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Estates General convened by King
The nobility pressured King Louis XVI to call a meeting of the three estates (the first in 175 years) to enforce new taxes on the Third Estate. Each Estate had one vote, leaving the Third Estate voiceless in the decision of new taxes against them. -
Tennis Court Oath
A meeting of the Third Estates to discuss French reforms is held in a tennis court. The Tennis Court Oath was a proclamation that the sovereignty of the peopl was within themselves and did not depend on the King. -
Storming of the Bastille
Mobs of angry citizens from Paris stormed into the prison of Bastille, which imprisoned people who spoke out against the government. The weapons they were after were denied to them by the prison guard, The angry mob killed the commander of the prison to symbolize their fighting against opression. -
National Assembly decrees abolition of feudalism
The Assembly eliminates fees owed to landowners by the peasants. Also, the First Estate loses its legal superiority over everyone else. -
National Assembly decrees Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen adopts ideas of Enlightenment philosophers, the English Bill of Rights, and the U.S. Declaration of Independence, in order to structure a social system of equality for men in France. The Declaration excluded women in equality. -
Women's March for Bread
Angry mobs of nearly 7,000 women marched into Versailles and demanded bread, after King Louis' calling of troops to protect his throne caused panic among the revolutionaries. -
Abolition of Nobility and Titles
The National Assembly decrees that no titles are to be given to citizens. This means nobody was to be called a "duke", "count", "Prince" or any other title other than family name. This decree was an attempt at improving equality among men in France. -
Black Citizens of French Colonies Granted Equal Rights
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Black Citizens of French Colonies granted Equal Rights
The Society of the Friends of Blacks, were French abolotionists, who were eventually granted by the National Assembly, that all colonial slaves of the time were freed. -
Beginning of Legislative Assembly
The legislative assembly of France is created for revolutionary law making. Citizens (taxpaying men of 25 years of age or older) had the broad voting rights. This system restricted the King's Power, but did not eliminate monarchy completely. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
The National Convention places the King on trial for discrepancies and in hopes of keeping the newly eliminated monarchy eliminated. To protect the Revolution, the King was scheduled to be executed in the guillotine the following day. -
Jacobin masses storm the Tuileries Palace, Massacring the Swiss Guard, and the King Imprisoned
Mobs marched into the Palace, and slaughtered the guards. Also, King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette get thrown in prison. This resulted in the elimination of the Legislative assembly, and the formation of a new legislature, the National Convention. -
Committee of Public Safety Established
National Convention establishes the Committee of Public Safety in order to protect the country of France from foreign invasion or attack, by managing France's military.Unmarried men between 18 years old and 45 years old are drafted. -
Beginning of the Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror is a period of deaths by guilletine, accusiations, and trials that took place when revolutionary leaders feared a counterrevolution. Political conflict and civil war broke out inflicting fear on France. -
The End of the Reign of Terror
Robespierre, the leader of the Reign of Terror, is executed, which ended the period of political conflict. -
Creation of the Directory
A new form of government, consisting of five elected leaders from the executive branch, would provide some financial reforms, such as improving trade. However, the system was not effective. -
Napolean named "First Consul"
Military leader Napolean Bonaparte saw the Revolution as a chance to rise to power. His political supporters force the Directory to hand France's power over to Napolean, for they needed stability they feel he could provide them with. -
Napolean consecrated as Emperor
Napolean proposes to make France an empire. When French citizens voted yes, Napolean makes himself the Emperor, putting the crown of power on his own head. Napolean's power continues to increase as he leads France.
