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Louis Calls the Three Estates
Facing crippling debt, the monarch of France, King Louis XVI assembles the Three Estates. Louis wishes to raise the taxes on the citizens of France, but law states that he can only do so with the approval of the Three Estates. However, what Louis did not predict was that the First Estate and the Second Estate would vote to only raise taxes on the Third Estate. This angers members of the Third Estate, who represent over 95 percent of the French population. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
This Declaration was made so the Third Estate could finally have a voice instead of paying higher taxes, so the other estates could live lavishly. The idea of this Declaration came from the Enlightenment time period (1715). During this time period, most people wanted to separate themselves from the Catholic Church, so they may be free to think on their own instead of being controlled. This declaration was created by Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the rights were only for men not even women. -
March on Versailles
Many market women were very angry over the price of bread becoming higher and the shortage of it. But more and more people began to join the riot for either economic or political reasons like their taxes being raised while the royals were living lavishly. They all walked to the Palace of Versailles just to confront the King, and this riot caused chaos and death. The people only become calm when confronted by King Louis XVI, which led to Louis staying in Paris and the royals losing their power. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
After the March on Versailles, Louis and his queen were forced to stay in Paris. Louis XVI was also forced by the people to sign the constitution. Then both Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were captured and held in a person. Louis XVI was then put on trial for treason and was convicted and sentenced to death. On January 21st, Louis XVI was sent to the guillotine and was executed in front of multiple people. -
The Reign of Terror
During this time, a lot of violence was going on between the Girondins, the moderate republicans, and the Jacobins, the radical republicans. Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety caused chaos and destruction, while trying to get rid of any trace of the old monarch government. People were executed for anything little reason, either you were a noble, or put on trial for a crime, if you didn’t support the revolution, and if you allegedly didn’t support the revolution. -
Battle of the First of June
Due to the effects of the French Revolution, the British were looking for grain ships that were owned by the French. The British were the first to attack the French while searching for the French grain ships throughout the Atlantic Ocean. This war was also the first marine problem to occur between the French and British during the French Revolutionary Wars. After multiple ships were damaged and many people were killed, the British managed to captured at least 4 French grain ships. -
The Fall of Robespierre
Around this time Robespierre and his followers were arrested, but when sent to jail the warden refused to put Robespierre in jail. Later on, he goes to Hotel De Ville and tries to shoot himself when he is declared an outlaw by the National Convention. He fails too aim for his head and injuries his jaw, but later on is ambushed by the National Convection and was captured with his followers as well.Robespierre and his allies were then executed without trial. -
The Directory
The Directory was a committee that had 5 male members, that were suppose to improve the economy after the Reign of Terror but failed to. If you were a former member of the Convection and voted for the execution of Louis XVI, you would have been allowed to be a member of the Directory. They weren’t really popular because they made the French’s problems worse by constantly going to war with other European nations. The Directory was later overthrown on November 9, 1799 by Napoleon Bonaparte. -
Napoleon’s First Marriage
Napoleon had met Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie and was instantly fell in love with her.Later on, he had proposed and they got married on March of 1796. After they were married Napoleon had to leave so he could lead the French army in Italy, but Josephine had been with other people while he was away at war. Later on, one of her affairs was exposed to embarrass Napoleon and he started to have affairs with other women. Years later, they got divorced after they couldn’t provide an heir. -
The Rise of Napoleon
When returning home after leading armies, Napoleon saw that his home was in complete chaos because of the ineffective Directory. Many people approached Napoleon to help better the French economy, but two members of the Directory and Napoleon had made a plan to overthrow the Directory to create a stronger and better government for France.When they overthrew the Directory, the First Consul was established and Napoleon was granted more power than the other two consuls. -
Napoleon becomes Emperor
After taking political power from the old government, he was able to gain power by being apart of the First Consul. He was able to make certain changes to the constitution that fit Napoleon’s interests. He made sure he gained the support of the Landowners by giving them power so they can hold onto their land without losing it again. Then in return for getting their land back, they would support him in becoming Emperor. Then a law was pasted by the Senate making Napoleon the Emperor of France. -
Napoleon’s Second Marriage
When Napoleon became Emperor, he started thinking about divorce because Josephine couldn’t have a child again. After divorcing Josephine, Napoleon married, an Archduchess of Austria, named Marie-Louise so that she can provide an heir for the throne. Later on, she gave birth in 1811 and had a son. -
Treaty of Chaumont
The Treaty of Chaumont was a treaty that was signed by Britain, Russia,Austria, and Prussia. After all the wars and chaos caused by them, they decided to come together to overthrow Napoleon.This treaty made them come together to get rid of Napoleon so they all can have equal power.They wanted to put their forces together so their men could defeat France and Europe will have their glory. -
The Fall of Paris
Napoleon’s main French army, Grande Armée, was destroyed based on his alliance campaign with Austria and Prussia, which lead to him getting defeated during the Battle of Nations. Later on, Tsar Alexander I had ordered for France to be invaded and Napoleon decided to go to war when Tsar Alexander I had paraded to Paris. But the battle ended when France was defeated after French commanders had gave the city to Tsar Alexander I. Napoleon was then sent away to the Isle of Elba. -
The Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was the final battle of the French Revolution and it was the last battle Napoleon ever fought in. The Battle of Waterloo was fought in present day Belgium. Napoleon’s French forces were outnumbered by the combined armies of the English and the Prussians, led by British officer the Duke of Wellington. When Napoleon was defeated, the French throne was once again given to King Louis XVIII. Napoleon was exiled to an island named Saint Helena where he died from natural causes.