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Estates General is called to find a solution to the financial crisis
On Auguest 8th, 1788, the Estates General were called for the first time since 1614. This meeting held people from the clergy, nobles, and commoners (also known as the First, Second, and Third Estates) in King Louis XVI's castle in Versailles, just south of Paris. The reason this meeting was called was so Estates General could propose different solutions for the financial crisis that had arised in France, The Estates General ended when the Third Estate split into the National Assembly. -
Tennis Court Oath
On June 20th, 1789, the National Assembly, made up of representatives of the Third Estate, planned to hold a meeting to discuss the reprecusions they had about France at that time. In front of their original meeting area, gaurds were protecting the gates and refused to let them in. This led the National Assembly to instead gather in an indoor tennis stadium for the meeting. In the Tennis Court, they swore to never seperate themselves from the National Assembly until the constitution changed. -
The National Assembly Issues the Declaration of Rights for Men
In Auguest of 1789, the National Assembly issued the Declaration of RIghts for Men and the Citizen. This declaration was issued in France and signed by King Louis the XVI, even though he never really agreed with it. Some of the bigger ideas contained included the idea that men are born and remain free and with equal rights, and that the aim of the political assosiation is the preservation of the natural rights of man. -
All Officials and Priests are Required to Sign the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
On November 27th, 1790, all the officials and priests were required to sign the Civil Constitution of the Cleregy. The signing of the Civil Constitution occured in a Roman Catholic Church in France. The signing of this document was actually postponed by King Louis the XVI because he was actually opposed to this document, but he eventually gave in. This consitution stated that the church should always be open for people of both sexes, even though that was a very contrivertial idea back then. -
The National Assembly's Constitution is issued
On the 30th of September, 1791, the National Assembly issued the first constitution that was written in France. The signing of this document occured after the colapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Regime. This consitution was written to help limit the amount of power that King Louis the XVI held over France at the time. -
France Declares War on Austria and Prussia
On the 20th of April, 1792, the Legislative Assembly declared war on Austria. Revolutionaries of France wanted war because they thought it would unify their country.Soon, the Austrians and Prussians realized that the French armies were unorganized and weren't disciplined, so they to ally against them. The allys then started their march on Paris. This led to fear because the Duke in charge of the allied armies claimed that if any of the royal families were harmed, they would put Paris up in raze. -
Attack on the Tuleries Palace
On the 10th of August, 1792, 30,000 French citizens went to the Tuleries Palace to capture King Louis the XVI. King Louis heard of the mob that was approaching, and moved his family to the building of the Legislative Assembly to avoid them. The mob attacked the palace, and the guards retaliated with single shot muskets trying to hold them off. The gaurds then realized their attempts were useless and let them through. The mob then continued to search the whole palace, and kill everyone in sight. -
King Louis XVI is Executed
On the 21st of Janurary, 1793, King Louis the XVI was executed by guillotine in the Revolution Square in Paris. This exucution was the first that started the Reign of Terror, that later continued by his wife, Marie Antoinette being executed the same year. The reason that the people wanted King Louis to be executed was because of his hostility to the National Estate and his attempt to escape his imprisonment but trying to escape France. -
Slavery Starts to be Abolished from Some of the French Colonies
On the 4th of Feburary, 1794, slavery started to be abolished in some French Colonies. This started by the vote of the First Republic, whom were in favor of the abolishment of slavery. The decree they created was that the Convention declared for the slavery of blacks was to be abolished in all colonies. This idea was supported because it corresponded with the Constitution of the Rights of Man and the Citizen that was previously signed by the National Assembly. -
The Peace Treaty of Campo Formio was Signed
On the 18th of October, 1798, the Peace Treaty of Campo Formio was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte and Count Philipp von Cobenzi as the representatives of revolutionary France and the Austrian monarchy. This treaty determined different regions from Austria that were given to France, and also extended the borders of France up to Rhine, the Nette, and the Roer.