-
Financial Crisis before the calling of the Estates-General
The French faced economic problems because of the cost of wars abroad (such as their intervention in the American Revolution), the King spending too much money on themselves, and that the Third Estate, made of peasants had to pay taxes, while nobles and the clergy didn’t. -
Louis XVI calls Estates-General
After Jacques Necker called the Estates-General, the Third Estate left after realising that they weren't being fairly represented, since the First and Second Estates would create a voting block against the Third Estate -
Storming of the Bastille
The Parisians stormed the Bastille for it had weapons, political prisoners (people the king didn’t like) and was a symbol of the King’s oppression of the Third Estate. This event also marks the beginning of the revolution, and is celebrated on Bastille Day on June 14. -
Writing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen are created, establishing the rights of the citizens, and that they couldn’t be taken away. The Declaration intended to clarify and declare the rights of the citizens of France. -
Establishment of the New Constitution
The New Constitution is established, turning France into a Constitutional Monarchy. A legislative assembly is created to protect the King, the rights of the people, and now held the majority of power. -
Execution of the King and Queen/Beginning of the Reign of Terror
After King Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee France to Austria, they were caught and King Louis XVI was tried for treason against the revolution. He was found guilty, and executed by a new death machine, the guillotine, a humane way of killing the enemies of the revolution. Lists began to pile of the enemies of the revolution. Thousands of “Enemies of Revolution” were guillotined. -
Napoleon overthrows Directory (Coup of 18 Brumaire)
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French general who was born in Corsica in 1769. During the revolution, he won battles against the First Coalition, trying to destroy France and the revolution. While winning battles, he heard of the weakness of the Directory. After leaving Egypt after losing there, he return to France as a hero. He staged a coup, and overthrew the Directory. 2 years later, he was later named Emperor of the French -
Napoleon builds the First French Empire (Beginning of the Napoleonic Wars)
Napoleon invades most of Europe, including Switzerland, the Netherlands, Prussia, the Holy Roman Empire, which he dissolved and reformed into the Confederation of the Rhine, Austria, Italy, Spain, and Russia, with his greatest loss in the march back to France in the winter. He also put family members on the thrones of countries that he had invaded, such as Italy and Spain. 1803-1815 -
Napoleonic invasion of Russia
Because Russia refused to follow the Continental System, Napoleon invaded Russia. Although Napoleon captured Moscow, a scorched earth policy lead the French unable to live of the land, which they did in past conquests. Napoleon was forced to return to France. His army suffered from the harsh Russian winter, losing over 300,000 troops. This heavily weakened France, and would lead to the loss at the Battle of Leipzig and potential for the coalition to defeat France -
Napoleon Enters Moscow
Napoleon enters Moscow. Left one month later -
Congress of Vienna meets
Napoleon is exiled to Elba, the victors redraw the map of Europe and attempt to create a balance of power between the European powers. -
Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
Napoleon escapes Elba, overthrows the Bourbons, and builds an army to attack the Seventh Coalition of Great Britain, and the German states. He was defeated by Lord Wellington, abdicated the throne, and was exiled to St. Helena. -
Napoleon exiled to St. Helena
Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena. Died in 1821 of natural causes
