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Estates-General
Due to economic issues in France, Louis XIV decided to impose taxes on the Second Estate. However, the nobles did not like this, so they called for an Estates-General. The assembly included representatives from all three estates and was held on May 5th, 1789, at Versailles. The Estates-General marked the beginning of the French Revolution. -
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French Revolution
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National Assembly Established
On June 17th, 1789, the Third Estate delegates voted to establish the National Assembly, a name suggested by a clergyman named Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès. They wanted to see the end of the absolute monarchy by passing laws and reforms. -
Tennis Court Oath
Three days after voting to establish the National Assembly, the Third Estate delegates were locked out of their meeting room on June 20th, 1789. They broke into an indoor tennis court, which they used as a new meeting room. -
Storming of the Bastille
Many people in Paris began panicking about what was going on with the National Assembly in Versailles. People began gathering weapons to defend themselves against attack. On July 14, 1789, they stormed the Bastille. This day is now known as Bastille day and is a national holiday in France. -
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Great Fear
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Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The Marquis de Lafayette and Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès played significant roles in drafting the Declaration. Lafayette created the initial draft, and Sieyès made the final draft. -
Women's March on Versailles
The rising prices and major shortages of bread led thousands of Parisian to riot. They marched to Versailles, where they demanded the National Assembly gave them bread. They also broke into the palace, demanding the king and queen return to Paris. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The National Assembly wanted the Catholic Church under state control and reorganization of the clergy. The Civil Constitution was passed on July 12th, 1790. -
Execution of Louis XVI
The National Convention tried Louis XVI for treason. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. On January 21, 1793, he was beheaded by a guillotine. -
Revolutionary Tribunal
The Revolutionary Tribunal was initially established in 1972 but was later abolished. It was re-established on March 10th, 1793, by the National Convention. -
Committee of Public Safety Established
The National Convention created the Committee of Public Safety on April 6th, 1793. A Jacobin leader named Maximilien Robespierre became the committee's leader in July of the same year. -
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Jacobins
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Reign of Terror
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Law of Suspects
The National Convention passed the The Law of Suspects on September 17, 1793. It marked the start of the Reign of Terror. -
Coup d'État of 18 Brumaire
The Coup d'Ètait was organized by Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès and executed by Napoleon Bonaparte on November 9th, 1799. It caused Napoleon to become the First Consul of France. This event marked the end of the French Revolution.