french revolution

By betty.buckley1212@icloud.com

  • King Louis XIV Calls estate general (1789

    Faced with a financial crisis, King Louis XVI convened the Estates General for the first time in over 175 years. This meeting set the stage for revolutionary changes by highlighting the inequality between the social estates in France.

  • the tennis court oath

    Members of the Third Estate, locked out of the Estates General, vowed to draft a new constitution. This act of defiance marked the birth of the National Assembly and a turning point in the French Revolution.

  • the storming of bastile

    Revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison, symbolizing the overthrow of tyranny. This event is celebrated as the start of the French Revolution.

  • great fear in the countryside

    A wave of panic swept through rural France as peasants revolted against feudal landlords, accelerating the abolition of feudal privileges.

  • The National Assembly Adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen

    This declaration articulated revolutionary ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity, influencing future democratic movements worldwide.

  • The Women’s March on Versailles

    Thousands of women marched to Versailles demanding bread and action from the king, forcing the royal family to relocate to Paris.

  • The Constitution of 1791 Establishes a Constitutional Monarchy

    The new constitution limited the king’s powers, signaling a transition toward democratic governance.

  • First and Second Estates Join the National Assembly

    This unification demonstrated a growing consensus for change and marked a significant step in dismantling the ancien régime.

  • The Legislative Assembly Declares War on Austria

    France’s revolutionary government sought to spread revolutionary ideals and preempt a counter-revolution, initiating years of conflict in Europe.

  • Louis XVI is Executed at the Guillotine

    The execution of the king signified the end of monarchy and the rise of the French Republic, shocking Europe.

  • The Directory is Installed

    A five-member government replaced the radical Jacobin rule, aiming for stability but plagued by inefficiency and corruption.

  • Robespierre’s Reign of Terror

    This period of radical rule saw mass executions of perceived enemies of the revolution, showcasing the extremes of revolutionary fervor.

  • Napoleon’s Coup d’État Overthrows the Directory

    Napoleon Bonaparte seized power, ending the Directory and beginning his rise as one of history’s most influential leaders.

  • Napoleon is Declared Emperor

    Crowning himself Emperor, Napoleon solidified his authority and began his ambitious expansion of the French Empire.

  • The Continental System is Implemented

    This economic blockade aimed to weaken Britain by restricting trade, but it ultimately strained European allies and Napoleon’s regime.