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Formation of the National Assembly - MAY 1789
The National Assembly formed as a result of the Third Estate declaring themselves independent from the other two Estates and claimed the right to write a constitution for France. This is important because they brought reform to France. The National Assembly abolished feudal customs, ended serfdom and the tax-exempt privileges of the nobles, made male citizens eligible for church and government positions, adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man, and wrote the French constitution. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
King Louis XVI was executed on the grounds that he was plotting with emigres to crush the revolution. The Convention tried and convicted him, and voted that he be sentenced to death. This event lead to Britain, the Dutch Netherlands, and Spain joining Prussia in the war against France, as European monarchs feared that revolution would spread into their nations. -
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Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was the result of the Committee of Public Safety waging a brutal campaign against the people it considered to be enemies of France. Maximilien Robespierre was the head of the Terror and tried then executed anybody who seemed to be working against the revolution with the guillotine. This effected the French because it caused the deaths of between 20,000-40,000 people. In July 1974, the National Convention ordered Robespierre's arrest, and his execution ended the Terror. -
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Reign of Napoleon
Napoleon ruled over France from 1799 to 1814. He installed a variety of reforms and greatly appealed to the people, but soon became a very tyrannical leader, which caused him to become increasingly unpopular. Napoleon's rule was important because he guranteed freedom of religion, an individual's right to work in any occupation; he required everyone to pay taxes, created hte national bank, set up lycees, and greatly increased the French Empire. -
Fall of Napoleon
Napoleon's reign came to an end when he was unable to raise a new army after facing disaster in Russia. His efforts failed and allies captured Paris, causing Napoleon to go into exile on the island of Elba. The end of Napoleon's reign left Europe with revolutionary ideals about politics and social justice. His wars and alliances altered political boundaries and contributed to the growth of nationalism in Europe. -
The July Revolution
The July Revolutions resulted from King Charles issuing the July ordinances, which dissolved the legislature, ended freedom of the press, and put restrictions on the right to vote. In response, the people broke out into riots in Paris in hopes of creating a republic. The July Revolution is important because, although the people had hoped to create a republic, the middle class leaders feared that foreign powers would intervene, so they created a constitutional monarchy & crowned Louis Philippe. -
Revolutions of 1830
The Revolutions of 1830 were a series of riots in various European nations, in which countries tried to win their independence and the ideas of nationalism and liberalism spread through Europe. These revolutions were important because it changed the form of government in various countries. Belgium was recognized as an independent nation and a Russian army imposed harsh rule in Poland. In Italy and Germany, Austria sent in troops and Germany renewed the Carlsbad Decrees. -
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Attempt for Unification in Germany
The goal of the 1848 revolution in Germany was to unify the nation, so delegates came together to form a national parliament and work toward German unification. This event is important because the parliament established a constitution for Germany. They also offered a crown to Frederick William IV, but he rejected the offer and sent an army to disband the Parliament, which resulted in Germany still not reaching unification. -
Universal Male Suffrage
Universal male suffrage granted all adult men the right to vote. This event is important because in the first election following the new law, the majority of voters chose Louis Napoleon to be president of the Second Republic. Louis Napoleon promised jobs to workers, encouraged trade, defended property rights, and supported the Catholic church, causing him to meet little resistance when he set up a dictatorship, creating the Second Empire. -
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Uprisings in Italy
In Italy, revolutionaries in Sicily overthrew the king and people in other states forced their rulers to Grant liberal constitutions, all in the hope of creating a unified Italy. These uprisings are important because they led to the Giuseppe Mazzini leading the nationalists to establish the Roman Republic in 1849. It also effected the people as the French later came to occupy Rome, crushing the uprisings and bringing the pope back to power.