French Revolution- Monarchy to Revolution (1785 ~ 1815)

  • The Tennis Court Oath

    The Tennis Court Oath

    The Estates-General began to weaken when its framework led to a difference of opinion within the Third Estate. The Third Estate decided to stick with representing their right and opposed Louis XVI when he did not allow each delegate to vote. The Third Estate, which was mostly Bourgeoisie, was locked out of a meeting of the Estates-General, so they met inside a tennis court where they established the National Assembly and reasoned to draw up a constitution based on popular sovereignty.
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    The French Revolution

  • The Great Fear

    The Great Fear

    Political crisis and rural unrest was present in France. Peasants went hungry, grain prices rapidly increased, and people went broke trying to buy bread. Rumors also sparked the "Great Fear" when rumors led to panic within villages that governemnt troops were taking peasant crops. During hard times, peasants attacked the nobles when nobles tried to reimpose medieval dues by ransacking the castles of the nobles and destrying documents. Peasants fought against the unjust regime.
  • Civil Constitution of Clergy

    Civil Constitution of Clergy

    The Catholic Church was taken over by the National Assembly, in which they established a national church system with elected clergy. There were 83 bishops, one for each department. The French monarchy were in charge of making laws and regulations pertaining to the church. Many opposed.
  • The Fall of Bastille

    The Fall of Bastille

    When rumors spread about royal troops occupying Paris, many Parisians gathered outside the Bastille, a medieval fortress used as a prison to demand weapons and gun powder. Chaos broke out, killing hundreds in the crowd. The mob broke through the barriers, finding no weapons. This event became a symbol of tyranny and a symbol of the French Revolution.
  • The Declaration of the Rights of Man -"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"

    The Declaration of the Rights of Man -"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"

    The first step toward a constitution. It was based on the structure of the American Declaration of Independence. It stated all men were "born and remain free and equal in rights." Natural rights to "liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression." It also declared all male citizens equal before the law. French men were allowed to hold public office with "no distinctions on their virtues and talents." Asserted freedom of religion and taxed to be levied according to pay.
  • Escape of King Louis XVI

    Escape of King Louis XVI

    King Louis XVI of France and his wife Marie Antoinette decided to escape their embarrassing situation in Paris. Louis agreed. He disguised himself with his family. However, their disguises were revealed. They were returned to Paris, this time confined to the Tuileries Palace. They were seen as traitors to the revolution. Reactions within France, as well as outside of France, spurred about the king. Louis received threats from abroad.
  • Declaration of Pilnitz

    Declaration of Pilnitz

    In response to Louis XVI’s capture, the king of Prussia and the emperor of Austria (Marie Antoinette's brother) issued this. They warned that to protect the French monarchy, they will intervene if needed. This made French Revolutionaries take cautious actions. Subsequently, revolutionaries saw this and prepared for war.
  • The Constitution of 1791

    The Constitution of 1791

    It abolished many “institutions which were injurious to liberty and equality of rights." It replaced the absolute monarchy in France with a limited monarchy. Also, a new legislative Assembly was in charge of making laws, collecting taxes, and deciding on war and peace affairs. Male citizens that paid taxes were allowed to elect the lawmakers. Old provinces were replaced. It was important because it reflected the Enlightenment goals, ensuring equality before the law for all citizens.
  • Creation of National Convention

    Creation of National Convention

    The National Convention was elected as a legislative body by radicals. It held executive power in France. The Convention voted to abolish the monarchy and declare France a republic. The Jacobins controlled the convention. They wanted to dissolve old order. They took lands and titles away that belonged to the nobility.
  • Execution of a Monarch

    Execution of a Monarch

    The National Convention held Louis XVI on trial for being a traitor to France. The king was then sentenced to death by a single vote. His words before he was killed were ignored as the crowd and drums masked them. He was sent to the guillotine, where he was beheaded. This was significant because people were now making decisions and held the power.
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    The Reign of Terror

    Many executions took place against the enemies of the revolution. People who went against the ideas of the Revolution were instantly put in prison and killed. If any ordinary person said something counter-revolutionary, they would end up at the guillotine, a blade that beheaded people.40,000 died during this time, sparking a terror. Nobles and clergy, middle-class citizens, and peasants were killed. Robespierre was behind the Reign of Terror. He stated terror would lead to the Republic of Virtue
  • Constitution of 1795

    Constitution of 1795

    French constitution established during the French Revolution. This constitution was ratified by the National Convention. This constitution established the Directory. It also concentrated on governmental restructuring during this time period. "The Directory would have no legislative power, it would have the authority to appoint people to fill the other positions within the government."
  • The Directory

    The Directory

    The Constitution of 1795 established this five-man Directory and a two-house legislature elected by male citizens of property. It faced dissatisfaction. The leaders did not always succeed in solving problems. The Directory helped silence riots, like the san-culottes with increasing bread prices. They made a mistake when they turned to Napoleon Bonaparte for help in advancing their ideas when he ended up becoming ruler of France.
  • Napoleon becomes Consulate

    Napoleon becomes Consulate

    Napoleon had demonstrated made success early on in his life. His military career was prevalent when he drove out British forces out of the French port of Toulon and when he won victories against Austrians. His successes made him ambitious. He became famous in France as a hero. He became a political leader and installed a Coup d'Etat. He later overthrew a Directory and set up a Consulate. He then took up the title of First Consul for life.
  • Concordat of 1801

    Concordat of 1801

    An agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII that strengthened the Roman Catholic Church as the superior church in France. Napoleon was making peace with the Catholic church, once an enemy of the Revolution. The church was also made in favor of the state, but also recognized religious freedom for catholics. This allowed him to win favor with Catholics, and peasantry.
  • The Coronation of an Emperor -Napoleon

    The Coronation of an Emperor -Napoleon

    Napoleon had gained much power now to seize the title Emperor of the French. Napoleon held plebiscites to vote for in favor of his strong leadership. He promised to bring "order and stability." He invited the pope to Notre Dame cathedral in Paris for his coronation. Napoleon takes the crown from the pope and places it on his head. He shows he wants to be the most powerful in Europe. He knew people supported him on his rise to power.
  • Battle of Trafalgar

    Battle of Trafalgar

    The Battle of Trafalgar was fought off of Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coasts. Napoleon and his French army decided to invade Britain. Admiral Nelson tried to stop him. When they all met, Nelson's Royal Navy had 27 ships while the Spanish and French had 33 vessels. The British captured and destroyed most of their vessels. This was a major victory for Britain.
  • The Battle of Austerlitz

    The Battle of Austerlitz

    This is known as one of Napoleon's greatest victories. The battle took place near Austerlitz. Napoleon received threats from both Russia and Austria, so he abandoned his ambitions to invade England. Napoleon told his enemies he wanted a truce, since, his army was weak, however, this was his plan to join with his allies. The armies of Napoleon's enemies, Russia and Austria were destroyed.
  • Invasion of Spain/ Peninsular War

    Invasion of Spain/ Peninsular War

    France had dominated most of Europe by now. Napoleon replaced the king of Spain with his brother, Joseph Bonaparte. Napoleon decided to invade Portugal because they did not pay any attention to the Continental System. So, he moved troops through Spain to invade. However, many Spaniards were angered by the replacement of their former king. French forces fought against the resistance. However, Spanish guerilla warfare killed a lot of the French troops. Britain helped Spain defeat France.
  • Invasion of Russia

    Invasion of Russia

    Russian ally was not agreeing with his Continental System, so he decided to invade Russia, a mistake. He led many of his troops, the Grande Armee, into Russia. However, the Russians had a tactic of scorched-earth-policy that they used, in which the Russians burned everything as they moved East, leaving nothing for the French. Napoleon captured Moscow, but it was also destroyed. The weather was an element that did not help. The winter Killed thousands of his army. He was defeated.
  • Exile to Elba

    Exile to Elba

    The new alliance of Russia, Britain, Austria, and Prussia went against weak France. Napoleon was forced to step down from power as his enemies confined France. The winners exiled him to an island in the Mediterranean Sea called, Elba.
  • Congress of Vienna

    Congress of Vienna

    Diplomats sat down at the Congress of Vienna to restore Europe's stability after the Napoleonic and Revolutionary Wars. The diplomats dined at parties, however, spied were paid to seek information of what people were saying. The main goal of the decision makers was to establish a balance of power and protect the system of monarchs. This would help create peace. Balance of power took
  • A Hundred Days

    A Hundred Days

    Napoleon escaped his exile on Elba with his intentions of ruling France again when Louis XVIII was renewed asking. Napoleon was victorious in his triumphant advance. However, the allies reestablished their troops. Opposing armies met near the town of Waterloo in Belgium. The British and the Prussians managed to defeat Napoleon. Napoleon was once again exiled, but this time to St. Helena
  • Battle of Waterloo

    Battle of Waterloo

    This battle took place in Belgium near the town of Waterloo. The United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, and Prussia organized their armies to defeat a French army under the control of Napoleon, when Napoleon wanted to be emperor again. This defeat ended Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French and exiled him again, this time to an island called, St. Helena.
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