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In April of 1786 the banks decided to cease lending more money to the French government. This meant that the French government was effectively bankrupt, and unable to perform its basic tasks. The desperate state of the government led for taxes being levied against the nobility, who would call a meeting of the Estates-General. This was significant because it increased the strife and anger of the Third Estate, and the citizens would finally have political influence because of the Estates-General.
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For 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10 on the timeline I used: https://courses.vhslearning.org/d2l/le/content/431486/viewContent/3344963/View For Number 8 on the Timeline I used:
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255/kat_anna/war.html#:~:text=Revolutionaries%20wanted%20war%20because%20they,1791)%20declared%20war%20on%20Austria. -
The Third Estate felt underrepresented at the Estates-General. This led to the delegates of the Third Estate declaring a National Assembly. This meant that the Third Estate delegates declared themselves in charge, and claimed the rights to make reforms and laws for the citizens of France. This was hugely significant, it represented the formation of a representative government, it was the first deliberate act of revolution, and signaled the beginning of the Third Estates take over of power.
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The Tennis Court Oath was a commitment by the Third Estate delegates to create a new constitution. The Third Estate delegates along with some of the members of the clergy and the nobility. On an indoor tennis court they met and pledged to not leave until a new constitution was developed. This event was significant because it involved members of all three estates, and represented the first big act by the Nation Assembly, and was the start of the attempts to create a new government.
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Rumors started circulating in Paris that Louis XIV was going to end the National Assembly using military force. The people in Paris began gathering weapons and arming themselves. A mob then took over the prison of Bastille in search of gunpowder, killing all the prison guards and parading their heads on pikes throughout the streets. The storming of the Bastille was significant because it was the first major violent act of revolution, and it showed that rioters weren't afraid to use violence.
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August 4th was the day that the clergy and noblemen, out of fear, decided to grant the Third Estate equal rights. The feudal system had been eliminated, and the National Assembly worked on a declaration. This declaration outlined the basic rights of citizens, and it gave everybody in France certain basic rights. All of this was extremely significant, it represented the achievement of equality for all three estates, as well as the creation of an accepted set of rights that applied to everyone.
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A new constitution would finally be drafted in September of 1791. The constitution was reluctantly approved by King Louis, and it turned France into a constitutional monarchy. The king now had less authority, and the constitution led to the creation of a legislative branch known as the Legislative Assembly. This was significant because it represented the end of absolute monarchy in France, and an official government had finally been established as a result of the French Revolution.
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Under pressure from radicals, the Constitution of 1791 was set aside. The Legislative Assembly deposed the King, and called for the election of a new legislature. The new legislative branch was known as the National Convention, and they banned the monarchy and turned the France into a republic. This event is important because it represents the end of the official end of the monarchy, and it finally turned France into a republic, the major goal of the revolution since its beginning.
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On April 20, 1792, France declared war on the European powers of Austria and Prussia. Revolutionaries hoped the war would unify the country, while monarchy supporters hoped the war would lead to the overthrow of the new government. The war began very poorly for the French, but the war started getting better as it progressed, with the French getting a major win at Valmy. The war changed a lot of people's opinions, and it helped the Jacobins take control and make the Constitution of 1791 null.
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A radical political organization called the Jacobins would eventually gain massive influence. Under the guidance of the Jacobin's, the National Convention would try King Louis XVI for treason. The convention would fine the King guilty, and King Louis was sentenced to death, and would be killed by the guillotine. This was significant because it represented the end of the monarchy for the time being, and it represented the culmination of anger and distrust of the King that persisted years earlier.
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On July 1793 a radical Jacobin named Maximilien Robespierre became the leader of the Committee for Public Safety. Robespierre would essentially become a dictator, and Robespierre attempted to get rid of religion. Robespierre also had thousands of people executed after declaring them enemies of the state. This was significant because Robespierre changed a lot of policies and increased anti-religious sentiment, and Robespierre caused widespread fear, with an estimated 40,000 dying because of him.
