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King Louis XVI of France was born in 1754 in the Versailles palace. He inherited the throne in 1774. He would be the last king of France before the fall of the monarchy. -
King Louis XV died at the Versailles palace and would be succeeded by Louis XVI, who also inherited the economic and social issues facing France. He would be the last King to end his reign in Versailles. -
France provided uniforms, guns, ammunition, and gunpowder to American colonists. As well as over 1.3 billion Livre to fund it all. This spending put France deep into debt and angered peasants, who would've preferred that money be used to help them in their desperate times.
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Because of the growing problems faced by King Louis XVI, he decided to call the estates general to meet for the first time since 1614. King Louis announced that the budget deficit was 53 million and that new taxes would be enough to make up for this. The nobles were unwilling to pay taxes so it all fell on the peasants, who were not happy with their already high taxes while nobles paid nothing.
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After finding themselves locked out of the Estates General meeting, the third estate broke into a nearby tennis court and made an oath to meet there until their voices are heard. This would be the beginning of the liberal phase of the revolution and the start of Louis' downfall. The commoners finally presented their credentials not as delegates of the 3rd estate, but as "representatives of the nation". They proclaimed themselves the "national assembly" of France. -
The National Constituent Assembly was established to create a new constitution for France. It adopted the motto "Liberte, Egalite Fraternite". It was succeeded by the Legislative Assembly. It opposed Louis while being supported by the peasants, destabilizing France greatly.
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A rumor that the king was planning a military coup against the national assembly encouraged the Parisians to take up arms to defend themselves. They took up arms and began sieging the prison Bastille, which held the cities gunpowder supply. 18 people died and 73 were wounded. 7 guards were killed. -
Rumors that the feudal aristocracy were sending hired mercenaries to attack peasants and pillage their homes and land. This sparked large riots by the peasants, burning homes, land, and attacking feudal guards. This was done in fear of the national assembly being silenced everywhere but France.
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The feudal regime in France was declared as abolished. All Frenchman were subject to the same laws and taxes. The feudal caste system is abolished. Anyone can become a noble now. -
The new constitution of France is enacted. It promises liberty, rights to property, and resistance to oppression. This constitution diminished Louis XVI's power astronomically. The constitution was based on Enlightenment ideas. -
A group of women from Paris' fish market began marching to Versailles with butcher knives and fishing spears. They were demanding to speak to Louis and Marie. When they arrived there Louis and Marie hid, aggravating the women. The women butchered the guards and searched for Marie. When they couldn't;t find her they tore apart her bed.
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The royal family is forced to move to the Tuileries Palace in Paris. Where they'll be kept as prisoners. The king lost a lot of power and was forced to sign off on new laws by the National Assembly -
King Louis, Marie Antoinette, and their children attempt to escape Paris to Austria in order to get support from them to help retake France from the revolutionaries. They snuck out of the Tuileries Palace in Paris dressed as servants and left by carriage. They were stopped by a town official in the town of Varennes, where they were recognized and forced back to Paris. -
The legislative assembly declared war on Austria on April 20th, after fears that they were plotting to invade to stop the revolution grew. France did badly at the beginning of the war but later on, would do better. This began the War of the First Coalition. -
King Louis was sentenced to death after being found guilty of conspiracy with foreign powers by the French National Convention. He was executed by guillotine. The execution took place in the Place de la Revolution in Paris.
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