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Angered mobs, supported by armed soldiers, set their sights on the large weapons and cache of ammunition inside the Bastille fortress, which was also seen as a symbol of royal power. That afternoon the prison fell. This launched the French Revolution.
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The National Constituent Assembly abolished feudalism, in what is known as the August Decrees, sweeping away both seineurial rights of the Second Estate and the tithes gathered by the First Estate. In a matter of hours, nobles, clergy, towns, provinces, companies, ad cities lost their special privleges.
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The Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen is published, comprising a statement of principles rather than a legal constitution. The National Constituent Assembly not only functioned as a legislature, but as a body to draft a new constitution.
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Crowds of women assemble at Parisian markets and marched to the city hall, demanding that their concerns be addressed. Besides economic situations they faced, they also demanded an end to royal efforts to block the National Assembly, and for the king to move to Paris. On October 6, 1789, the King and the royal family moved from Versailles to Paris.
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In an attempt to flee the Tuileries Palace, the ryal family dressed as servants, while their servants dressed as nobles. The next day, the King is recognised and arrested. He and his family were brought back to Paris, still dressed as servants.
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On the night of August 10, 1792 a mob of insurgents assailed the Tuileries Palace and massacred the Swiss Guards protecting the royal family. The royal family ended up prisoners.
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The Convention, elected by universal male suffrage and charged with writing a new consitution, met on September 20, 1792 and became the new "de facto" government of France. The next day it put an end to the monarchy and declared a republic.
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(no exact date, 1793-94) The Reign of Terror was released by the Jacobins after the Committee of Public Safety fell into the hands of Maximilien Robspierre, a lawyer. During this time, at least 16.594 peoples were beheaded by the guillotine after accusations of counter-revolutionary activities.
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Louis appeared to be conspiring with France's enemies. He was condemned to death for "conspiring against the public liberty and general safety" by a close majority in Convention: 361 votes to execute, 288 votes against, and 72 votes to execute him subject to a variety of delaying conditions. He was executed at the guillotine at the Place de la Révolution, now the Place de la Concorde.
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"The Law of Maximum" set food prices, first starting with only grain, but soon increasing the "maximum" to other goods. Shortages and famine commenced, and the Committee sent dragoons to seize crops. The food collection was not enough and the Committee's days fell short. As Robespierre was executed at the guillotine, the crowds jeered, "There goes the dirty maximum!"
