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Capturing of the Bastille Prison
Fearing that King Louis XVI was going to drive out the National Assembly by force, the people of Paris Captured the Bastille Prison, a symbol of royal oppression. This outbreak of violence led to the formaltion of a new government in Paris. -
The end of Feudalism
The National Assembly had formally done away with Feudalism in France. Following this, they adopted the Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen. -
Women's March
A mob of angry Parisian women marched to Versailes demanding relief from King Louis XVI for the nationwide food shortage. -
The Constitution of France
In 1791 the National Assmebly finished writing a Constituion for France. This limited the authority of the king and divided the government into three branches- executive, legislative and judicial. -
War declared on Austria
While the revolution in France was going on, Austria and Prussia had signed a declaration promising not to harm King Louis XVI. However, the people of France, who were against Louis were hostile toward their Austrian enemies. They also despised Austria's king, Leopold II, Mary-Antoinette's brother and Holy Roman Emperor. The National Assembly declared war on Leopold and Fredrich William II, King of Prussia declared war on France, in order to help Austria. -
The monarchy is overthrown
In early August, the Legislative Assembly was deadlocked, unable to decide what to do about the King, the constitution, the ongoing war, and the political uprisings in Paris. As the King’s bodyguards prepared to defend him, Louis recognized that it would be more prudent to flee. He and his family escaped through a secret passage and placed themselves under the protection of the Legislative Assembly, which arrested him. -
September Massacres
The September Massacres began on September 2nd and lasted until September 6th. Several prisons in Paris were attacked and half the prisoners were killed. -
France is proclaimed a Republic
The Legislative Assembly voted to abolish the monarchy and establish the First Republic. This measure came one year after King Louis XVI approved a new constitution that stripped him of much of his power. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
One day after being convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers and sentenced to death by the National Convention, King Louis XVI is executed at the guillotine in the Place de la Revolution in Paris. Marie Antoinette faced the same fate 9 months later. -
Napolean becomes dictator
Napoleon abandoned his troops and returned to Paris in 1799; in November of that year, a coup made him the ruler and military dictator of France. He then became emperor of France in 1804.
