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Estates General Meeting (May - June)
Called for by the King, the Estates General meeting was a meeting of deputies from the three estates. This particular meeting was supposed to help resolve the financial issues of France. -
National Assembly Formed (June)
During the Estates General meeting, the third estate's deputies were locked out of the assembly room. They then went over to the neighboring tennis court and declared that they were a new assembly, the National Assembly was formed. -
Tennis Court Oath Declared (June)
The Tennis Court Oath was declared by the National assembly when they were meeting in the tennis court ajacent to the room the Estates General metting was. This Tennis Court Oath vowed that the National Assembly would keep meeting until France made a new constitution. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a large prison that also stored guns and gunpowder in the middle of Paris. On July 14 crowds of people stormed the Bastille, took what they wanted, and then took the building down piece by piece. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man Written (August)
This decalration calls for the end of tyrany and the creation of a representative government. It also demanded that everyone has equal rights and justice, including the freedom of press and speech. -
Legislative Assembly Makes Laws in France - 1791-1792
The Legislative Assemby consisted of three different groups that governed France with laws. These three groups included the radicals, the moderates, and the conservatives. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
King Louis and Queen Marie Antoinette were caught trying to leave the country and escape to Austria. When apprehended they were brought back to Paris and killed by the guillatine. -
Committee of Public Safety Governs France - April 1793-1795
The Committee of Public Safety that governed France for a period of time was a council of 12 men lead by Maximillian Robespierre. -
Dechristianization - Sept 1793-July 1794
Superstition and and fanatisism lead to the idea that the Church had to much power in France. During this time of dechristianization, the Church was forced to leave France and churches were ransacked and their paintings were burned. -
The Reign of Terror - Sept 1793-July 1794
The Raign of Terror was a new time of martial law enstated by Robespierre to help execute traitors and stabilize the country. During this time the constitution was suspended and many were executed. -
Execution of Maximillian Robespierre - July 1794
The rest of the committee of public safety turned on him and he was locked up. He was attempting to escape with the aid of some followers, but tried to kill himself with a gun. This only injured him and he was taken before the assembly and left to bleed out. -
The Directory Controls France - 1795-1799
The Directory was the interim government between the end of the Reign of Terror and Napoleon's Coup D'Etat. The people of France thought the Directory was corrupt and this made it easier for Napoleon to gain power throughout France. -
Napoleon Takes over in a Coup D'Etat - Nov 1799
Napoleon and his men surrounded the Legislative assenmbly and forced them to vote to dissolve the directory. In its place three consuls were to be made which consisted of the first one being Napoleon. -
Napoleon Signs Concordat with Catholic Church - 1801
Napoleon signed the Concordat which allowed for the French government to recognize the power of the Church but not allow the Church to have any control in national affairs. -
Napoleon Creates the Napoleonic Code - 1804
By creating the Napoleonic code, Napoleon gave France a uniform set of laws which eliminated many injustices. -
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor of France - Dec 1804
Napoleon made himself emperor and used French voters to make it official. During the corination ceremony, Napoleon took the crown from the Pope and crowned himself. -
Napoleon Dies After He is Banished to the Island of St. Helena - May 1821
Through too many battles lost, Napoleon lost support from the military. He was forced to step down and then was exiled to St. Helena where he died in 1821
