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Louis Calls together the Estates General
The three different estates were created at this meeting. The three estates were the clergy as the first estate, the nobles as the second estate, and the peasants and others as the third estate. This was the first meeting of the Estates General in 175 years. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate, later called the National Assembly, met seperately from the other two estates and made an oath never to disband until they had written a constitution for France. The meeting took place at a racket ball or tennis court, hence the name "Tennis Court Oath". -
Storming of the Bastille
WIth bread prices at double the usual price due to a bad harvest, the townspeople were hungry and angry. On this date, the townspeople attacked the Bastille prison and dismembered it, piece by piece. -
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French Revolution
A period of much social and political upheaval that led to the fall of the monarchy and more freedom to the townspeople. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man
The "Declaration of the Rights of Man" was a French document that stated the universal, or natural laws, of man which pertain to men at all times and in all places. This document was a step forward to writing the French Constitution. -
Women's march to Versailles
Women stormed the castle of Versailles armed with cannons and other weapons, killing multiple guards. They revolted in response to bread shortages, wanting the King to move to Paris, and for the National Assembly to not be quieted by the royals. The next day, the King and royal family moved from Versailles to Paris in response to the revolters. -
Robespierre comes to power
Maximilien Robespierre originally wanted to put an end to monarchy and start a more democratic goverment. Over time, Robespierre ended up putting thousands to death and he ended the monarchy by ending the current monarchs lives. Also, he was a major leader in the French Revolution on a political standpoint. -
Attack on the prisons
Known as the "September Massacre". a wave of mob violence across Paris killed half of Paris' prisoners which were about 1,200 people, including women and young boys. Violence from mobs particularly towards the Roman Catholic Church would go on for decades ater the attacks on the prisons. -
Louis's Trial
Louis XVI was tried and found guilty of high treason and condemned to death by the gullotine. Louis's death was significant in that the people overthrew the monarchy and executed their monarch and Louis was the first death in Robespierre's Reign of Terror. -
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Reign of Terror
Primarly led by Robespierre, the "Reign of Terror" was a period of violence bewteen political groups which resulted in tens of thousands of deaths by the gullotine. Any act of heresy or suspicion of heresy resulted in the death by gullotine of the person accused. All of the townspeople in France at the time were scared and frightened that they would be the next person to be killed. -
Robespierre killed
Roebspierre was gullotined after a speedy trial where he was found guilty. He, along with twelve others, were gullotined that day and his death ended the Reign of Terror period.
