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Spirit of the Laws
Written by Montesquieu
Explored different systems and conceptions of government -
Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle
Ended the War of Austrian Succession -
Louis Duc de Berry is born at Versailles
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Marie Antoinette is born in Vienna
Youngest daughter of Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis I -
Outbreak of 7 years' War
War with Britain and colonies
Exacerbates the French debt crisis -
The Social Contract is published
Jean-Jacques Rousseau explores the relationship between individuals, liberty and the state -
Louis (Dauphin) dies of tuberculosis
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Marriage of Louis and Austrian princess Marie Antoinette
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Death of King Louis XV
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Period: to
Poor grain harvests recorded
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King appoints Turgot as his finance minister
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Lafayette sails to America
Volunteers to fight with revolutionaries
And given general's commission in American Continental Army -
American Revolutionary War begins
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Louis XVI crowned
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Finance Minister Turgot is dismissed
Attempted some limited economic reform -
Necker is appointed as a Turgot's successor
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France signs Military Alliance with America
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Louis XVI declares War on Britain
Full mobilization of army and navy -
Necker publishes Compte Rendu
Comprehensive though rather misleading accounting of national finances -
Necker resigns
After failures to implement reform and opposition from several quarters of government -
Marie gives birth to Louis Joseph Xavier
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Treaty of Paris
Brings American revolutionary war to a close
Involvement in warm has cost to French government -
King appoints Calonne
As controller-general of finances -
Diamond Necklace Affair
Marie and inner circle become embroiled
Theft of necklace of around 2 million livres -
Calonne informs Louis of bankruptcy
Proposes immediate reforms, including new land tax, stamp duty and commutation of corvee -
Calonne convocation of Assembly of Notables
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Calonne's tax reforms are opposed by Assembly of Notables
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Assembly of Notables convene
Hears evidence and testimony about nation's financial plight -
Louis dismisses Calone
In an attempt to break the stalemate -
King appoints Brienne
Attended to win support from Assembly of Notables -
Assembly of Notables is dissolved
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Brienne issues an edict
Commuting the corvee and replacing it with a money tax and approximately one sixth of taille -
Paris Parlement rejects Brienne's legislation
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Louis orders lit de justice
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King dissmisses Paris and Bordeaux parlements
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Duke of Orleans exiled
By lettre de cachet after criticizing King's treatment of Parlements -
Parlement issue "Declaration of Fundamental Laws of France"
Clauses were strong criticisms of lettres de cachet and demand Estates-General -
Period: to
King issues May Edicts
King orders the arrest of 2 members of Paris Parlement
Removed power of parlements and formally abolished use of torture -
Day of Tiles
Mobs in Grenoble and Brittany
Demanded reinstatement of local parlement -
France is struck by severe storm
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Brienne announces the Estates General
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France is virtually bankrupt
Government suspends making interest payments on some of its debts -
Brienne resigns and replaced by Necker
Resignation triggers celebrations in Paris
Critics of Brienne are released from arrest or exile -
Parlement issues statement on Estates-General
That it should follow the same structures and procedures as 1614 -
Necker convenes another AON
To discuss arrangements for Estates-General
Proposes representation for 3rd estate be doubled -
Society of Thirty is formed at Versailles
A group of liberal nobles in favor of constitutional reform -
Paris records its 57th straight frost
France suffers from one of its coldest winters
Reports of orchards dying and food stores spoiling are common -
Rules and instructions are finalized and sent to delegates
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Louis orders drafting of cahiers de dolerances
Books of Grievances
To be presented at the Estates-General -
Emmanuel Sieyes publishes "What is The Third Estate?"
Pamphlet emphasizing importance of France's common classes and calling for greater representation -
Estates-General elections for delegates begin
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Revellion Riots
Rumours about wage freezes -
Delegates now present at Versailles
Presented to the King at formal gathering -
Estates-General opens
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The 1E and 2E endorse voting by order
1E=134 to 114. 2E=188 to 46
3E refuses to meet separately or vote on the issue -
Sieyes proposes representatives of 1E and 2E join 3E
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Louis Joseph Xavier dies of tuberculosis
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3E vote 490 to 90 to declare themselves National Assembly
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Tennis Court Oath
After being locked out of meeting hall
National assembly gathered in nearby tennis court -
Royal Session
King declares National Assembly illegal and for them to meet in separate chambers. -
More clergy and nobles cross the floor
Including Duc d'Orleans -
Louis backs down
Orders delegates to join National Assembly
Orders army to mobilize and gather outside Paris and Versailles -
Seine Prison attack
Crowd of 4,000, freeing dozens of mutinous soldiers -
Food prices continue to soar
80% of wages on bread alone -
Mobilization of royal troops
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NA petition the King to withdraw royal troops
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NA changes into National Constituent Assembly
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Necker is dismissed and replaced By Breteuil
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Lafayette proposes 'Declaration of Rights'
Based on American Bill of Rights -
News of Necker's sacking
Generates outrage and fear of royal coup
Triggers Paris Insurrection -
People of Paris gather arms
Marched upon Hotel des Invalides
Made off with around 30,000 rifles -
The Storming of the Bastille
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Lafayette appointed commander of NG
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King order royal troops away from city
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Necker is reappointed
NCA insists -
First signs of Great Fear
NCA begin drafting constitution -
Finance Minister Foullon and Paris de Sauvigny murdered
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NCA commits to drafting declaration of rights
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August Decrees
NCA dismantle seigneurial feudalism
Many noblemen surrender their own privileges and feudal dues -
NCA pass "Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen"
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NCA grant King suspensive veto
NCA vote 673 to 325 -
Marat's radical newspaper "The Friend of the People" is published
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King refuses to endorse August Decrees
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NCA gives principle agreement to Constitutional Monarchy
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News of royal soldiers
Rumor that royal soldiers at Versailles stomped on tricolor cockades at drunken party -
Women's March
Hundred Parisian citizens accompanied by National guard -
King and Monarchy forced to leave Versaulles
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King agrees to ratify August Decrees
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NCA agrees to move from Versailles to Paris
Declares Louis XVI "King of the French"