French Revolution

Nobility forces King Louis XVI to call the Esates General into session

Aug 8, 1788

The king was in trouble. The nobility was not happy with his attempt to tax their esate. Nobility wanted to pass the cost once again on the Third Estate

Estate-General meets in Paris

May 5, 1789

King Louis XVIcalls body into session to approve a new tax on the 3rd Estate. Had not met in 175 years.

3rd Esate refused to abide by the kings one vote for each estate order

Jun 17, 1789

Heard rumors that the king hired foreigh soldiers to punish them.

Tennis Court Oath

Jun 20, 1789

Pledge signed by 576 out of 577 people. Joseph Martin Dauch didn't sign because it wasn't sanctioned by the king.

The Storming of the Bastille

Jul 14, 1789

3rd Estaters invade the Bastille for cannons and guns to over throw the King for spending all of France's money.

Great Fear Begins

Jul 17, 1789

Peasants armed themselves in self-defense and attacked manor houses

National Assembly abolishes Fedalism with August Decrees

Aug 4, 1789

Eliminated foudal deus that peasants owed; landowners. Eliminated first Estates legal privilages

Declaration of the Rights of Man

Aug 26, 1789

Defines the individual and collective rights of all the estates of the realm as universal

Women of Paris March to the Versailles for Bread

Oct 5, 1789

Mob of women grew into thousands, ransacked the city for weapons and marched into the palace of versailles. because bread was high priced and there was a scarcity.

Royal Family's Flight from Varennes

Jun 20, 1791

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and the family try to escape Paris in order to start a counter-revolution

New Constitution adopted

Sep 3, 1791

Established popular sovereignty

Beginning of Legislative Assembly

Oct 1, 1791

Provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law making

Brunswick Manifesto warns that Royal family must not be harmed or else...

Jul 25, 1792

50,000 troops from Australia were sent to France borders

Storming of the Tuileries Palace

Aug 10, 1792

Damanding of abolition from monarchy. 100 out of 950 Swiss gaurds survived.

French Monarchy is offially abolished

Sep 22, 1792

Revolutionary Gov't votes to abolish the monarchy and establish the first Republic. Royal family imprisoned

French defeat foreign invaders (Austria and Prussia) who are attempting to preserve the monarchy

Nov 6, 1792

France turns the tide of the war and takes the offensive against the invaders

The execution of King Louis XVI in Paris

Jan 21, 1793

Killed with the guillotine

Committee of Public Safety Established

Apr 6, 1793

Protects the republic against foreign attacks and internal rebellion

Law of Suspects passes - Beginning of the Reign of Terror in France

Sep 17, 1793

Individual freedoms which led to revolutionary paranoia

End of Reign of Terror - execution of Robespierre

Jul 27, 1794

Death toll <10,000 period of violence. 16,594 deaths in Paris

National Conention is dissolved and the creation of the Directore

Oct 26, 1795

Men who owned property were the only ones alowed to vote. Passed financial reforms, improved trade; although wasn't an effective government.

Napoleon named First Consul

Nov 9, 1799

Napoleon became dictator. The people willingly gave up some freedoms so that Napoleon could bring peace etc.

Coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte as Emperor of France

Dec 2, 1804

Wanted to tell the world that he took his power, no one gave it to him.