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What Is the Thurd Estate?
In January 1789, clergyman Abbe Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes wrote a pamphlet entitled "What is the Third Estate?". Sieyes argued that the First and Second Estates are useless and that the Third Estate is the only legitimate Estate becuase it represents most of France's population.The pamphlet was so important because it contributed to the outbreak of the French Revoloution. -
King Louis XVI Calls the Estates-General
This was the first time that the Estates-General had been called since 1614. Called on the 5th of May, 1789, this Estates-General was called to find a soloution to the French Government's financial problems. It sat for a few weeks in May and June but the three estates (Clergy, Nobles, and Commoners) couldn't come to an agreement. -
National Assembly
The National Assembly was an assembly for the people and not the Estates. They invited the other Estates to joint them but also told them that they would start with or without them. King Louis XVI ordered that the Assembly be closed and made an excuse that the hall needed to be prepared for a speech in two days. Louis was not successful in stopping them and the assembly moved to a nearby tennis court where they swore the Tennis Court Oath. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was a plegde signed by the members of the Third Estate. A politician who wouldn't be a part of desicions not made by the king was the only person who didn't sign the Oath.This Oath was in opposition to the King. The National Assembly did not back down from the King and he was forced to admit to the citizens. -
Storming of the Bastille
Happened in Paris, France on the morning of July 14th. The Third Estate (Common people) had earlier stormed the Hotel Des Invalides to collect weaponry. Here they found roughly 30,000 muskets but without ammunition or gun powder. This is why they stormed Bastille where there was over 13,600 kilograms of gunpowder and a good amount of ammunition. Because the third estate represented around 95% of France's population at that time Bastille was captured and the rebellion began. -
The Great Fear
The condition of the land and the availability of grains and other foods was worsening in the spring shortage. Food supplies were gaurded by militias. In response, peasants robbed the Bastille jail and attacked manor houses. Peasants did this out of fear that they would not have enough food to survive. Grain supplies were also attacked and taken. This revolt spread throughout the coutry but eventually was taken over by Militia. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
On this day the Nation Constituent Assemby abolished fuedalism which took away the seigneurial rights of the Second Estate. It also wiped out the tithes gathered by the First Estate. This helped them work towards a constitution. The Clergy were not happy but they could do nothing about it. The Constitution passed on July 12th 1790. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was approved by the National Constituent Assembly of France, 26 August 1789. This was crucial in writing a constituion for France. -
Women's March on Versailles
The March on Versailles is also known as The October March or The October Days. The march began on the morning of October 5th. Women came close to rioting over the high prices of bread. The march was in the marketplaces of Paris and the rebellion. It became interwintedpart with the revoloutionaries who wanted a constitutional monarchy for France. It grew to a mob of thousands. The city was ransacked for weapons and the Palace of Versailles was taken over. Here the King agreed to meet their needs -
Fête de la Fédération
The Birthday of the Federation was a huge feast which was an official event to celebrate the conclusion of monarchy in France. People hoped for this to be the happy conclusion to the French Revoloution. It began early at a round 4 in the morning. It rained the entire day but still 14,000 (every member) National Guard members attended the feast. They were brought to the place were the Bastille once stood -
Day of Daggars
The Day of Daggers also known as Day of Poignards was happened during the French Revolution. On 28 February 1791 Marquis de Lafayette arrested 400 armed aristocrats at the Tuileries in Paris. This happened after attempts were made at both Lafayette's life and the King's -
Flight to Varennes
At this time Louis XVI was against the French Revoloution as France would no longer be a monarchy. On the night of June 21 the royal family dressed up as nobles and fled. The next day the king was recognised and arrested at Varennes. He and his family were brought back to Paris by gaurd where the King was suspended. -
Champ de Mars Massacre
On this day the National Constituent Assembly allowed the King to remain under a constitutional monarchy. Because of this, leaders of the republicans in France rallied against the decision. A large crowd formed at the Champ de Mars waiting to sign a petition to remove King Louis. The National Gaurd was able to controlthe crowd but later again that day the crowd retured in greater numbers and were more angry this time. They threw stones at the Gaurd who in return opened fire into the crowd. -
The French Revoloutionary Wars
The French Revoloutionary Wars were a number of conflicts fought about between 1792 until 1802. They are most often divided into the First Coalition which was from 1792-1797 and the Second Coalition (1798-1801). France fought against Great Britain and other European states. The French Republic in the survived came out on top with a victory. They expanded territory and a few French client republics were established. -
Storming of the Tuileries Palace
At about 10:00am on this day, a mob made up of of close to 30,000 citizens of France made its way towards the Tuileries Palace. Information had gone around that this is where King Louis XVI was going. The king fled taking with him 300 volunteer soldiers. The palace was left basically ungaurded which gave the mob the oppourtunity to look for King Louis. In the end the mob killed 600 of the 9000 swiss gaurds. -
September Massacres
The September Massacres took place in the summer of 1792, another defining moment of the French Revoloution. The Massacres consisted of mob violence and it overtook Paris. At the end of the killings, half of the population of the prisoners had been executed, and around 1,200 prisoners along with young boys and women were taken prisoner. -
King Louis XVI is Executed
Louis was arrested on August 13th 1792 and sent to a prison in Paris. He was stripped of all of his titles and honours and was know known as Citoyen Louis Capet. At this point France had just changed from a Monarchy to Republic. On January 15th 1793, the Convention voted the verdict of King Louis's trial. The 693 out of the 721 deputies voted guitly. The desicion was final and King Louis was beheaded by a guillotine on May 21st. -
Levée en masse
This was a French term for mass consctiption during the French Revoloutionary Wars. This termy refers to the decree that forced all unmaried men betweent the ages of 18 and 25 to go to war. -
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror also known as The Terror was a time of complete violence that started at the beginning of the French Revoloution (September 5th 1793) and lastied untill July 28 1794. Many deaths were caused simply from the popular guillotine which was their "National Razor" -
Robespierre is Executed
Robespierre appeared at the 8th Thermidor convention on July 26th. Here he attempted to defend himself in a speech against accusations of dictatorship and tyranny. Robespierre was arrested by the convention the next day and was sentenced to death. Robespierre also tried to commit suicide but only managed to shatter his jaw before his execution.
