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The Great Fear occurred in 1789. This was a period of panic and riot amongst peasants. Many peasants panicked amid rumors that the king and the privileged were planning to overthrow the Third Estate. This event represents the distrust that many peasants felt towards the upper-class and the king. -
Noting the distrust and financial disparity among citizens, in 1789, Louis XVI called the Estates-General in order to come up with solutions regarding France's financial problems. The Estates-General ended when the National Assembly was formed. -
On June 17, the Third Estate, with members from the First and Second Estates, voted 490 to 90 in order to create the National Assembly of France. The National Assembly played a critical role in the French Revolution. This assembly demanded that the king create forms to insure that people were financially stable enough to eat.
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The Tennis Court Oath was created and written during the beginning of the French Revolution. It showcased and emphasized that the majority of the nation found that political authority came from the people rather than the monarchy and the king. Historians suggest that the Tennis Court Oath laid the foundation for the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the storming of the Bastille. -
The storming of Bastille took place on July 14, 1789. During this event, an angry mob stormed the Bastille of France in order to obtain ammunition and arms. At this time, the Bastille housed over 30,000 pounds of gunpowder which some thought represented the monarchy's tyranny. This event is considered to be the start of the French Revolution and the beginning of the fall of the French monarchy. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen was originally written in order to act as a preamble to the French Constitution. The Declaration emphasized the importance of freedom of equality. Its basic principle was, "men are born and remain free and equal in rights." Additionally, the Declaration also worked to create a government that was responsive to all people instead of the monarchy. -
Although the French Constitution of 1791 (the first written constitution of France) kept the monarchy, the Legislative Assembly was in charge of sovereignty. The Legislative Assembly was elected through indirect voting. This led to France having a constitutional monarchy resulting in the collapse and fall of the original monarchy. -
On April 20, 1792, the Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria. The King mainly did this in order to increase his overall popularity and strength. This feud ignited the French Revolutionary Wars. -
In November of 1792, proof of Louis XVI's correspondence with foreign powers and counter-revolutionary beliefs/efforts was discovered in Tuileries Palace. Due to this, he was bought to trial for treason. On January 21, 1793, he was executed. This was a turning point for France. After this, France became more radical in its efforts to spread revolutionary ideas. This event is noted as one of the causes of the Reign of Terror. -
During the Reign of Terror, Maximilien Robespierre dominated the Committee of Public Safety. This committee exercised control over the French government and specifically targeted "enemies" of the Revolution. This ultimately led to the arrest and execution of thousands of people. The Reign of Terror destabilized France. -
The Directory was formed in 1795 after the Reign of Terror. It was eventually overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1799. The Directory was important in order to restore the economy and end the Reign of Terror and control its effects. The Directory was controlled by five people who helped to oversee both the economic and political parts of French society. -
On May 18, 1804, Napoleon declared himself emperor. By declaring himself emperor, Napoleon wanted to showcase that he would not submit to any power such as Rome. In doing this, he also decreased the power of the Church. His rule would eventually lead to the spread of new ideas throughout Europe. -
In 1805, Admiral Lord Nelson defeated both the French and the Spanish at the Battle of Trafalgar with the help of a British naval fleet. During this battle, the British destroyed 19 enemy ships, and no British ships were lost. Although Nelson died during this battle, British victory ensures that Napoleon would never invade Britain. -
The Battle of Nations, which occurred from October 16-19 during 1813, determined French power in both Germany and Battle. Due to his loss, Napoleon was ultimately exiled to Elba in May of 1814.
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On April 11, 1814, Napoleon Bonaparte renounced the thrown and was banished to the island of Elba. Although he escaped exile in 1815 and returned to Pairs, he was defeated in June of 1815 leading to the end of France's domination of Europe.