The French Revolution and Napoleon

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    National Constituent Assembly

    A period during which the members from the Third Estate from the Estate-General created an assembly. They took the king’s power for themselves on taxes and decided to create a constitution in which the king’s power would be restricted.
  • Formal opening of the Estates General

    Formal opening of the Estates General

    Louis XVI summoned the Estates General due to the financial and political situation in the country. Over 1.200 deputies came from all parts of France, most of them commoners. The deputies were told there was a deficit of money, and that imposing new taxes could solve it, but the commoners weren't satified and decided to solve things their way. This marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
  • Tennis Court Oath

    Tennis Court Oath

    The representatives of the commoners found the meeting hall locked, so they searched for another place, and found the tennis court. They swore that they wouldn’t disperse until a constitution was established in France. Their proposal didn’t go against the monarchy, but threatened the king’s power. As the oath was successful, it caused the revolution to get out of control. This led to the creation of France’s republican-democratic government.
  • Storming of the Bastille

    Storming of the Bastille

    A crowd of Parisians took over the Bastille due to the fear that Louis XVI arrested France’s new constitution. The Bastille was defended by 82 veterans, but when the storming began, they asked for reinforcements, but only received 32 more soldiers. Two men climbed and cut the strings of one of the bridges, causing it to fall, and they entered. To promote their victory, they began to give parts of the Bastille (like bricks) to the people. This has become a national day in France: Bastille Day.
  • The August Decrees

    The August Decrees

    A set of almost twenty articles that the National Constituent Assembly approved. These articles abolished the feudalism system in France and ended the privileges in tax exemption of the upper classes. These had some flaws, but were an important achievement of the Revolution.
  • The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

    The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen

    These articles appeared from the idea of the National Constituent Assembly, when they met to draft a new constitution, and were inspired by the American Declaration of Independence. As there were many proposals, five deputies had to read them all and combine them to form one. In these articles, freedom, ownership, security, equality when it comes to applying the law and separation of powers were considered rights. It was voted article by article, and marked the beginning of a new political era.
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    Legislative Assembly

    This was a period in which the ruler wasn’t a person, but a body, called the Legislative Assembly. It was made up of mostly commoners, and most of them were young, so had no political knowledge nor experience. It is also known as the Reign of Terror, because anyone that was suspected to be a counter-revolution would be executed. It ended with the creation of a new constitution.
  • The Flight to Varennes

    The Flight to Varennes

    King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and their children fled from Paris because Marie Antoinette had been threatened, and was scared. They got to a small village called Varennes-en-Argonne, where they were caught and arrested, and were made to return to Paris. The National Constituent Assembly tried to make it look as if King Louis had been kidnapped, but people didn’t believe it and stopped trusting their king. This caused an increase in people’s hate for the monarchy.
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    1st French Republic

    A republic was established in France. It was composed by the Girondins, the Montagnards and the Marais. When King Louis XVI was judged for treason, all of the deputies in the government of the republic voted “yes” to his execution. After considering this violent conduct, six members of the Legislative Assembly asked for elections, and so the First Republic ended.
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    National Convention

    This assembly governed over France in the most critical moment of the Revolution. It was elected to provide a new constitution. It was composed of almost 750 deputies. They abolished the monarchy and established a republic. The differences between the Montagnards and the Girondins marked the first phase of the Convention. Due to war, the Committee of Public Safety took dictatorial powers, and the Convention's role was reduced to approve the Committee’s suggestions.
  • The Assembly declares war on Austria

    The Assembly declares war on Austria

    King Louis XVI saw as a threat to the French monarchy the fact that the Court of Vienna had been supporting French rebels, or that they allowed German princes to own territories within France. He didn’t declare war on the Holy Roman Empire, but on Austria on its own.
  • Storming of the Tuileries Palace

    Storming of the Tuileries Palace

    This was a pivotal moment of the French Revolution, when armed rebels and revolutionaries invaded the Tuileries Palace, where King Louis XVI lived, and killed his guards. This event abolished France’s monarchy, creating a new phase of the Revolution.
  • Execution of Louis XVI

    Execution of Louis XVI

    In November 1792, some papers stating King Louis XVI’s opinion against the Revolution were found in the Tuileries Palace. He was judged for treason, and was executed by guillotine. His wife, Marie Antoinette, was executed too, by guillotine, but nine months later.
  • Execution of Robespierre

    Execution of Robespierre

    It was caused by a series of things happening that led to the execution of Robespierre and his closest allies, but the main one was that, since September 1793, thousands of people who had been considered to be counter-revolutionaries had been executed. This marked the end of the Jacobin dominance of this Revolution.
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    Directory

    It was the government of France during the four last years of the French Revolution. This government was not popular, even though economic crises and social unrest were faced and solved, and their troops were mostly successful.
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    The Consulate

    It was the French government during this period. It was made up of three consuls, but it was the first one, Napoleon Bonaparte, the one that held all the power. The other two had no power, and were an excuse so that the power was held only by one person. Napoleon abolished the Consulate and declared himself emperor.
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    The Napoleonic Era

    Napoleon’s goal was to establish a solid and lasting dynasty. He proclaimed himself emperor of France, though he was mostly on the battlefield, trying to fight back at Prussia and Austria and their coalitions. His government was led by centralism. He ruled France until he died in the Battle of Waterloo.
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    The Empire

    Napoleon Bonaparte proclaimed himself Emperor of France after abolishing the Consulate. He established the French hegemony in Europe. Napoleon was mostly on the battlefield, fighting Great Britain, Prussia or Austria, mainly. He signed a treaty with Russia, and became allies. Napoleon ruled France until he died, in the Battle of Waterloo.
  • Battle of Austerlitz

    Battle of Austerlitz

    A series of countries, afraid of France’s military power, had created an alliance, known as Third Coalition. France sent troops to mid-Europe. It took place in Moravia, near Austerlitz, and the Austrian Empire and the Russian Empire fought against France. This battle has been said to be one of the best planned because, even though Napoleon’s troops were outnumbered, they still won.
  • Battle of Trafalgar

    Battle of Trafalgar

    This was a naval battle between Great Britain and Spain and France. It was caused by the rivalry between France and Spain. France knew how difficult it would be to defeat Great Britain, so they offered land to Spain in exchange for fighting along their side. It took place between the Strait of Gibraltar and Cádiz. Great Britain won, but one of the best vice-admirals lost his life. This victory assured Great Britain's naval supremacy for one more century.
  • Battle of Leipzig

    Battle of Leipzig

    After the Third Coalition had failed, the Sixth Coalition was formed. In this battle, Russia, Prussia, Austria and Sweden fought against France to end up with their military power. The battle took place in Leipzig, Saxony. France was defeated, and lost their control over Germany.
  • Battle of Waterloo

    Battle of Waterloo

    The battle took place in Waterloo, in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Seventh Coalition (made up of Belgian, German, British and Dutch units) fought against France, to end with their military power. France eventually lost. This battle was Napoleon’s last, because he died.