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Estates General meeting
The opening of the Estates General marks the start of the French Revolution. This decided who had the power to decide on levying of taxes. The meeting was called because the French government was having financial issues. -
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French Revolution
The French Revolution is a time of change and panic in France. It completely changed the relationship and ruling of royalty and citizens. The revolution redefined the nature of political power. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis court oath was a pledge that was signed early in the french revolution. The oath displayed the belief that political authority came from the citizens not the monarchy. It was a commitment to a national constitution taken by delegates at estate generals at Versailles. -
Fall of Bastille
Rebel Parisians stormed the Bastille to get ammunition, free prisoners, kill guards, and to gain the upper hand to show the royals that they want change and will take it with force. The 30,000 pounds of gunpowder stored in the Bastille was a symbol of the monarchy's tyranny. This became of one the defining moments of the French Revolution. -
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The Great Fear
The great fear is a period of panic and rioting during the French Revolution. Peasants started to rise against the king and queen and eventually overthrew them. They ended up killing guards and setting prisoners free. -
Abolition of Feudalism
The national assembly announced that they've abolished the feudal system entirely. This act made everyone equal which was a crucial factor of making France more modern. This also lessened the power of the church. -
Declaration of the rights of man
This document destroyed the royalty's power, it struck at the divine rights of kings. The document also destroyed the Catholic Church's power, freeing the nation of their past. It also gave peasants and commoners more rights. -
Women's march on Versailles
A large group of woman dashed to the palace of Versailles to buy bread for their families due to the bread shortage. Bread was the most consumed food in France and when there was a shortage the prices went up so many people couldn't eat it. They began to march through Paris demanding a lower price on bread. -
The Royal family attempts to escape
The Royal family attempted to escape from Paris after the previous rioting events. This act demonstrated to the people that the king and queen didn't have faith in the revolution and were traitors. The public already highly disliked them but this act only added to their hatred. -
Invention of guillotine
In 1792 Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin created the guillotine for a way to execute people the same. The revolution was about equality and this execution machine would further that. It became THE murder device of the French Revolution! -
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French Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary wars were a decade of constant warfare and diplomacy. France conquered 3 new territories and abandoned 1. Their success in these conflicts sped up the process of revolutionary acts and thoughts throughout Europe. -
Storming of the Tuileries Palace
citizens go savage and kill the guards trying to get to king and queen Louis and Marie. This conflict led France to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. This was a defining event for the French Revolution. -
Execution of Louis XVI
The guillotine is used against the last king of France because it was thought that in order for the revolution to continue the king must die. Louis XVI was known to be incompetent, socially awkward, indecisive, and shy which are not good attributes for a king. He tried to flee when the citizens rioted which only made his reputation worse. -
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Reign of Terror
The reign of terror is a period during the French Revolution where there was state-sanctioned violence. It was a period of remorseless repression and bloodshed. France's revolutionary government ordered the arrest and execution of many people. -
Execution of Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette was highly disliked by the French people since she wasn't French and had difficulty producing a male heir. People disliked her so much that she had a mob of fisher woman try and kill her. She was put on trial for treason, then escorted to a prisoners cart, and executed like a normal person, the opposite of her husband Louis XVI. -