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Estates General
Estates General was called in 1789 because of the taxes that were specific to the third estate. This issue soon became about voting. The clergy could hold 300 delegates, the nobles could hold 300 delegates, and everyone else could hold 600 delegates. The king eventually decided that each delegate gets one vote. This was unfair. -
National Assembly
Since the voting was unfair, the Third Estate declared themselves a National Assembly, but they get locked out of the meeting and decide to move the meeting to a local indoor tennis court. -
Tennis Court Oath
At the indoor tennis court, the Third Estate made the Tennis Court Oath. This states that the people of the National Assembly were to meet at the Tennis Court until the Constitution was made. -
Bastille Day
A bastille is an old fortress turned into a prison/armory. About 900 people from Paris stormed to Bastille. They freed a few prisoners and no weapons which is the whole reason they wanted to invade. That also killed the warden. -
Great Fear
The Great Fear happened in the rural areas in France because the rural peasants/farmers were angry. They fought against the Feudal Obligation which is a tax to their local Lord. In return, the farmers raided homes, killed the Lord and his family, and they destroyed the Feudal Contract. -
August Decrees
On August 4, 1789, the National Assembly abolished the estates system and on August 26, 1789 the Declaration of the Rights of Man were made. The rights were natural rights, Life, Liberty, and Property. The people then got the freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of press. They focused on Enlightenment ideas and all the political positions were based on the ability of the people and not the nobility. Also, no group of people were exempt from taxes. -
Women's March
On October 5, the fishwives went to the market and found no bread. Between 6,000 - 7,000 women marched to Versailles. The King acknowledges the National Assembly's act, but the women do not care because all they want is bread. On October 6, the women find a way to the palace. Marques de Lafayette stops the crowd. He also arrests the King and Queen and takes them to Paris. -
Constitution 1791
In 1791, a Constitution was made. It states the Legislative Assemble is in charge of making the laws. It separated three political groups; Jacobins/Girondins, Constitutional Monarchist, and Royalists. This constitution was to favor the Bourgeoisie. -
Austrian War
Other monarchies fear the spread of the French Revolution, therefore Austria threatens France which causes a war. France wants to unite the French against the common enemy, but the war goes badly. The revolution gets more intense. -
Sans-Culottes
The Sans-Culottes wanted to overthrow the legislative assembly and take the king prisoner. They wanted bread and a new constitution. They wanted a direct vote. -
September Massacre
The king was still in power, but the people still had no food. They were not winning wars and there were rumors of the royalists being spies. Georges Danton led the attacks by the Sans-Culottes. People were fearful and panicked. Violence erupted leaving thousands of people dead. -
French Republic
National Convention ran the country and soon abolished the monarchy and sets up the French Republic. -
Death of the King
The king gets beheaded because he is accused of treason. The Guillotine is used on him which is a device that was quick, efficient, and showed anyone could die like royalty. -
Committee of Public Safety
The Committee of Public Safety gains broad powers in response to external and internal issues. Maximilian Robespierre rose as the new figure which leads to the Raign of Terror. -
Reign of Terror
Marie Antoinette was the first to be killed. Next, were 63 Girondns who didn’t flee. About 40,000 were killed either by the guillotine or by the grapeshot. In just a half an hour, they killed more than 30 people. All rights get suspended. -
Virtue Changes
Citizens start to address people by citizen and citizeness. They began to focus on education. They abolished slavery. Churches were closed. They made a new Calendar which meant the years started in September of 1792. There were 12 months with all new names, and 10 days a week in order to eliminate Sundays. -
Nations at War
The committee raised the army in order to deal with foreign invaders. By September 1794, the Army was over 1 million which was the biggest army Europe had ever seen. Then began the people's war which was a war based on the people and the drive of the people wanting to gain rights. -
Thermidorian Reaction
Jacobins pass the new Constitution in 1793 but it never gets used because of the Reign of Terror. The Sans-Culottes didn't get what they wanted; no Constitution and no bread. Jacobins lose support of the Sans-Culottes and there is less need for the Reign of Terror and Robespierre. June 1794, Robespierre executed 1,300 people in the month of May. On July 28, Robespierre is executed and Jacobins lose all power. Committee of Public Safety disbanded and the people were freed. -
Directory
Constitution of Year III or 1795 was made. It makes 2 houses: Council of 500 and Council of Elders. Directory was the executive branch. It lasted from 1795-1799. Its issues included the royalists and radicals were still around. The Royalists fight in the streets of Paris on October 5. Napoleon uses grapeshot to defeat them and he becomes a hero. The Directory was still in debt and they were spending too much money on wars. They relied on military to keep power. -
Coup d'état
Coup d' état is a sudden overthrow of the government. It was led my Napoleon. -
Napoleon
Napoleon lived from 1769 to 1821. He was very talented and goes to military school. He soon becomes the leader of several armies. In every battle the the fought in, he succeeded. The was considered a war hero. He defeated Prussia, Austria, and Russia in 1807-1812 and extended the French empire. He focused on Enlightenment ideas, got rid of nobility, and created liberal movements. He had an empire but it didn't last long. He founded Nationalism. -
Consuls
In 1802, Napoleon makes himself Consul for life. He has an election to make it fair for all the other people who want to run for the position. He lets all the men over 18 vote, and he received 90% approval. -
Louisiana Purchase and BREAD!
In 1803, Napoleon helped to gain money for France with the Louisiana Purchase. The conquests leads to more bread of the people. This is a huge accomplishment because the people have wanted bread for several years and Napoleon finally got bread for them. This encourages people to favor Napoleon even more than they have. -
France becomes an Empire
In 1804, Napoleon declares the French Republic is over and is now a French Empire. He also has an election so the people will not have a reason to dislike him. He received 85% approval. -
Civil Code
France wanted an organized legal code compared to the 300 different systems it had before the revolution. In 1804, the Civil Code was finished and introduced to Napoleon. This included Equality for citizens, the right to choose profession, religious toleration, abolition of serfdom and feudal obligations. -
Wars of 1807-1812
Napoleon became leader of Europe after defeating Prussia, Austria, and Russia. The French Empire extended France to the Rhine and part of Italy. Dependent States were ruled by Napoleon's relatives. Allied States were forced to join his struggle after being defeated. The wars spread more Enlightenment ideas, got rid of nobility in most countries, and created liberal movements in those countries. -
Beginning of the fall of Napoleon
Russia didn't like the Continental System and Napoleon then had to invade which was a huge risk. He had two options, to invade a large country, or to let their defiance go unpunished. In 1812, he took 600,000 men to Russia and needed a quick win. Russia refused to fight and used the 'scorched-earth' technique. They got to Moscow to find it on fire which lead to the Great Retreat. About 40,000 made it to Poland in January 1813. -
Napoleon gets Exiled
Napoleon continued to weaken and Paris gets taken in 1814. He is then exiled to the island of Elba. This was the first time he was exiled. Three months later he comes back to France with the support of the people. He builds an army and gets ready to attack. -
Napoleon's battle at Waterloo
In June of 1815, Napoleon fights Britain and Prussia who are commanded by the Duke of Wellington. He loses horribly and is then exiled to St. Helena which is a small island in the South Atlantic. This is the second time he is exiled. -
Napoleon's Death
Napoleon dies of stomach cancer in 1821. He leaves the Bourgeoisie and Enlightenment world behind. He changed the world.
