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Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's Marriage
Louis and Marie got married in April 1770. They were married in order to strengthen France and Austria tied. They were married for seven years before giving birth to a child, a baby girl named Marie-Thérèse Charlotte, The French Revolution started during their reign. They were not very good rulers. -
King Louis XVI Becomes King
Louis XVI became king after the death of his father. He took the throne at age 20. -
The Start of the Fincial Crisis
In the years of 1787-1788, the French People faced a period of bad harvests. The bad harvest and a slowdown of manufacturing led to food shortages, rising prices in food, and unemployment. The king and his ministers continued to spend enormous amounts of Money on wars and court luxuries. The budget completely went when the French gave money to help American colonists against Britain. This led to the king having to call the Estates-- General meeting. -
The National Assembly and The Tennis Court Oath.
The Third Estate declared The National Assembly would draft a constitution. Three days later when the Assembly went to meet, they found the doors of their meeting placed locked, so they moved to a nearby indoor tennis court where they said they would continue to meet until the new constitution was finished. The oath they swore by became known as the Tennis Court Oath. -
Storming of the Bastille
In the Storming of the Bastille, 900 Paris citizens stormed the Bastille, an old fort. They stormed it because flour prices raised. Flour was the main ingredient for bread, which was the French's main food. They released prisoners, cut off the wardens head (and put the head on a stick) and took the place down brick by brick. Peasant revolts became very common and the vast panic that came from it was known as The Great Fear. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
The declaration proclaimed that all men were free and equal before the law, that the appointment to public office should be based on public talent, and that no group should be exempt from taxation. Freedom of speech and pressed were affirmed. The document was based on the English Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence. -
The New Constitution
The New Constitution set up a limited monarchy. There is still a king, but a legislative Assembly would make the laws. It was designed to be conservative. Local governments had control of taxation and a new system of choosing government officials was established. Everyone had rights but was not allowed to vote. Louis XVI publicly swore to uphold by this constitution. -
War with Austria
Over time, other European leaders thought the revolt would spread to their countries. So the rulers of Austria and Persia threatened to use force to restore king Louis XVI's power. Fearing this threat, the Legislative Assembly took action and declared war on Austria. -
Rise of Paris Commune
Angry citizens protested. They considered themselves a commune, a popularly run city council. They organized a mob attack on the royal palace and Legislative Assembly. They took the King captive and forced they Legislative Assembly to suspend the monarchy. They also called for a National convention. -
The First Republic
The Newly Elected National Convention began meeting. The Convention had to draft a New constitution. The Convention's first major step was to abolish the monarchy and to establish a republic, the French Republic. -
Louis' Execution
The Mountain convinced the Convention to pass a decree condemning Louis XVI to death. -
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror lasted from 1973-1974. The committee of Public Safety took control of the government. To defend France from domestic threats, the committee adopted policies that became known as the Reign of Terror. -
Reign of Terror Ends
After the death of Robespierre, the Jacobins lost power and more moderate middle class citizens took control. In August 1794 Reign of Terror ended and prisoners were released. -
The Directory
The Directory was a body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate. The period of this regime (2 November 1795 until 10 November 1799), commonly known as the Directory era, constitutes the second to last stage of the French Revolution. The Directory became known for its corruption. -
Napoleon's Coup d'etat
The Directory began to rely on the military. However, one military leader turned on the government. The popular General Napoleon Bonaparte toppled the Directory in a coup d’état, or a sudden over throw of the government. Napoleon gained power.
