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The King called a meeting of the Estates
France's finances were about to collapse, and to discuss raising new taxes, Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-
General at Versailles. Each estate had 1 vote, but it was argued to allow each representative a vote instead, but this would make it unfair since some estates had more representatives than others. -
Tennis Court Oath
One of the estates stated that it was the National Assembly and was responsible to create a Constitution. On June 20, some of the representatives met to start a draft on their new Constitution, when they found the doors were locked. Instead, they went to the nearest tennis court and created an oath, declaring that they would resume meeting until the constitution was written. This was called the Tennis Court Oath. -
The First Revolt
As a result of bread prices reaching an all-time high, the Parisians revolted by attacking the Bastille. When the prison warden surrender, after 4 hours, they chopped off his head and released the prisoners, then continued to destroy the Bastille. -
Declaration of Rights of Man and the Citizen
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen was approved on August 4. This stated that men were equal, and everyone was entitled to “the natural and imprescriptible rights of man” and “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression”. -
Women's March
Thousands of women marched to Versailles on October 5. When the women encountered the King, they explained how their children were starving, that he needed to accept the new decrees, and return to Paris to back up the National Assembly. They were scared that if they didn't watch him closely, he would try to convince the other kings to argue reform. -
The King Ran Away
The royal family tried to make a run for it and go hide with some friends in the east. Someone caught on, recognized them, and brought them back to Paris. The Legislative Assembly met and corrected the constitution in case the King ever tried to run away again. -
Protests for Voting Change
Protests were held to show the dissatisfaction with food shortages and war defeats. An attack was even arranged on the Legislative Assembly and royal palace. Eventually, the King was taken captive by the Paris Commune and they made the Legislative Assembly call a National Assembly to allow all men to vote. -
The King Sought Protection
The royal family had to seek safety when the sans-culottes attacked the palace. They were hiding from the Legislative Assembly. Thousands were killed during September while violence exploded in the streets. It was believed that there was a possibility that the king would be beheaded. -
New Calendar
One of the affects of the National Convention's de-Christianization was the new calendar that was put in place. Years were numbered starting on September 22, 1792 rather than the birth of Christ. There were 12 months, consisting of three 10-day weeks, and on the tenth day, they were to rest. The months were also given new names. -
Society for Revolutionary Republican Women in Paris
The Society for Revolutionary Republican Women in Paris was founded in 1793 and consisted of mostly working-class women who wanted to defend the republic. Men still believed at the time, that women shouldn't be a part of politics or the military. -
De-Christianization
The National Convention put the policy of de-Christianization into place, believing that it inspired superstition rather than reason. Saint was removed from street names, churches were stolen from by armies, priests were motivated to marry, and a new calendar was put in place. -
The Death of the King
Some felt as though they needed to be rid of the King in order to make sure that he couldn't plot against them. A decree was passed by the Convention that allowed them the execute the King. He was beheaded by the guillotine on January 21, 1793. -
Napoleon Befriends the Church
While Napoleon was a man of the Enlightenment, he tried to befriend the Catholic Church. In 1801, Napoleon confirmed that a good majority of the French were Catholic. In exchange, the pope wasn't to ask for the restoration of lands that originally belonged to the church, but were taken in the revolution. This agreement gained Napoleon the support of the Catholic Church and anyone who received lands that were taken from the church after the revolution. -
The Civil Code
Others tried to make a law code that applied to the entire nation but none were successful until Napoleon. Seven different law codes were made in 1804, but the most prominent was the Civil Code. While this code provided equality for everyone before the law, the freedom to choose their own career, and ended serfdom for everyone, it also kicked women and children back to before the revolution. Their rights to divorce easily, obtain land from their parents, and testify in court were taken away. -
Napoleon Took Away the Newspapers
Napoleon outlawed books and stopped the production of 60 of the 73 French newspapers. Anyone who wanted to publish their manuscript had to get it checked by the government first and even mail wasn't allowed to be distributed unless previously opened by the government. -
Napoleon and his Fight Against Great Britain
Napoleon wanted to do the impossible, defeat Great Britain. After losing a battle to Britain in 1805, Napoleon decided to change his plans. He asked his Continental System to help, and they created a way to stop Britain's goods from reaching Europe. When they're economy was failing, Napoleon planed to come in and wag a war with them. This plan didn't work though, when states began to dislike taking orders from Napoleon and went against him, which opened new markets for Great Britain. -
The Great Army Fought Russia
In June of 1812, Napoleon sent over 600,000 men into Russia, hoping to quickly triumph against them. Instead of going into battle with them, the Russian armies fled. While doing so, they burned village after village, which starved Napoleon's Great Army. When the battle final took place, Napoleon won but it took many of his men's lives. When they finally made it back to Poland in 1813, after deserting the capital for lack of food and supplies, there were less than 40,000 soldiers left. -
The Battle of Waterloo
When Napoleon left his exile and came back to France, troops were sent to capture him but he convinced them to let him live and join his side. Russia, Great Britain, Austria, and Prussia were not happy that he came back to Paris on March 20th, 1815 in victory and swore to defeat him. Napoleon raised an army to attack troops across the Belgium border. Napoleon was re-exiled after he was defeated at Waterloo on June 18, 1815.
