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Flour War
Food shortages and high prices ignited an explosion of popular anger in the towns and villages of the Paris Basin. Over 300 riots and expeditions to pillage grain were recorded in the space of a little over three weeks. -
The Estates General
This was a general assembly representing the French estates of the realm summoned by Louis XVI to propose solutions to France's financial problems. They took an oath to not disband until a new French constitution had been made, and they dubbed their estate as the "National Assembly". At first, King Louis XVI legalized the National Assembly under the Third Estate, but then he had his troops surround Versailles and dismiss Jacques Necker,who the Third Estate greatly admired and they were outraged. -
Tennis Court Oath
When the Third Estate found themselves locked out of their usual meeting hall, thinking that the king was forcing them to disband, they moved to a nearby indoor tennis court. There they took an oath never to separate until a written constitution had been established for France. This was a result of the growing discontent of the Third Estate. -
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The Gathering Storm
Louis XVI had 30,000 troops concentrated around Paris, many of them foreign soldiers on the pay of the French monarchy. This ominous buildup was seen by many as the king embarking on counter-revolutionary measures, a warning to the up-jumped members of the assembly. The Assembly formally asked the king to remove the troops, but he refused, declaring that their purpose was only to maintain order in Paris and to protect the proceedings of the Assembly. -
Riot of the 12th of July
The Palais-Royal, Paris residence of the revolution- sympathizing Duke of Orleans, had become a favorite meeting spot for PArisian revolutionaries. It was here where the outrageous masses gather, when word of Necker's dismissal and exile became public knowledge. Passions were excited, as people carried busts of Necker, with others proceeding to publicly beat a "woman of quality" for spitting on Necker's portrait. By that afternoon, over 6,000 people had congregated at the palace.