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King Louis XVI Calls Meeting of the Estates-General
After France falls into financial difficulties following the war. King Louis XVI senses the rising trouble and tries to stem it before it can grow any further. This is the first time the Estates-General has been called in almost 180 years, since 1614. The Estates General is lopsided because it is more bias towards the first and second estate. This is the tipping point of the third estate. -
Meeting of the Estates General/Tennis Court Oath
This was a meeting of the third estate and others from the 2nd and 1st estate who thought what was going on was wrong. The third estate made up 98% of the population, they were everyone else who wasn't a knight, clergy, or noble. This event occurred after the 3rd estate left the "Estates General." This group was called National Assembly. They swore that they wouldn't leave the tennis court until they made there own constitution. -
Storming of the Bastille
France was already on the verge of revolution because of the severe shortage of food. First they got weapons from weaker arsenals and then in return used them against the Bastille. The angry people swarm the Bastille, not only because of its status as an icon of the monarchy's tyranny, but because of all the weapon they could take inside. This is the second public opposition against the king, and the first violent one. Then after they were finished the dismantled the entire thing. -
The “Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen”
Inspired by the American Declaration of Independence, the Declaration of the Rights of Man & Citizen is drawn up and outlines equality and independence for all men under the state. Even though it was one of the main documents of the Revolution, women and slaves were not covered under this Declaration.This included that all men are born free. This also had everyone pay taxes instead of just the third estate. -
The King is Executed
After being put on trial in August of 1792, on Januray 17 King Louis XVI is condemned to death on charges of "conspiracy against liberty." He is executed by guillotine on January 21. He was killed so that the hopes of his government control doesn’t come back. This was mostly just so they could get a fresh new start for France. His wife was also executed during this. -
The Reign of Terror
The most violent era in the French Revolution begins as a massive political battle between the two factions, the Jacobins and the Girondins. Thousands of people were sentenced to death by execution during this period, and thousands more were killed during in surges of violence. These 2 groups had totally different means of government. This was one of the bloodiest parts of the French Revolution. They had about 300,000 people arrested, 17,000 people executed and about 10,000 died in prison. -
New Power Called "The Directory"
The Directory, created by a new constitution, assumes the role of governing France until November 10, 1799. Then it is was overthrown by Napoleon Bonaparte. During its reign of government, it only held legislative power. This meant it they could only make new laws. Which didn’t do much in return. The never got the money to do any of their projects. So they couldn't do much change to France. -
Sites Used
https://www.britannica.com/event/Tennis-Court-Oath http://historylists.org/events/list-of-10-major-events-of-the-french-revolution.html http://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/third-estate/ http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/french-revolutionaries-storm-bastille https://www.britannica.com/event/Reign-of-Terror https://www.britannica.com/topic/Directory-French-history
