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Louis XIV
King Louis XIV took reign when he was 5 years old in 1643 and served as monarch 72 years until his execution in 1715. He was the beginning of the French Revolution because he was in charge when the French Revolution started. -
Marie Antoninette
She was the husband of King Louis XVI and she became the symbol of the excesses of the monarchy. She is known for saying "Let them eat cake" -
Marquis de Lafayette
He was with the Continental Army with distinction during the American Revolutionary War, providing tactical leadership while securing vital resources from France. -
Jacques Necker
Jacques Necker was the financial minister for King Louis XIV. He helped King Louis XIV with the national debt and the funds for the American Revolution. -
Cahiers
The cahiers is a list of grievances drawn up by each of the three estates. This added greatly to a revolutionary air of expectation of the Estates General. -
Sans-Culottes
The Sans-Culottes were the usually urban-laborers, who were the driving force in the French Revolution. They were "radicals" because they wanted democracy. -
Napoleon Bonaparte
He was a French military leader who conquered much of Europe . He rose to prominence during the French Revolution and served as emperor of France. -
Bourgeoisie
The bourgeoisie were the richest part of the third estate. They were the rich men and women of the third estate. They were referred to as the middle class. -
Plebiscite
Plebiscite are voters who were asked not to choose between alternate regimes or proposals but to confirm or reject the legitimacy of certain form of government. After the French Revolution, plebiscite was popular because it was seen as an expression of popular sovereignty. -
Jacobin
Jacobins were radicals revolutionaries during the French Revolution who plotted the downfall of the king and the rise of the French Republic. They are known for violence in the time period named "Terror". -
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King Louis XIV calls the Estates General
A. The problems were that taxes were unfair and the Third Estate was the only estate that was taxed. The top 3% lived in luxury and the bottom 97% lived in non-luxury.
B. The meeting was called because the French Government was having financial problems. One of the first problems that came up at the Estates General was how they would vote. -
Estates-General
The estates-general was called by King Louis XVI and was called because the French Government had financial problems. The first problem that came up was how they would vote. -
Writing of the Declaration of the Rights of the Men
The Declaration of the Rights of the Men explains the list of rights; freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and the separation of powers. This is the fundamental document of the French Revolution that granted civil rights to some commoners, although it excluded a significant segment of the French population. -
Parisians Storm the Bastille
A. The Parisians stormed the Bastille because they were trying to get ammunition; not to free the prisoners. There were over 30,000 pounds of gunpowder stored at Bastille. The Parisians did this as a symbol of the monarchy's tyranny. -
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Establishment of the New Constitution
The first drafts were made in August of 1789, but the final drafts were made in September of 1791. The Constitution was made to limit the powers of government. It was made for the separation of powers. -
Olympe de Gouges
She is famous for her feminist work. She was an advocate for women's rights. Her most famous work is The Declaration of the Rights of Women. She was executed for her ideas in 1793. -
Maximillen Robespierre
Maximillen was an architect and was overthrown and arrested by the National Convention. Robespierre encouraged the execution of more than 17,000 enemies during the Revolution. -
Execution of the King and Queen / Beginning of the Reign of Terror
King Louis XVI was executed by means of guillotine, at Place de la Revolution. He was executed because of conspiracy with foreign powers. This now starts the Reign of Terror in France! -
Napoleon Overthrows the Directory
Napoleon leads his army across the Alps in the Second Italian Campaign. Then, he wins the Battle of Marengo against Austria. Napoleon then signs the Signing of the Concordat between France and Rome which ends the schism between the French government and the Catholic Church. -
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Napoleon Builds an Empire
Napoleon leads his army across the Alps in the Second Italian Campaign. Then, he wins the Battle of Marengo against Austria. Napoleon then signs the Signing of the Concordat between France and Rome which ends the schism between the French government and the Catholic Church. -
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Napoleon Invades Russia
It is known as the Patriotic War. Napoleon crossed the Neman River, invading Russia, present-day Poland. The Russian army refused to engage with the French. Napoleon had an army of 500,000 while Russia lost more then 200,000 troops in this war. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states. It happened from November 1814 to June 1815. The objective was to have a long term peace deal in Europe. -
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The Congress of Vienna
It was held from November 1814 to September 1814. The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states. It was called after the fall of Napoleon, and to create balance among the European powers. -
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Napoleon Defeated at Waterloo
It was fought between the French and the North and two Seventh Coalition armies, an Anglo-allied army and a Prussian army. This defeated Napoleon in an important Battle of Waterloo. This ended the Napoleonic Era.
