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Estates-General convenes
This was the first time in 175 years that the Estates-General met. There were representatives for each estate, and this meeting was to discuss each estates grievances with the absolute monarchy. Traditionally, votes would be taken "by order", meaning that each estate counted as one vote. During this meeting, however, the third estate demanded that votes be taken "by head". -
Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly
The third estate was not seeing the results they hoped for from the Estates-General, so they began to hold their own meetings. Unlike those of the first and seond estates, their eetings were held publicly. They called themselves the National Assembly. -
Storming of the Bastille
Citizens of France were unhappy with the way their government was going, and most were starving due to high bread prices. They stormed the Bastille in search of gunpowder and prisoners that had been taken by King Louis XVI. Guards had heard rumors of the planned attack, so many had fled the Bastille out of fear. The crowd demanded that the bridge be lowered, and when it finally was, they took the guards that were there and dragged them through the streets, beheading many of them. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen issued
Issued by the National Assembly, the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen guartenteed due process in judicial matters, established sovereignty amnog the French people, and much more. -
Louis XVI executed
He was executed because he forced his army to attack the people, he attempted to flee they country with a false passport, he tried to overthrow the constitution, after he had seemed to accept it, and he tried to bribe members of the Constituent and Legislative Assemblies. -
Maximilien Robespierre assumes leadership of the Committee of Public Safety
He became one of twelve rulers of France. His policy was to use terror to make citizens go along with the revolution. Anyone who spoke out against it was sent to the guillotine. This period of time is known as the Reign of Terror. At the peak, about 800 people were executed er month. -
Robespierre is guillotined
He was accused of tyranny and arrested. Some faithful citizens helped him escape, and that night him and the people who had been arrested along with him attempted suicide. They were recaptured and executed the following day. -
Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power
Napoleon reorganized the country, centralizing the economy, justice, education, and administration. -
Napoleon is defeated by the British at the Battle of Waterloo
Npoleons's army was defeated by the army of the Duke of Wellington. This deffeat put an end to Napoleon's rule as Emperor of France.
