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Louis XVI crowned King of France
The government was deeply in debt when Louis XVI came to the throne. He was considered an absolute monarch, and the people were NOT happy. He attempted to change his ways and claimed that he always considered the peoples opinions. -
Calling of the Estates-General
The Estates-General is a general assembly that represents the French realms. It consists of three Estates, which represent different social classes. It was proposed by King Louis XVI to help solve France's financial problems. -
Formation of the National Assembly
The National Assembly was the form of government made by the Third Estate. They formed the National Assembly as part of the Estates General to pass laws and reforms to the government -
The Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate was furious when the First and Second Estates kicked them out of the meeting room. Consenquently, they broke into the palace of Versailles and held their own meeting in an indoor tennis court. This was the second action of the French Revolution. -
Attack on the Bastille
People began to gather weapons to defend the city. On July 14th, a mob searching for gunpowder and arms stormed the Bastille. -
Great Fear
The Great Fear was a time of panic and rioting for the people of France. There were rumors of the priviliged attempting to overthrow the Third Estate. -
Women's March on Versailles
The Women's March on Versailles was a riot involving the women of France. They were furious with King Louis XVI's actions, so they decided to march onto Versailles and demand that he return to Paris. -
Declaration of War on Austria
France declared war on Austria on April 20, 1792. Austria was afraid of their people wanted to revolt like the peasants in France, so they went to war. -
Formation of the National Convention
The National Convention was a single chamber assembly in France during the French Revolution. It succeeded the Legislative Assembly and founded the First Republic. -
Execution of Louis XVI
King Louis XVI was executed the day after being convicted of conspiracy of foreign powers. He was sentenced to execution by guillotine, and the people were very happy of this. -
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a period of violence during the French Revolution. It was incited by conflict between rival and political factions, known as the Girondins and the Jacobins. -
The Thermidorian Reaction
The Thermidorian Reaction was a revolt within the French Revolution against the leadership of the Jacobin Club over the Committee of Public Safety. It was triggered by a vote of the National Convention to execute Maximilien Robespierre, Louis Antoine de Saint-Just, and several other leading members of the revolutionary government. -
Formation of the Directory
The Directory was the government of France during the penultimate stage of the French Revolution. It operated following the National Convention and preceding the Consulate. -
Napoleon Takes Power
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the latter stages of the French Revolution. He was the Emporer of the French from 1804-1814 and again in 1815. -
Napoleon Invades Russia
The Invasion of Russia sparked when Napoleon crossed the Neman River in an attempt to engage and defeat the Russian army. Napoleon hoped to compel Tsar Alexander I of Russia to cease trading with British merchants through proxies in an effort to pressure the United Kingdom to sue for peace. -
Napoleon's Defeat at Waterloo
In a day-long battle near Brussels, Belgium, a coalition of British, Dutch, Belgian, and German forces untimately defeated the French army, led by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. This ended Napoleon's reign as a leader in France.
