-
Estates General Meeting
Meeting called by the Estates to solve the financial crises in France. The meeting was held in the palace of Versailles between the people in France (300 of clergy, 300 of nobility, and 600 of everyone else). The National Assembly was then created by the 3rd estate. -
Period: to
Key Events of the French Revolution
-
Tennis Court Oath
Pledge made by the National Assembly to not stop fighting for a constitution till they have one. This was held in a tennis court in the Palace of Versailles because Louis XVI didn’t want the group to have the meeting. Louis XVI told the group that the meeting room was closed for renovations so the group moved the meeting to the tennis court. -
Storming of the Bastille
The people (revolutionary) stormed the Bastille for weapons for their people. At the same time they released seven political prisoners. This was a symbol of the start to the French Revolution. Louis XVI sent the troops to get weapons to guard the Palace of Versailles. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
The National Assembly wrote a statement of constitution (similar to the Declaration of Independence). The document stated “the natural rights of man to liberty, property, and security". -
Women's March on Versailles
Peasant women heard rumors that the queen (Marie Antoinette) was hoarding grain in her palace. Since the women were starving they marched with weapons to the Palace of Versailles and demanded that the king and queen move to Paris. The king and queen did as they were asked. -
Escape of the Royal Family
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were scared for their lives so they dressed as servants and tried to escape Paris. While they were escaping they were caught by Jacobins and brought back to Paris. -
Champ de Mars
The Jacobins were trying to start a petition at the Champ de Mars to get rid of the King. The National Assembly was then called in and when they arrived the crowd started to throw large rocks at them. The National Guard warned them to stop and when they didn’t the National Guard started to shoot at the crowd. About 50 people were killed at this massacre. -
Execution of Louis XVI
Louis XVI was executed by guillotine in the Revolution Square, Paris. He was tried for high treason and was found guilty. -
Reign of Terror
The Reign of Terror was a period of paranoia and massive execution in France to protect the revolution from enemies. This created the Committee of Public safety led by Maximilien Robespierre which goal was to get rid of people that were not radical or too radical. The method of killing was by guillotine. People finally realized these methods were not working to further the revolution so they executed Maximilien Robespierre and The Reign of Terror came to an end in July 1794. -
Rise of Napoleon
An artillery captain by the name Napoleon Bonaparte came to save the revolution because France was going down after the Reign of Terror. By 1795 the French Revolution ended bacause of the new constitution created.
