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Convocation of the Estates General
The Estates General of 1789 was a meeting of the major groups of France, the three estates. It was called to try and resolve some of the problems that the country was facing, such as the government struggling financially and people starving, and took place in the Palace of Versailles. The three estates were the clergy, the nobility, and the third estate was everyone else. This was an important event, because it was one of the sparks to the French Revolution itself. -
Tennis Court Oath
On June 20th, 1789, the members of the French Third Estate took a vow called the Tennis Court Oath. They vowed "not to separate and to reassemble wherever circumstances require, until the constitution of the kingdom is established." This oath was a very important revolutionary act that presented the belief that that political authority should come from the nation's people. This event was significant because it was a big challenge to the old order of privilege of France. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Bastille was a state prison on the east side of Paris, France. On July 14th, 1789, an angry and aggressive mob stormed this prison. The commoners were angry with the ones that ruled them, and demanded for change. This is an important event because it lead to the overthrow of King Louis XIV and the French Revolution. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The Declaration of the Rights of Man is a human rights document from the French Revolution. It was drafted by Abbé Sieyès and the Marquis de Lafayette, in consultation with Thomas Jefferson.The declaration includes a list of rights, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, separation of powers and freedom of assembly. It is one of the most important papers of the French Revolution. -
Women's March on Versailles
In 1789, the main food of France for the commoners was bread. On October 4th, a crowd of women gathered a group of Parisians, including some men, and marched towards Versailles, demanding for bread. The King agreed to meeting the women and promised to distribute all of the bread of Versailles to the people in the crowd. This event was one of the earliest and most important events of the French Revolution. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on July 12th of 1790. It was an attempt to regulate and reform the Catholic church in France. It caused the immediate subordination of the church. This event was very significant because it sought to bring the Catholic church in line with the objectives and values of the Revolution. -
Flight to Varennes
The Flight to Varennes was an attempted escape from France of King Louis XVI and his queen. After this attempt, the King and queen were no longer trusted. The Flight to Varennes led to the execution of the King in 1793. This was very important because it ended the reign of King Louis XVI. -
Execution of the King
One day after being sentenced to death, King Louis XVI was executed at the Place de la Révolution in Paris. He was executed by the guillotine Chevalier Charles-Henri Sanson de Longval. This was a major event of the French Revolution; France lost their King. -
Reign of Terror
After the First French Republic was established, several massacres and executions occurred in response. It was a period of violence during the revolution spreading from conflicts between the Girondins and the Jacobins It lasted for almost a year, and lead by Maximilien Robespierre. During the Reign of Terror, France was ruled by Committee of Public Safety. It was an event that caused the highest point of starvation and famine. -
Execution of Robespierre
The execution of Robespierre was the event that ended the Reign of Terror. Him and a number of his followers were arrested at the Hotel de Ville in Paris. The next day, they were executed before a cheering crowd at the Place de la Révolution. It was a very important event of the French revolution because it ended the year of harsh rule of Robespierre.
