french revolutionary timeline

  • Estates general called

    Estates general called
    The estates general is more or less an advisory counsel to the king made up of first estate (clergy, 1% of the population), the second estate (nobles, 2% of the population) and the third estate (peasants and common folk, 97% of the population.) This "meeting" has not been called in 175 years, the only reason Louis xvi summoned the council was because of how bad frances political and financial situation was.
  • National assembly formed

    National assembly formed
    The national assembly is an alternate government made by the third estate because of there poor treatment in the states general as well as in, well general. the formation of this government is extremely important to the core of the revolution as it was the face of the revolution as well as coordinating plans.
  • Tennis court oath

    Tennis court oath
    The tennis court oath is a reference to the gathering of the third estates most well educated members in a tennis court as they vowed to never back down until they receive equal rights as the rest of the estates. this is usually known as the definitive start of the french revolution as it layed out the third estates goals as well as leadership going forward.
  • The storming of the Bastille

    The storming of the Bastille
    The storming of the bastille is a reference to the attack on the bastille by the third estate. this attack was successful as there were very few forces guarding the prison. this attack happened mainly in protest to the king because of bread prices. a second objective of this attack was gunpowder and to free prisoners, hoping they'd join their cause, although they did achieve both objectives there were barely any prisoners.
  • Constitutional monarchy formed

    Constitutional monarchy formed
    The constitutional monarchy was formed after the national constituent assembly forced Louis the xvi to sign off on the french constitution. this action turned the absolute monarchy into a constitutional one. this marked the end of the monarchs as france knew. the reason this more or less effectively ended louis reign was because by definition a constitutional monarchy shares power with a "constitutional organized government."
  • France becomes a republic

    France becomes a republic
    the french, after capturing the king held a vote where every MAN over 21 could vote on the future of their country. they chose to abolish the monarch and declare themselves a republic. this was basically the end of the rebellion as we knew it as it had basically accomplished its original goal of equal rights. beyond this point the revolution turned more into a message to nobles.
  • Beheading of overthrown monarchs

    Beheading of overthrown monarchs
    the beheading of the monarchs is exactly as it sounds. Louis the xvi was executed first with his wife Mary following a few months after. this was definitely more symbolic than literal as it truly showed that the revolution had won and was in control.
  • Reign of terror begins

    Reign of terror begins
    the Reign of terror is a time period in which a french lawyer Maximilien Robespierre was basically off his rocker, executing anyone who even slightly opposed him. this time was filled with blood and heads as, I recall, Maximilien basically wanted to control the population of france through terror.
  • Reign of terror ends

    Reign of terror ends
    the ending of the reign of terror is much like how it started, with the beheading of france's most powerful man this time it's maximilian. the reason this ended the reign of terror is because he was basically the only one in the govt that enjoyed using fear as a tool so as he died the reign of terror died with him.