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Estates-General convenes
On May 5th 1789, Loius XVI called for an Estates-General meeting to improve the economy. During this event, the Third estate was always out voted, so they created the National Assembly -
National Assembly
The delegates of the Third Estate claimed to represent the people of France, and so they declared themselves to be the National Assembly. Then, they invited delegates from the other estates to help them write a constitution. Then a few days later the National Assembly found its meeting hall locked and guarded. So they moved to some nearby tennis courts to continue their meetings -
Storming of the Bastille
On July 14, 1789, more than 800 Parisians assembled outside the Bastille, a grim medieval fortress used as a prison for political and other prisoners. The crowd was demanding weapons and gunpowder believed to be stored there. Then when the commander of the Bastille refused to open the gates, the mob broke in and captured the Bastille -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and citizen issued
On this day, the National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. It stated that men are “born and remain free and equal in rights.” and that people should enjoy natural rights to “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.” In addition, the Declaration asserted freedom of religion and called for taxes to be levied according to ability to pay. It also stated the slogan of the Revolution “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.” -
Louis XVI executed
During the early the Republic, the Convention also put Louis XVI on trial as a traitor to France. The king was convicted by a single vote and sentenced to death. -
Robespierre assumes leadership of the Committee of Public Safety
Maximilien Robespierre, a lawyer and politian, assumed leadership of the Committee of Public Safety, He supported Rousseau's idea of the general will as the source of all legitimate law. -
Robespierre is guillotined
Tired of the fear and bloodshed, the Convention turned on its leader, thus Robespierre was arrested and killed. -
Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power
Napoleon Bonaparte's success in battle led to him being appointed to the First Consul position. From there, he crowned himself emperor of France. -
Napoleon defeated by British at the Battle of Waterloo.
On June 18, 1815, the enemy armies of England and Prussia met near the town of Waterloo in Belgium. The brillian Duke of Wellington commanded British forces and the Prussian army was commanded by General Blücher. Together, they crushed the French army in a day long battle.
