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The Storming of the Bastille
The Storming of the Bastille in 1789 was when a force of Parisian revolutionaries and some French troops stormed the Bastille, which was a prison in Paris. They wanted to destroy it due to it being a constant reminder of the tyrannical monarchs of France.
This act of rebellion was a effect of the growing discontent with the inequity and unfairness shown to the Third Estate that began in the Estates General. -
King Louis XVI Calls the Estates General
The Estates General was the closest thing France had to a legislature, and they hadn't met since 1614 before being called to meeting in 1789. Louis wanted approval for new taxation policies, but the Third Estate felt cheated by the outdated procedures, and they left to create their own National Assembly.
This event was a cause for the growing discontent and rebellion of the peasants of France, which ultimately led to the Tennis Court Oath and the Women's March on Versailles. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was the Third Estate's act of rebellion against the Estates General, whose outdated voting practices disproportionately disadvantaged the Third Estate entirely. They vowed to not disband before a new constitution was written and established for France.
This Oath was a cause of the nationalism that arose in the revolutionaries' cause and gave them power. This nationalism eventually led to the Reign of Terror, as they felt that their goal had not been achieved. -
Women's March on Versailles
The Women's March on Versailles in Early October (sometimes called the October Days) was when a large crowd of mostly women marched to Versailles from Paris to demand bread and flour from the royal stockholds. When some of the crowd was not fully appeased with just bread, they forced the royal family to march back to Paris.
The Women's March is a direct effect of the unfairness experienced in the Estates General. Peasants felt cheated by the aristocracy and feared their rumored schemes. -
Louis XVI is Executed at the Guillotine
The execution of Louis XVI was the result of radical revolutionaries deeming him an "enemy of the revolution", and the Committee of Public Safety sentencing him to death. He was convicted of treason after an investigation found proof of his anti-revolutionary stance.
This execution was the end of the monarchy in France for the time being, and led to Napoleon becoming emperor and having the nickname "Emperor Excessive Spending". -
The Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror during the French Revolution was the period where the "Committee of Public Safety" arrested and executed thousands of "enemies of the revolution". The state-sanctioned violence was arguably the bloodiest period of the French Revolution.
The Reign of Terror was a cause of the social and civil unrest that continued in France, which led to Louis XVI's execution at the guillotine. -
The Installment of the Directory
The Directory was established after the Reign of Terror, and was a 5-member governing committee that oversaw the ruling of France until 1799. This committee often resorted to military force to quell rebellion and they also anulled election results when they were not satisfactory, creating discontent. However, the Directory did help modestly in the recovery of France.
The establishment of a weak governing committee led to Napoleon's campaigns and overthrowal of the Directory in 1799. -
Napoleon's Coup D'Etat & Overthrowing the Directory
The instability of the Directory led Napoleon to form an alliance with other political and social figures in France and overthrow it. Then, Napoleon and his allies formed a Consulate government in which Napoleon was the dictator, however the outside appearance of the government was that of a Republic.
This overthrowal of the Directory is an effect of its weak establishment just 4 years before Napoleon overthrew it. The discontentment and instability of the Directory made it unpopular. -
Napoleon is Declared First Consul
In 1802 Napoleon declared himself the First Consul of France, and was on his way to creating a defined regime and clear succession for his son, even though he had not fathered any children by this point in his reign. To do this, he created his own constitution, which created the Consulate (government) and made Napoleon into a dictator.
This self-proclamation of power ultimately led to his exile to Elba when his troops and people became disillusioned with his conquests and greatness. -
Napoleon is Declared "Emperor Excessive Spending" & Poor Harvests Lead to Financial Crisis
Napoleon, who had risen to the status of Emperor through popular campaigns, insisted on a lavish lifestyle in addition to having a dictatorship with himself at its center. These lavish desires earned him the nickname "Emperor Excessive Spending".
This poor image of Napoleon created discontent with his rule in France and beyond, which eventually led to his first exile to Elba. -
Napoleon is Defeated in Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval skirmish between the British and allied Spanish and French fleets in 1805. Lord Nelson led the British to victory over the combined Spanish and French fleets. This asserted British naval dominance and ruined Napoleon's plans to invade England.
Napoleon had combined French and Spanish fleets due to his invasion of Spain, and used them as a satellite state. This caused great discontent, and was a cause of Spanish Nationalists overthrowing his rule in Spain. -
Spanish Nationalists Overthrow Napoleonic Rule
The "War of Spain" was the battle for Spanish independence from Napoleonic rule. The Spanish never recognized Napoleon's rule, and there was widespread discontentment and nationalism brewing. It began in 1808, and did not cease until 1814.
The Battle of Trafalgar was an instance of Napoleon taking advanatge of his "satellite state" of Spain. The Spanish despised being used for Napoleon's conquests, and therefore this overthrowal of Napoleonic rule was an effect of their use in Trafalgar. -
Napoleon is Exiled to Elba (1st Exile)
Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba in 1814 when his troops disbanded and "gave up", and he offered to step down as Emperor in favor of his son. His offer was rejected and mocked, so he abdicated his throne and was then exiled to Elba.
This first exile was a effect of Napoleon's placement and declaration as First Consul of France in 1802, where he became power-hungry and disillusioned his troops and France of his greatness. -
Napoelon is Defeated at Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo, fought in Belgium on June 18th, 1815, was the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. This ended a war that had gone on for 23 years, and marked the end of French rule over Europe and Napoleon's Imperial power forever.
This battle marked the end of his power, and it also caused him to be exiled for the final time to the island of St. Helena. He had previously escaped from exile on Elba, but this exile was where Napoleon would spend the rest of his days. -
Napoleon's Exile to St. Helena (2nd Exile)
After escaping from exile in Elba and then being defeated at Waterloo, ending a 23-year war and reign over Europe, Napoelon was seen as a threat to other European leaders and nations if he continued to live in Europe. As a result, Napoleon was exiled to St. Helena in 1815, which is where he died in 1821.
This final exile of Napoleon was a direct effect of his defeat at Waterloo, after he had escaped his first exile. Once he was defeated, European leaders felt it was necessary to exile him.