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King Louis the XIV Calls the Estates General
Before King Louis the XIV called the Estates General, France was going through economic problems primarily linked to government spending. Another factor was an ineffective taxation system of the Third Estate. On May 5, 1789, when Louis called the General, the Financial Minister, Necker, claimed a new taxation system would make up for the $56 million deficit. The Third Estate wasn't happy and decided to take the situation into their own hands. Soon after, the French Revolution began. -
Tennis Court Oath
On June 20, 1789, the members of the Third Estate realized that King Louis the XVI had locked them out of their typical meeting hall at the Palace of Versailles. Because of this, they met at a nearby tennis court. They soon named themselves the National Assembly and vowed not to separate until there was an officially established written constitution in France. -
Parisians Storm the Bastille
The Storming of the Bastille took place in Paris, France on July 14, 1789. The Bastille was a medieval fortress that was used as a political prison and an armory. The government used it as a version of authority. This upset the Parisians. They were also upset due to unfair taxation towards the Third Estate. In response to these factors, an armed and angry mob of Parisians successfully took the Bastille officially marking the start of the French Revolution. -
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Great Fear
The Great Fear was a great panic at the beginning of the French Revolution. During this time, peasants went around the countryside destroying everything in their path. Due to all this rebellion, there came a quick end to feudal privileges. This was also a time where everyone feared that the King would punish them and end the French Revolution. -
The Writing of the Declaration of the Rights of Man
This document is reportedly one of the most important papers of the French Revolution. The paper includes many explanations of freedoms. These freedoms include the freedom of assembly, religion, speech and separation of powers. The document also proclaimed the basic rights of human beings and the limitations of the government (according to https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-constitutional-monarchy-declaration-of-the-rights-of-man-and-citizen-the-civil-constituion.html). -
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Women's March on Versailles
The Women's March on the Palace of Versailles was a very significant event that took place at the start of the French Revolution and is also known as the October March. This is when an armed and angry mob of 7,000+ working women marched in the rain to the Palace of Versailles. They chanted "bread" because this was the most common food among the commoners. -
Establishment of the New Constitution of 1791
The French Constitution was created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution. Even though it had a short life span, it was the first constitution in France. This document kept the monarchy however it restricted its governing power and gave it to the Legislative Assembly (according to https://www.britannica.com/topic/Constitution-of-1791-French-history). -
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The Execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette & Reign of Terror
According to my notes, King Louis the XVI was executed on January 21, 1793, by a guillotine. Later that same year in July, the Reign of Terror began. The Reign of Terror was the overthrow of the Girondins and the rise of the Jacobins. During this period, there was lots of bloodshed. The king's wife, Marie Antoinette, was killed on October 16th also by a guillotine. She was considered a victim of the Reign of Terror. The Reign of Terror ended on July 28, 1794. -
Napoleon Overthrows the Directory
Napoleon Bonaparte was born on August 16, 1769, in Corsica as an Italian. He soon became a French citizen at the age of one. Napoleon became a French statesman and a military leader who rose to power during the French Revolution. On November 9, 1799, Napoleon overthrew the Directory. The Directory was a five-member committee that governed France for four years. Napoleon overthrew the Directory in an event known as the Coup of 18 Brumaire. He then replaced it with the French Consulate. -
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Napoleon Builds an Empire
Napoleon's Empire was the first French Empire. He had power over much of Continental Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. Napoleon's conquered territory includes the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belguim, Northern Italy and most of western Germany. -
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Napoleon Invades Russia
The French Invasion of Russia began on June 24, 1812. Napoleon's Great Army of 400,000+ troops crossed the Neman River in a great attempt to defeat the Russians, however, the French Army wasn't prepared for the freezing temperatures. When the invasion ended on December 14, 1812, Napoleon had 10,000 remaining troops. This was Napoleon's most costly war. -
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The Congress of Vienna Meets
The Congress of Vienna is a series of international meetings to secure the peace across Europe. They met from November 1814 to June 1815. The Congress of Vienna was responsible for establishing a principle of maintaining a balance of power. -
Napoleon Defeated at Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo occurred near Waterloo, Belguim on June 18, 1815. Napoleon had just escaped exile from the island of Elba and regained full power of France. He was defeated by British General Wellington and a Prussian army.