CGK- The French Revolution

  • Estates General Called

    King Louis XVI had been forced to call the estate general for the first time in almost 150 years. The reasons were financial and political in France in the downturn. This time is composed of the first estate-clergy, the second estate-aristocrats, the third estate- commoners. Because of the budget deficit of 56 million, the new taxes had to be made up to be able to fill up the deficit. The revolution had begun.
  • National Assembly Formed

    This assembly was formed by representatives of the third estate. It represented the needs of French people. The constitution created a limited monarchy with an obvious division of powers, with the king having the power to choose and fire ministers. It was accepted by Louis XVI the following month. Three days after they signed The Tennis Court
  • Tennis Court Oath

    Some members of the National Assembly found that the meeting hall was locked. So they decided to move to a larger hall called the Royal Tennis Court of Versailles.
    The men of the National Assembly made an oath there to never stop meeting until a constitution was established. Their suggestion was not anti-monarchy, they disputed King Louis's power. Because of the fact that this oath has been called the Tennis Court Oath.
  • The Storming of the Bastille

    On July 14, 1789, hundreds of Parisians stormed the Bastille, attempting to strip the ones part of the monarchy. After four hours, they succeeded. This event caused 94 deaths and would later be a major incident that inspired the commoners to take action against the king.
  • Constitutional Monachy

    A constitutional monarchy is a system wherein a monarch is working with the government. The monarch may serve only as an official head of state or as the de facto head of state. The legislature and the courts are given the balance of power by the constitution.
  • Mob overthrows the Constitutional Monarchy

    On August 10, 1792, this was when the people stormed the Tuileries palace which gave them no choice but to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. The popular movement had essentially challenged all of Europe by eliminating the monarchy.
  • King Louis XVI & Marie Antoinette beheaded

    On January of 1793 King Louis XVI was convicted of treason. He was executed by a guillotine. He was guillotined on January 21, 1793. 9 months after his execution, Marie Antoinette was convicted of treason by a tribunal. She was also executed by a guillotine. She was guillotined on October 16, 1793.
  • Reign of Terror Begins

    The reign of terror was a very violent time in french history. During this time thousands of people died through mass killings and public executions. Around 17,000 were given a trial before their execution while 10,000 died in prison. Thousands more were killed through mass killings across the country.
  • Reign of Terror Ends

    In July of 1794 Robespierre along with most of the jacobins were arrested and executed. This is when the reign of terror ended. The reign of terror lasted ten months. The estimated number of people that have died is anywhere between 30,000 - 50,000.