety (Robespierre) begins.
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Price controls put into place by the government, dechristianization (ex. saints names removed from street names), administrative reform (i.e. changes in how the government operates)
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In the month of “Thermidor", Robespierre is executed; Reign of Terror ends.
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Churches reopen
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New constitution is adopted, forming a new government called the Directory.
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New constitution has 2 houses: Council of Ancients and Council of 500
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Coup d'état (government takeover) removes royalists (those faithful to the monarchy) from Directory.
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Napoleon's coup d'état abolishes Directory and establishes Consulate government; end of French Revolution
