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Agricultural Recession
Agricultural recession forces : landowners to increase their source of revenue: the lower class works harder and is taxed more. -
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France supports patriots
France supports the patriots in the american revolution -
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France Supports Patriots in American Revolution
Leads to more national debt -
Upper class share in national debt to pay tax
Charles Alexandre de Calonne, National Director of Finances, called an assembly of notables to have the upper class share in the nation debt by paying tax. They refused in an effort to protect economic privileges. -
Harvest Fails
The harvest fails and the winter is fairly extreme, further angering and hurting the poor. Food becomes even more scarce and expensive. -
Meeting of political leaders to discuss and approve new tax plan
A meeting of the Estates-General was called by Loius XVI in Versailles to discuss and approve a new tax plan. It includes the First and Second Estate, which had more members but were poorer. Their discussion was to decide if all the estates should meet or if they should collectively vote. -
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National Assembly appoints a committee to draft a constitution
The National Assembly appoints a committee to draft a constitution. The National Assembly proclaims itself the Constituent National Assembly, with full authority and power to decree laws. Demonstrations and speeches take place at the Palais-Royal. The electors of Paris form a standing committee and a citizens' militia. -
Bastille
The storming and fall of Bastille -
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Period of Grande Peur (Great Fear)
Peasants started robbing and burning some of the chateaux (mansions) of the rich and burn records of money owned. -
Versailles is invaded by women
The women of Paris invade Versailles. Parisians, led by a large number of women, march upon Versailles and force the royal family back to Paris, where they take up residence at the Tuileres. Louis XVI is considered by many a "prisoner" in Paris. The Assembly, still in Versailles, declares, in the spirit of constitutional monarchy, its inseparability from the king. -
Louis XVI sentenced to guillotine
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National Draft issued
A National Draft was issued calling for all able-bodied men to enlist in the army. -
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The Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror court sentenced 20,000- 40,000 people to death. During this time the revolutionary tribunal stayed prisoners, including Girondists, to the guillotine. The Jacobins have to deal with the invasion, French natives who start a civil war to regain the monarchy, and revolt in the provinces. they respond with bloody repression and Robespierre sending armies to subdue cities. -
Robespierre arrested
The National Convention arrested Robespierre along with his deputies and most people who worked with him. They are all beheaded the next day. -
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Thermidorian Reaction
Known as the Thermidorian Reaction, anarchy and inflation almost overwhelmed the country. -
New Constitution
A new Constitution was adopted and it took effect after a reactionary rising in Vendemiare was supressed by General Napoleon Bonaparte. -
Parliament is purged
The parliament is purged ruthlessly. Many deputies were labeled as loyalists and were sent to the penal colony of French Guinea--called the dry guillotine. -
Fall of Directory
The fall of the Directory heralds the end of the French Revolution.