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Storming of the Bastille
The storming of the Bastille is considered by many to be the starting point of the French Revolution. Close to 1000 peasants and and middle class revolutionaries stormed the prison fortress. The intent was to free the prisoners and to acquire firearms. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
The National Constituent Assembly, the recently formed congress made out of the representatives of the Third Estate, passes the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The Rights of Man declared that all men have universal equal rights of liberty, property, safety and resistance against oppression. -
First Constitution Adopted
The National Assembly passes the French Constitution of 1791, making France a Constitutional Monarchy. Many, predominately the most radical political club, the Jacobins, saw this as not enough of a change, and began to push for a full Republic. -
Declaration of War
With European leaders looking to restore absolute monarchy in France, the French preemptively declare war on Austria and Prussia, beginning a long string of wars with other European powers. -
Establishment of the French Republic
Louis XVI tries to flee France in fear of the revolution. He and his family are recognized attempting escape and tried for treason. This radicalizes the National Convention further, and vote is passed to abolish the monarchy fully and establish a republic. -
Execution of Louis XVI
Louis XVI is tried for treason and executed publicly via guillotine. Maximilien Robespierre, an emerging Jacobin figure in the National Convention, had a large part in the execution and the many to follow. -
Beginning of the Reign of Terror
Thousands of executions of Nobles, Aristocrats, Clergymen, and political enemies of the Jacobins, are carried out. Robespierre is quoted saying "Virtue without which terror is fatal, terror without which virtue is impotent. The terror is nothing but justice, prompt, severe, inflexible; it is thus an emanation of virtue." -
Execution of Robespierre
The National Convention begins to turn on Robespierre and the more radical of the Jacobins. Robespierre and 82 of his followers are arrested and guillotined, marking the end of the Reign of Terror. In the aftermath the revolution lost much of its radicalism. -
The Directory Replaces the Convention
A new constitution lead to the creation of the French Directory, replacing the National Convention. The directory was much more bureaucratic, oligarchic, and moderate. -
Napoleon's Rise to Power
Economic issues and political instability caused the Directory to fall out of the people's favor. Napoleon Bonaparte, a successful general and popular public figure, uses the opportunity to throw a bloodless coup, and establish himself as the French Consul, under a much more autocratic and centralized regime. Napoleon declares "The Revolution is Complete", ironically with the outcome of exchanging one autocratic regime for another.
