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The Great Fear
The Great Fear was a period of time when French peasants from the countryside began rebelling by ramsacking and burning down the homes and businesses of the nobles and elite. This urged the nobles to abolish the feudal system officially on this date. -
Period: to
The French Revolution
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The Formation of the National Constituent Assembly
The National Assembly was created by the Third Estate, which was the population of representatives of the common people who made up 98% of the Estates-General. This was without the consent of the other 2% of the Estates-General, who were nobleman who could easily overpower the common people. The National Assembly's mission was to give France a new constitution, and with the king and the rest of the Estates-General's resentful commitment, became the National Constituent Assembly. -
The Attack on Bastille
Bastille was a French fort that stored supplies like gunpowder and ammunition. The Parisians stormed the fort to secure these items after hearing rumors of an imminent military coup. This is the official beginning of the French Revolution. -
Validation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was France's first big step under a new government. This document was based on democratic and representative government and inspired by the ideas of leaders during the Enlightenment period. It listed rights much similar to the Amercan Constitution, with freedoms such as freedom of speech and popular soveriegnty. -
The Adoption Of France's First Written Constitution
This constitution was drafted by the National Convention because economic and social quality listed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
were being abandoned. This costitution made France a constitutional monarchy, which gave King Louis XVI power to veto and chose ministers. -
France’s Declaration of War on Austria
France declared war on Austria and Prussia because the National Constituent Assembly saw it as a way to spread the revolutionary cause throughout Europe. On the other hand, King Louis XVI saw it 2 ways; he could either strengthen his power through winning, or he could be rescued by another country. In constant battling, more European countries allied with Austria including Prussia, Great Britain, Belgium, The Rhineland. These wars carried from here into the early 1800's. -
The Execution of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette
Due to the presence of goverment reform and anarchy all over France, it wasn't long before radicals went after the nobles and monarchy. So on August 10, 1792 King Louis XVI was arrested, and in the following month was trialed for treason and sentenced to death by the guillotine. The queen was executed almost 9 months later on October 16, 1793. -
The Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a 10-month period of time after the execution of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, where the French government was controlled by the radical Jacobin Club. This club was led by Maximilien de Robespierre, who planned out most of the killings, with over 1,000 people guillotined. Robespierre's execution officially ended The Reign of Terror. -
The Thermidorian Reaction
The Thermidorian Reaction was the short amount of time when the people of France realized the extreme amount of executions that had taken place. This time marks the fall of Maximilien de Robespierre's reign and the Reign of Terror. Schemes to overthrow Robespierre began to circulate, and he responded with a speech full of threats, which resulted in his arrest on this day. The next day, July 28, 1794, he was executed by guillotine. -
The End of a Revolution
After the Thermidorian Reaction, a new group governed France, the Directory, a group of 5 males appointed by the French parliament. Unfortunately, they could not govern France because of constant uprisings from opposers, and had to rely on the military to maintain control. As a result, the rising ruler Napoleon eliminated the Directory, and made himself consul. This decision is recognized as the end of the French Revolution, and the beginning of the Napoleonic Era.
