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King Louis xvi calls the Estates General
The Estates General was the legislative body of the French government until the French Revolution. The three Estates were consisted of the clergy, the nobility, and the common people. King Louis xvi called for the first Estates General since 1614 because of financial problems. The government was going to vote on the issue. However, the voting process was unfair because the common people did not have equal representation in the government. This led to the creation of the National Assembly. -
The Great Fear in the countryside
It was a period of time that people in France rioted and protested against the King Louis XVI. France was struggling financially and he was unable to make the problem better. While making decisions the king held votes but in a rigged system that did not let the 98% of the population that was in the Third Estate have their voices heard. This angered the common people and their response was The Great Fear. -
Tennis Court Oath
Since King Louis xvi did not approve of the creation of the National Assembly he ordered that the building that they met be shut down. This did not stop the members of the Assembly to meet however. They started to meet at a local tennis court and they vowed to do so until they were recognized as a legitimate governing body. This angered the King and he began to prepare a French army attack on them. The Third Estates reaction was to storm the Bastille. -
Storming of the Bastille
The members of the Third Estate were not being given equal representation in the French government. They created the National Assembly and were still not looked at as an actual part of the government. Fearing an attack of the French Army by orders of the king the common people knew they had to take arms. They stole guns then took over the Bastille because there were political prisoners that had been wrongfully convicted. This action was a sign to the king that the commoners meant business. -
The National Assembly adopts the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
The commoners adopted a new government declaring that all rights of men are natural, universal, and inalienable. It also stated things such as that every person has the right to a fair trial and that taxation would happen under the citizens terms. -
The Women’s March on Versailles
King Louis XVI was still in charge and had not listened to the commoners. The economy in France was failing and the main food source for the commoners which was bread was becoming more scarce and more expensive. Since it was typically the women's job to go buy the bread they began to get very angry at the price for bread. This lead them to march the streets and demand a fair price for bread. More people joined the march and it led to a protest for the king to come back to Paris. -
The Constitution of 1791 sets up a constitutional monarchy in France
The National Assembly created a new constitution for France. It kept the monarchy but had the power lie in the legislative branch of the government. All decisions would be made by them and the king would have little authority. Members of the Legislative Assembly were voted in and 2/3 male citizens of France had the right to vote. This constitution lasted less than a year. -
Louis XVI is executed at the guillotine
When he inherited the French throne King Louis XVI had many financial problems to deal with. In order to solve the country problems he called for the first States-General that there was since 1614. Everything backfired when at the meeting the Third Estate (commoners) declared themselves their own independent party thus starting the revolution. Ultimately because of his inability to solve the financial crisis in France, the revolution grew and it ended in Louis facing the guillotine. -
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Robespierre's reign of terror
The French Revolution was under way for four years. There was constant civil war, countries trying to take them over, it was chaos. A man named Robespierre was the head of the government at the time and he was head of the radical group the Jacobins. He wanted to completely wipe out all supporters of the former government. If someone was accused of being on the former King's side, they would be sent to the guillotine. ironically it ended with Robespierre being sent to the guillotine himself. -
The Directory is installed
This was a new government that was in place during the final stages of the French Revolution. It's new constitution was named "Constitution of Year III." It had two branches of government, an executive branch and a legislative branch. In order for this new government to be established Robespierre and his Committee of Public Safety had to be brought down. The people of France no longer wanted to spread terror. -
Napoleon is declared Emperor Excessive
Napoleon was well known as a great military leader. He went on campaigns throughout Europe and after he returned home from his Egyptian campaign he took wan named emperor of France. He created a new set of laws called the Napoleonic Code. He also continued his military dominance and took over places all over Europe. His empire stretched great lengths at its largest points. -
The Continental System is implemented
During the Napoleonic Wars this blockade was put into place to try to destroy British commerce. It did do a good job of hurting the British but it also hurt the French as well. Many French citizens relied on trade with Britain so they began to struggle. The British navy was very elite so enforcing the blockade was not easy for Napoleon. This led to other countries in Europe joining together to counter blockade France. -
Napoleon is defeated at Leipzig (Battle of the Nations)
This was Napoleon's largest defeat. The French were outnumbered to an army that consisted of Austrian, Prussian, and Russian soldiers. Napoleon was attempting to take control of Germany after he retreated from Russia. His loss eradicated the French from Germany and their power there was gone. The French suffered huge losses and it was one of the worst battles of the Napoleonic Wars. -
Napoleon is exiled to Elba Napoleon is declared First Consul
In the Treaty of Fontainebleau, Napoleon is exiled to the island of Elba. His loss to Russia stirred other countries under French control to unite and take back their land. Things began going out of control and Napoleon offered to step down from the throne and let his son take it. The offer was denied and he was forced into exile. -
Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
While in exile, Napoleon dies on the remote island of St. Helena. Before then Napoleon escaped the island of Elba and returned to France. When he returned he raised a new army that took control for a short period of time. His new Grand Army was finally defeated at the battle of Waterloo and he was finally forced to give his control up for good when he was exiled to St. Helena.
