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Estate Meeting
With the financial problems King Louis 16 was having, he decided to tax the nobles too. An estate meeting took place for the first time in 175 years at the palace of Versailles. Each estate had one vote. The third estate was filled with Enlightenment ideas, and wanted a change in the government. Having the most delegates, they insisted that each person had an individual vote. This event is important because it showed the desire for change in the lower classes. -
First Act of Revolution
Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyés made a speech emphasising how the third estate should be the ones to pass the laws and reforms, renaming them to the National Assembly. On this day, the third estate voted in favor of this idea. This is important because it was the first act of revolution, the start of a representative government. The absolute monarchy was gone. A few days later, the National Assembly made a new constitution in the Tennis Court Oath. Other in favor of reform joined the National Assembly. -
Fall of the Bastille
Rumors began to spread through France. One was that King Louis 16 would use military force to stop National Assembly. The other was that outside troops would kill French citizens. People began to gather weapons. A mob searched for weapons and gunpowder in Bastille, taking control of it. They placed the heads of killed guards on spikes and walked around on the streets. The fall of Bastille in an important symbol of an revolutionary act. July 14 became Bastille Day, a national holiday in France. -
Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Nobles made speeches of liberty and freedom, and joined the National Assembly out of fear than idealism. The importance of this was that the Old Regime was gone. Peasants were equal to the higher classes. A few weeks later, the Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen was made, inspired by the Declaration of Independence. It included rights of: liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. It guaranteed its citizens: equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. -
Women's Riot
On this day, Parisian women rioted for over priced bread. They grabbed weapons and went to Versailles. They demanded for the National Assembly to provide bread, and for the king and queen to return to Paris. King Louis agreed, but after a few hours he left Versailles with his family and servants. This showed the change of power and the beginning of radical reforms. -
King Louis 16 Tries to Escape
Monarchy supporters had fled France in fear of their safety. King Louis 16th also tried to escape towards the Austrian Netherlands. They were caught near the border, and forced to go back to Paris with guards. This shows how there was no escaping his fate and the continuous change. -
A New Constitution
A new constitution was made which Louis 16 approved without option. There was now a limited constitutional monarchy. With fewer power the king could still enforce laws. The Legislative Assembly would create laws, and approve war declarations. It split into three: Radicals (wanted big government changes), Moderates (wanted some changes), Conservatives (wanted few changes).
The Émigrés (they fled France, wanted to restore Old Regime), and the Sans-Culottes (Parisian workers wanted a huge change). -
Declaration of War
With all this change in France, other countries feared that a revolt would occur in their countries too. Austria and Prussia wanted Louis 16th to be back in power. For this reason, Legislative Assembly declared war in April 1792. At first the war started bad for France. The Prussian army was advancing towards Paris. They said they would destroy Paris if they harmed the royal family. The threat didn't matter because a few months later they invaded the Tuileries, imprisoning the royal family. -
France Becomes a Republic
A New legislature called The National Convention, began functioning in September 21, 1792. The legislative assembly stoped using constitution of 1791. France now became a republic in which men could vote and hold office, women couldn't. This event shows the many changes of the French government, each time finding a better way to have order. -
The War Grows
The war began to grow as Great Britain, Holland, and Spain also joined against France. Even if the French had won the Battle of Valmy against Austria and Prussians, they had begun to get defeated. Jacobin leaders told citizens of ages 18-40, men and women, to join the army on February 1793. By 1794, the French army had grown to 800,000. This shows how other countries did not want change to happen in France nor their own countries. -
Maximilien Robespierre's Reign
Maximilien Robespierre a Jacobin Leader began to take power. He changed calendar to 12 months of 30 days without Sundays, because they referred back to religion. He also closed churches. He controlled the Committee o Public Safety’s, which was to protect the revolution from enemies. A “Reign of Terror” began, since around 40,000 people were executed without proper reasons. An important death was of George Danton. There was a lot of violence in France during his reign. -
King Louis 16's Execution
King Louis 16 is executed with a guillotine. He had a calm dignity at his execution. He had become a commoner and prisoner. With the influence of Jean-Pul Marat and Georges Danton, who were a part of the Jacobins Club, he was tried and found guilty. There was a close vote and he was sentenced to death. This represented how monarchy was now really gone since there was no king left. -
Reign of Terror Ends
The National Convention finally turned against Robespierre. He was arrested and executed. The reign of terror ended, and order could be restored again. -
Order in France
This was the third government plan. The upper middle class and the power now. There would be two houses of legislature, and 5 executive body men. These men were called the Directory. The commander of France’s armies would be Napoleon Bonaparte. This is important because order had finally reached France after all the chaos of the revolution.
