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Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a prison in Paris, France. When the prison was stormed there were only seven inmates at the time, but the destruction of this prison marked the official beginning of the French Revolution and is an important icon. During the reign of Louis XVI France plummeted into a severe economic crisis. The people of France viewed the Bastille as a representation of the control that King Louis possessed. A mob stormed Bastille on July 14th and literally -
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The French Revolution
The French Revolution (French: Révolution française; 1789–99) was a period of radical social and political upheaval in French and European history. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years. French society underwent an epic transformation as feudal, aristocratic and religious privileges evaporated under a sustained assault from liberal political groups and the masses on the streets. Old ideas about hierarchy and tradition succumbed to new Enlightenment pr -
The Great Fear
There had been a lot of chaos in France during the start of the revolution, and with continued food shortages peasants became uneasy. Local grain supplies were heavily guarded by militias, and fear began to spread among the peasants. Peasants took up arms, and began to attack the homes of the rich. Rumors spread across the countryside of different revolts, and fueled more revolts around the country. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
This document was very adopted by the National Assembly and was the first step towards created a constitution for France. The original document was written by the Marquis de Lafayette, and later a second document was adopted in 1793. The document defines the individual and collective rights of all the people and was heavily influenced by the idea of natural rights seen in the American Declaration of Independence. -
Attempted escape of the royal family
King Louis and his immediate family attempted to escape France disguised as servants to a Russian baroness. They were attempting to at least make it to the northeastern part of France which was style largely loyal to the crown. The king hoped to go there and establish a counter-revolution. The royal family only made it to Varennes before they were recognized and brought back into custody. -
Formation of the Committee on Public Safety
The National Convention formed the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror, which was a stage of the French Revolution. The Committee was formed to protect the new republic from attacks. Maximilien Robespierre was the central overseer, and was responsible for thousands of executions in the name of safety. Most executions occurred by the guillotine and one was found guilty if there was belief that they still supported the monarchy. -
Execution of Marie Antoinette
After the execution of her husband King Louis XVI, Marie had been put in prison but then was put on trial. She was accused of several infamous charges, and was not really allowed to defend herself. The trial was really just a show for the public, and she was sentenced to death by means of the guillotine. Her hair was cut off and she was driven through Paris in an open cart. She was 37 when she was executed and her body was thrown into an unmarked grave. -
The Directory
The French Directory was made of a body of five directors who held the executive power of the government. The previous governing system had been the called the Convention. There was hope that the French had finally found a stable governing system, but this would not be their last attempt. -
The Battle of Lodi
The Battle of Lodi was fought between the French and the Austrian with Napoleon leading the French. Lodi was a city in Italy and was defeated by Napoleon. However, the Austrian army was able to escape so there was no clear winner. This battle was important because Napoleon used it as propaganda to show his military capabilities and that he was a superior general. -
Treaty of Campo Formio
The Treaty of Campo Formio also known as the Treaty of Campoformido was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and Count Ludwig von Cobenzl as representatives of France and Austria. It marked the end of the First Coalition and victory for Napoleon. This also marked the end of the first phase of the French Revolutionary Wars. -
Battle of the Pyramids
This battle was fought between the French army in Egypt led by Napoleon Bonaparte. The battle occurred during France’s Egyptian Campaign and was the battle where Napoleon showed his great military tactics. The Egyptian campaign was France’s attempt to find and control more colonies to expand their wealth and influence as well as establish great trading routes. -
Napoleon Bonaparte's Coup d' Etate
Napoleon Bonaparte was a great French leader and saw the opportunity to overthrow the old French order and establish a new French Empire. This event overthrew the French Directory replacing it with the French Consulate and marked the end of the French Revolution and moves now into the time of Napoleon Bonaparte as leader of the French Empire.