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National Assembly is Formed
The Estates-General, which preceded the National Assembly, was called together to deal with the financial crisis. The Third Estate had been promised "double representation", but when voting came around it was decided that it would be done by power. The Third Estate refused this and began meeting separately on their own. They were joined by some clergy, nobles, and peasants and decided to be called the National Assembly. -
The King Resits Necker's Ideals
Jacques Necker, the king's financial minister, suggested to King Louis XVI that he should order a Royal Session into place in order to reconcile the estates back together. None of the estates were notified of this and Necker was starting to side with the newly formed National Assembly. King Louis XVI was done listening to Necker and decided to shut done the Salle des États, the place where the National Assembly was convening. https://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/browse/texts/# -
Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate delegates gathered at an indoor tennis court on the palace grounds before the Royal Session. They declared to not disband until a fair constitution was written. http://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/record-tennis-court-oath-1789/ -
Reconstitution
The National Assembly reconstituted itself as the National Constituent Assembly and requested that the king remove the troops near their area. The king declined and this lead to further tension rising among the people of the National Assembly. -
Storming of the Bastille
The revolutionaries aided with weapons gathered outside of the Bastille at dawn. Two delegations to hand over the prison were rejected by Launay. Launay's men then opened fire on the crowds and killed and wounded one hundred of them. At 3 o'clock deserters from the French army came in among the smoke from fires and set five cannons towards the Bastille. Launay waved a white flag and the seven prisoners were set free. This provided huge momentum for the revolutionaries. -
The Great Fear
This period was triggered political unrest, rumours, and panic. The panic came from economic suffering and the suspicion of outsiders. They heard rumours that the king had hired mercenaries to burn and destroy crops and property. Some revolted and marched to nobles houses and burned and destroyed them in return. -
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National Assembly Decrees
Decrees abolition of feudalism, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, expropriation of Church property, legislations for departments, removal of civil disabilities against Jews, suppression of religious orders and vows, and abolition of nobility and titles. https://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/281/ -
Women Demand Bread in Delegation to the King
Also known as the October March, this was an early and significant event leading to the French Revolution. Women were rioting over the scarcity and high prices of bread. This grew to a mob of thousands, and they got weapons and marched to the Palace of Versailles to riot. -
King Returns to Paris after the Bread Riots
The King returned to Paris after leaving during the riots to keep safe. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
This was passed by the National Assembly which was to eliminate the amount of corruption that was in the Church. It also helped limit the influence the church had on the government. This took away a lot of the say the Church had. It made people want to rebel more. -
Mirabeau elected President of the French Assembly
One of the earliest leaders of the French Revolution. He was a noble and also was the main leader and successor. He favored a constitutional monarchy which is a government with a King, but the powers of the monarch are restricted by the constitution. -
Abolition of Royal guilds and monopolies
At this time the National Assembly formally abolished Royal Guilds and Monopolies. A guild is a group of people who perfect the same trade. A monopoly is a possession or control of the supply or trade in a commodity or service. The National Assembly took away these rights from loyalty. -
Black Citizens of French Colonies Granted Equal Rights
The slaves of the French in Haiti were granted equal rights and freed from slavery, though they were still oppressed. -
National Guard Fires at Crowd Protesting Against Restoration o f the King
Also known as Champ de Mars Massacre, protestors were fired at after the King was restored two days before. The protestors were demanding removal of the king. -
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Food Riots across France
The citizens of France were starving after the bad winter that destroyed the crops. The bread prices continued to go up as more and more people starved. The common people rioted for the prices and scarcity of bread throughout this whole period of time.
