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Meeting with the Estates-General
This was an old feudal assembly that had not been together since 1614. The estates involved included the clergy, nobility, and everyone else. However, only one vote was given to each of the estates. This was not fair to the third estate and was a lack of social awareness of the aristocratic government. The portion of the French Congress representing the third estate left the meeting, claiming that they were the real French Congress. -
Tennis Court Oath
After the third estate declared themselves the real French Congress or the National Assembly, King Louis XVI locked the third estate out of the meeting. These people then moved to a nearby tennis court, where the members vowed to stay together and create a new constitution for France. On June 23, 1789, the king changed his mind. He ordered a new meeting, in which all of the estates were involved, and the estates were able to vote, by population, on a constitution for France. -
Storming of the Bastille
Rumors were being spread throughout France that King Louis XVI was going to use the military to break up the National Assembly. As a result, a mob went to a prison in Paris, named the Bastille to acquire weapons. It was a violent scene; the mob killed multiple guards and proceeded to parade their heads around the city. This became one of the defining moments in why the Revolution was started. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The French created a declaration called the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. This was modeled after the American Declaration of Independence. -
Women's March on Versailles
Thousands of citizens from Paris, the majority of them women, participated in a 12-mile journey to Versailles, King Louis XVI's palace, and the National Assembly. They were infuriated by the food shortages and hoped that the king would get involved. The mob ransacked the city armory for weapons and eventually forced the king and queen out of their palace. This event ended the king's independence and signified the shift of power and changes to take over France. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
The New Republic, or French Republic, had to decide the king's fate. They put him on trial and convicted him with treason and conspiring against the nation. He was put on the guillotine and beheaded in 1793. His head was then held up and displayed to the crowd. Afterwards, the crowd celebrated his death. -
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Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was mostly led by Maximilien Robespierre. 40,000 people who were claimed to be "enemies of the nation" were executed. There was constant stress on the entire definition of equality. This era shows how people wanted things like a legal maximum of wealth and control on commercial profits. The Reign of Terror ended with the death of Robespierre. -
Maximilien Robespierre's Execution
Robespierre was arrested and accused of leading France into tyranny and dictatorship. He was then executed by guillotine in 1794. -
Napoleonic Code is Established
The Napoleonic Code, or the Civil Code, was claimed to be made to protect people's rights. The real reason, however, was that Napoleon was looking for a way to be a strong, feared leader amongst all nations. He believed that if the citizens felt that their equal rights were safe, then he could use their trust to make him stronger and more powerful. This code made men the authority of the household, took away any individual women's rights, and lowered the rights of illegitimate children. -
Napoleon Crowns Himself Emperor
In 1804, Napoleon proclaimed himself emperor of France. His elevation to emperor was surprisingly agreed upon by the people of France. His motivations to be crowned were to gain favor in the people who support monarchy. He also wanted to gain stature among the Catholic circles. He planned to pave the way for a future lineage. -
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Peninsular War
This war was fought by Spain, Britain, and Portugal against the invading forces of France. France wanted control of the Iberian Peninsula. It was caused by France and Spain invading and occupying Portugal in 1807. Then, it escalated extremely, when France turned on its ally (Spain) and took over their land in 1808, which started war. This war lasted until the defeat of Napoleon in 1814. -
Napoleon and his men march on Russia
Napoleon led the Grand Armée across the Neman River and invaded Russia from what is now Poland. The result was devastating for the French. This invasion lasted six months and the Grand Armée lost 300,000 men, where Russia lost 200,000. -
Napoleon is Exiled to Elba
After Napoleon's defeat in the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon steps down from his throne. In the Treaty of Fontainebleau, he is banished to the island of Elba. -
Napoleon Dies
In May of 1821, Napoleon died. The cause, though, is not exactly proven. His physician, who led the autopsy of Napoleon, claimed that it was stomach cancer, although other sources have different views on it.