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Estates General Meeting at Versailles
A meeting of all three Estates to discuss government issues. The first and second Estates refused to sit with the third Estate. During the meeting, King Louis XVI arrived with his men to disband it. -
Tennis Court Oath is Taken by the Third Estate
The Tennis Court Oath marked the departure of the Third Estate from the Estates General through the formation of the National Assembly. The First and Second Estates this divide as a simple protest, but it marked the uprising that would overtake France in the coming days. -
Storming of the Bastille
First act of violence in the revolution. People from the third Estate attacked, pillaged, and destroyed the Bastille, a government fortress holding prisoners, guns, and ammunition. The governor and mayor were then hacked to death and had their heads on paraded through Paris on the ends of stakes. -
Writing of the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
A document that marked the movement towards a constitutional monarchy. "Man" was all human men, while a person was recognized as a "citizen" if they supported the revolution. Inspired by Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. -
The Great Fear
The Great Fear was a general feeling of apprehension that overswept the lower classes of France in the early days of the revolution. They feared a counterrevolution from the nobility, and took preemptive actions against them by revolting without specific cause. -
Women March of Versailles
An angry mob of women overtook the Palace of Versailles. The Royal Family was barely able to escape before the peasants stormed the gates and destroyed the Palace. They would never return to their home, spending the rest of their days trapped in Paris in the palms of the revolutionaries. -
France Declares War on Austria
The monarchs of other European powers like Prussia, Austria, and England had been closely monitoring the French Revolution to attack the country in one of its weakest moments. This was more to squash revolutionary spirits that could oppose the power structures in their countries than make territorial gains. As a result, the French assembly chose to preemptively declare war on Austria in hopes of protecting and ideally uniting the fractured country against a common foe. -
Louis XVI is Executed
As the Austrians encroached on France's borders, suspicion grew that Louis and Marie Antoinette were colluding with the Austrians by disclosing pivotal battle strategies to the enemy. After fears were confirmed, George was put on trial in front of the National Assembly. By a narrow majority, he was convicted of treason, and was put down by guillotine the following day. -
Committee of Public Safety is Established
Formed to combat counter revolutionary threats inside France and protect from foreign foes. The group was led by Robespierre, became a dictator-like executive board, imposing strict laws and thousands of executions using the excuse of a national emergency. -
Marat is Murdered
Marat was a radical journalist whose periodical "Friend of the People" gave a voice to the Third Estate became a cornerstone of the revolution. The Jacobin sympathizer was murdered in his tub by the radical Charlotte Corday, a Girodinst. His assassination was marked a point at which the French Revolution was getting out of hand. -
Reign of Terror Begins
The Reign of Terror refers to the radical period from 1793 to 1794 during which the Committee of Public Safety under Robespierre committed thousands of executions. This also involved a planned economy with strict rationing and the nationalization of numerous small businesses. This period finally came to a close with the execution of Robespierre. -
Robespierre is Executed
Robespierre's fate was effectively sealed months prior to his own death when he ordered the execution of the beloved patriot Danton. The National Assembly began to turn against him as he picked off more key members of the government for executions, until finally Robespierre and members of his Committee were executed themselves. This put his an end to the Reign of Terror. -
Directory Takes Over France
The French Directory replaced the Committee of Public Safety until the end of the French Revolution. It was created under the revised constitution, which also created a bicameral legislature. The Directory had no legislative power, yet it was granted the power to fill several positions within government. -
Napolean defeats Austrian Armies
Napoleon Bonaparte rose to fame in 1796 as a young general who skillfully defeated Austrian forces at the Battle of Lodi. Though it did not end the war, it was a crucial step in Napoleon ascending the power ladder of France. -
Napoleon Seizes Power in France
Napoleon was able to rise to power through a bloodless coup. He made use of his military victories and public disapproval toward the corrupt Directory to become the Emperor of France. This is viewed as the end of the French Revolution.