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In 1789, Louis XVI called for an Estates General meeting to discuss France's financial problems and their voting system. This would be the first meeting of the Estates General called since 1614. Eventually the first and second estate became tired of listening to the commoners complain about their problems and lack of food. Their solution to this was to lock them out of the meeting, this angered the third estate greatly. https://www.ducksters.com/history/french_revolution/estates_general.php
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After being locked out of the Versailles meeting hall, the third estate moved their party to a nearby handball/tennis court. Here they took an oath to establish a functioning constitution and declared themselves the new government of France, called the "National Assembly". https://www.britannica.com/event/Tennis-Court-Oath
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On this day, a crowd of commoners armed themselves with various weapons and gathered around the French armory/prison. The large group of people then stormed the Bastille, killing the guards and rescuing the 7 prisoners inside. Next, the mob gathered on the roof of the building and tore it down brick by brick, throwing the stones in the street. The capture of the Bastille symbolized the beginning of a better life. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille
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The storming of the Bastille lead to a time of panic and violence for the people of France. The third estate was convinced that the first two estates were plotting against them, so naturally they decide to kill everyone of the nobility and aristocracy. Because of this, nobles decide to flee from France to avoid torture and/or death.
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On the 4th of October a crowd of women (who worked at the fish-market) grabbed their knives and began marching towards the palace of Versailles, demanding food for their families. Upon arriving, the women quickly killed the guards and ran around the palace in search of Marie Antoinette. Fortunately for the queen, she was able to escape unscathed. The angry women then raided her bedroom and shredded her mattress instead. http://www.historywiz.com/womensmarch.htm
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In October 1789, the royal family was forced to leave Versailles for Paris where they lived in isolation. In June, they attempted to flee but were caught and brought back to Paris. A month later militants attacked the royal palace and forced the Legislative Assembly to suspend the King. On September 20, the National Convention abolished the monarchy. From then on, Louis and Marie were no longer royalty, but, imprisoned citizens. http://www.pbs.org/marieantoinette/faces/antoinette.html
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In 1792 The Duke of Brunswick issued the "Brunswick Manifesto", which threatened anyone who hurt the king in any way. News of the "manifesto" came to Paris and The Assembly soon ordered that weapons were to be given to the people to defend themselves. More powerful than ever, the people of Paris aimed to destroy the monarchy. 20,000 people stormed the palace, destroying it. http://www.internationalschooltoulouse.net/y9/student_work/hannah/English/Main%20Events/storming_of_the_tuileries.htm
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The September Massacre was the mass killings of criminals in Paris. The massacres were an expression of the brutal mentality after the overthrow of the monarchy. The killing began when a group of prisoners being transferred was attacked by an armed band. The massacres spread to the other prisons of the city and the authorities failed to stop them. Approximately 1,200 prisoners were killed in this time of brutality. https://www.britannica.com/event/September-Massacres
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National Convention was an assembly that governed France. They were elected to provide a new constitution for the country after the overthrow of the king. The Convention included businessmen, merchants, and many lawyers. Among its early acts was the formal abolition of the monarchy. The Montagnards favored political power for lower classes, while the Girondins wanted a bourgeois republic. https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Convention
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In November of 1792, proof of counter-revolutionary acts were discovered of Louis XVI's. Because of these unpatriotic acts, he and his family were charged with treason. Louis was soon found guilty by the National Assembly and sentenced to death. On January 21 the next year, Louis XVI met his fate at the guillotine. https://www.biography.com/people/louis-xvi-9386943
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Marat’s articles spewed hatred for anti-revolutionaries and encouraged violence against them. On July 13th 1793, Marat was murdered at his home. Marat’s assassin was Charlotte Corday, a Girondin who believed in knowledge rather than violence. In 1793 she traveled to Paris, after chatting with Marat and providing him with a list of names, Corday unveiled a kitchen knife, which she plunged into his chest. http://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/jean-paul-marat/
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Fears of this time were driven by France’s war with Europe. Those who initiated the Terror considered it a element for reform. The Law of Suspects, formed the legislative basis for the Terror by outlining who might be targeted. The Reign of Terror brought an end to many prominent lives of the clergy, monarchy, and nobility along with any other anti-revolutionists. http://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/reign-of-terror/
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As queen, Marie's job was to produce an heir to the throne. Amity of the queen faded as she failed to produce a son. In 1789, the royal family was forced to leave Versailles for Paris where they lived in isolation. June 1791, the family tried to flee but was caught and brought back to Paris. They were imprisoned and suspected of treason. Following her husbands execution, Marie \ was found guilty of treason and sexual abuse of her son. http://www.pbs.org/marieantoinette/faces/antoinette.html
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Having won military prestige with his victorious campaigns in Italy and Egypt, Napoleon took power as First Consul. In 1804 he was proclaimed Emperor, and a coronation ceremony was held. He was declared emperor by a pope, then crowned himself. http://www.louvre.fr/en/oeuvre-notices/consecration-emperor-napoleon-and-coronation-empress-josephine-december-2-1804
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In 1812, Napoleon launched an invasion against the Russians. Eventually Napoleon’s forces gave up and Napoleon offered to step down in favor of his son. However, his offer was rejected and he was sent to the island of Elba. Three years later he escaped his exile and returned to Paris where he reclaimed his title as emperor. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/napoleon-exiled-to-elba
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