R.M.D's French Revolution Timeline

By RDailey
  • Period: to

    French Revolution

  • Estates General

    First calling of the Estates General since 1614. Called by King Louis XVI because he wanted to raise money by taxing the Nobles.

  • Tennis Courth Oath

    The Third estate took this oath in a tennis court after being locked out of their typical meeting room for calling themselves "The National Assembly".

  • Storming of the Bastille

    The rebels/angry Parisians storm the Bastille, and killed the governor of the Bastile. They had already stormed a hostpital, and stole all the guns. They were coming to the Bastille for gunpowder.

  • Great Fear

    Fear and panic spread through the countryside, mainly because the harvest were very bad the past few years. Rumors wre also circulating that nobles were paying outlaws to terrorize peasants.

  • Declaration of the Rights of Man

    States "Men are born and remain free and equal in rights."
    Also guarunteed freedom of speech, equal justice, and freedom of religion.

  • Women's march on Versailles

    Women begin to march on Versailles because of the price and scarcity of bread and grain. They were ignored, and eventually stormed Versailles in attempt to kill Marie Antionette.

  • Louis and Marie’s flight to Varennes

    The Royal French family attempts to flee France, and get caught ~30miles away from their destination.

  • Constitution of 1791

    The short-lived second constitution of France, it worked towards establishing a constitutional monarchy.

  • Brunswick Manifesto

    The proclamation from the commander of the Allied Army (Prussia, Austria) saying that if the royalty were harmed, the French people would be harmed. Worked the opposite of what was intended, caused more riots and massacres.

  • National Convention

    Successor of the monarchy, this became the law making body of the French until 1795.

  • Reign of Terror

    The time when violence became the answer, especially with the guillotine. Anyone who was considered an "Enemy of the Revolution" was executed, including the former monarchs Louis XVI and Marie Antionette.

  • The Directory

    The Directory was a legistlative body comprised of 5 executives. It succeeded the National Convention.

  • Napoleon Bonaparte takes over

    General Napoleon Bonaparte takes over France in the "coup d'état". Called himself the "First Consul", giving him almost absolute power.

  • Concorat of 1801

    Reinstates part of the Roman Catholic Church in France, calling it the "Majority Religion". Allows the Pope to dispose of Bishops, but France can appoint whomever they want.

  • Napoleonic Code

    The code forbade privileges based on birth, allowed freedom of religion, and specified that government jobs go to the most qualified. It also had emphasice on being clearly written and accessable.

  • Napoleon becomes Emperor

    The French Senate appoints Napoleon to Emperor, and he rules until he is exiled to Elba, and then he takes back power, and then is exiled again, this time to St. Helena.

  • Louisiana Purchase

    The United States purchase the Louisiana territory (Much larger than just Louisiana), from Napolean. The deal would have cost about $233,000,000 today.

  • Battle of Trafalgar

    A naval battle between 33 French/Spanish ships, versus 27 British naval vessels. The British crushed the French/Spanish navy, destroying 22 of their ships, while only loosing one of their own.

  • Continental System

    This was a large trade embargo on British goods, put into place by Napolean to attempt to slow down Britain's economy.

  • Peninsular War

    A war between France and Spain, Portugal, and Britain. The French were attempting to take the Iberian penninisula, and they lost to the combined forces of Britain, Spain, and Portugal.

  • Invasion of Russia

    The French invade Russia, inorder to continue the Continental Blockade. This ends up being a decisive victory for Russia, and a major defeat for France.

  • Exile to Elba

    Napolean is exiled to Elba after the Battle of Paris. He is exiled to Elba, and actually helps Elba with true care for citizens and help with social-economic reforms.

  • Battle of Waterloo

    This battle is the final nail in the coffin for Napolean, as he looses again, this time to the Seventh Coalition. He looses horribly, again. He is then exiled to St. Helena.

  • Exile to St. Helena

    Napoleon is exiled to St. Helena, a small British colony with a prison for detaining Napoleon on. This is the island where Napoleon spends the last 6ish years of his life.