-
First meeting of the Estates-General in 175 years. They got together to approve the new tax law. This meeting was held on May 5, 1789.
-
Voted to establish the National Assembly to end the absolute monarchy and start a representative government. This was the first act of revolution. The king found out and sent men to seal the doors, they then went into a tennis court and performed the "Tennis Court Oath" which stated that they would not stop until they had a new constitution.
-
A mob of peasants looking for gunpowder and weapons stormed the Bastille, A prison in Paris. The mob overwhelmed the guards and took over the building. They then hacked the commander and several other soldiers to death and cut their heads off to then go around the city with their heads on stakes.
-
Nobleman gave grand speeches , declared their love of liberty and equality. Motivated more by fear than by idealism, they joined the other members of the National Assembly in sweeping away the privileges of the first and second estates. By morning, the old regime was dead.
-
Declaration of rights of man and citizen. New laws.
-
Thousands of Parisian woman rioted over the price of bread using knives, axes and other weapons. They then marched through versailles and demanded the National Assembly to lower the price of bread. Finally they went into the castle killing some guards and they demanded that Louis and Marie Antoinette should return to Paris.
-
Assembly reforms France, New constitution is started
-
The French Noble man "emigre" (emigre means to migrate) to sorrounding countries and then the king attempts to flee France, and the people become disappointed and they are emotionally disappointed, he was going to live in Austria (the long term enemy). People don’t look up to him anymore.
-
New constitution , A limited constitutional monarchy is created.
But now the people want a republic to get rid of the king. -
Declaration of war against Prussia and Austria. Austria and Prussia din't like the idea of France being a Republic so they attacked and wanted to help king Loius 16 to get the throne back.
-
France abolishes the monarchy, they attack the kings palace and they kill the soldiers and take the king and his family and takes them to prison.
-
Citizens raid prisons and kill thousands of prisoners.
They also release some imprisoned political people. -
Monarchy is done. A constitutional monarchy is created. King Louis had his crown taken away from him. The Jacobins have influenced the people and made them want to have a republic.
-
Louis is executed. (his head is cut off with a guillotine).
-
Army draft 300,000 man to fight the wars between man from the ages of 18 - 40.
-
Robespierre became leader of the committee of public safety. Robespierre governed France basically in a dictatorship for the next year. This time period was know as the "Reign of tTerror"
-
Robespierre went to the guillotine because of all the death he had caused because of no reason and because of unfair governing.
-
New government is drafted. Napoleon is new army commander. And he later becomes emperor of France and leads France to greatness.
