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Period: to
French Revolution
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Tennis Court Oath
Louis XVI closed the Salle des Etats where the Assembly met, so the Assembly moved into an indoor tennis court where they swore the Tennis Court Oath where they agreed not to seperate until they gave France a constitution. In a way, the people realized that they could defy their king. -
Storming of the Bastille
Demonstrators of the third estate invade the Bastille mainly to get weaponry. The Bastille was consequently torn down by hand, brick by brick. The Bastille was a symbol of royal despotism at the time. -
Women's March to Versailles
Inspired by a rumor, armed peasant women marched towards Versailles responding especially to bread shortages and to move the royal family to Paris. Louis signs the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen only before the royal family is moved to Paris. The power shifts from the royal family to the National Assembly. -
Invasion of Prisons
There was a rumor circulating in which they feared that the prisoners could escape and rise up against the revolution. In resopnse, the prisons were invaded and over 1000 prisoners were slaughetered. Royalists, priests, and nobles are among the prisoners killed. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
The final version of this document, focused on equality between all social classes, was completed. The document delares that all individuals are equal before the law. Whereas during the rule of Louis and Mary, there were originally three distinct social classes where the nobility and clergy paid almost no taxes and the third class,which made up the majority of the population, did. -
Louis' Trial
Louis was suspected for treason for attempting to escape from France as well as warnings from other nations that France must put Louis back into power. Louis was executed by guillotine by one vote. This exectution marks the beginning of 'The Terror' as well as starting wars with nearby European nations. -
The Terror
Under Robespierre, France was in a period of violence where mass executions, primarily by guillotine, occured as an effort to bring terror to "enemies of the revolution". The guillotine, with 16,594 executions, became the symbol of the Revolution. -
Robespierre's Execution
Robespierre had a list of individuals who would be executed but decided not to show it. This caused fear among the French and encouraged a response by the Convention to execute Robespierre in order to end the Terror. Robespierre's execution by guillotine ends the Terror.
