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Agricultural Recession
As the French population increased, land and food availability was scarce. The lower class was substantially larger and poorer than the nobles, and with the new recession, they were forced to pay greater taxes and work harder. Landowners had to increase how much money they make and the yield more crops to feed the population. -
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American Revolution: French Allied with Americans
France supports the Patriots in the American Revolution. After the Continental Congress declared Independence from Britain, Commissioners went to negotiate an alliance with France. They agreed, signing the Treaty of Alliance, and gave the United States a secret loan, which sent France even deeper into debt. During the war, the French also supplied arms, ammunition, and other supplies to help the Americans win independence. -
American Revolution Alliance
The Treaty of Amity and Commerce is signed. -
Harvest Fails
The ways of farming shaped the lower class’ lives. The size of harvests determined how peasants would live the next year. Most of the harvest was saved and stored for winter, but when this failed it made a very harsh winter. The shortage of food created a high demand for it and drove up prices. -
Estates-General Meeting - Louis XVI
Louis XVI calls a meeting of the French Congress to discuss tax plan. The Congress is composed of three “estates” or divisions: First (clergy), Second (nobles), and Third (the rest of French society). The Congress had not met in 250 years, so there were some tensions and confusions of how it should be formatted and work out. In the end, it was decided that the Third Estate was not respected and they demanded liberty, and so the Revolution began. -
Third Estate Meeting on Tennis Court
The members of the Third Estate meet on the Tennis Court. A few of the liberal nobles and many clergy join them and swear on the Tennis Court Oath: “We won’t seperate until constitutional regime was established.” On June 27, the King agrees to their demands but also surrounds his palace with guards. -
National Assembly Appoints 30 people to draft Constitution
From July 7-13, the National Assembly declares itself the Constituent National Assembly, with full authority and power enforce laws. Speeches take place in Palais-Royal. The electors of Paris form a standing committee. -
Storming of Bastille
A prison, Bastille, was stormed and invaded by an angry, aggressive mob of revolutionaries. The state prison had become a symbol for the aristocracy and autocratic government of France. Prisoners were sentenced without trial, with direction from the King only, and Bastille was reserved for the upper class prisoners. July 14 is now recognized as Bastille Day or, more commonly, French Independence Day, as this day’s events symbolized freedom for the revolutionaries. -
First Meeting of National Convention
This date represents the First Meeting of the National Convention, the assembly that governed France from 1792-1795. They were elected by revolutionaries to overthrow the monarchy. They were successful in doing so, as they granted poor classes more political power and decentralized the government. -
Louis XVI on Death Row!
After being convicted of conspiracy under the National Convention’s rule, King Louis XVI was sentenced to death by guillotine. It was found the November before that Louis XVI was acting in counterrevolutionary affairs with Austria, which lead to him being held on trial for and convicted of treason. Louis XVI was killed by a guillotine, a contraption created for the death sentence in which prisoners were beheaded. -
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Reign of Terror Court Sentenced 20,000+ People to Death
During this time the Revolutionary Tribunal sent state prisoners and Girondists to the Guillotine. The Jacobins have to deal with invasion, French Natives who start Civil War to regain the monarchy, and revolts in the provinces. They respond with bloody repression. -
Terror Continued
With churches being closed and the Terror killing over 20,000 prisoners, it is decided that Terror is ruthless and a centralized, violent government. Any who opposed their ideas were considered counterrevolutionaries and were often guillotined. Maximillien Robespierre (picture) tries to unite the Republic under these circumstances. -
Fall of the Directory
The fall of the Directory heralds the end of the French Revolution. After, the French Revolutionary government set up by the Constitution for four years eventually, the Directory was corrupted.
