-
Estates General convened by King
The Estates General met in Paris, and it was the first meeting in 175 years. The reason for the meeting was to get the matter of taxes settled. The third estate wanted twice more representation since first and second estate could override them. On June 17th Third estate became a National Assembly, which gave them the right to make laws for France. All representatives of each estate had a written notebook regarding this event. The meeting consisted of 270 nobles, 291 clergy, and 578 commoners. -
Tennis Court Oath
The king took action and locked the third estate out of the meeting room. So, they met in an inside tennis court. They swore they would not leave the court until they had a constituion written for France. King Louis ended up giving each representative a vote. -
Storming of the Bastille
This resulted as a mistake King Louis made. He ordered troops to go to Paris and Versailles to preserve monarchy by force. The members of the National Assembly were scared he would use violence to end their meetings. People of Paris, in sympathy with the National Assembly, were armed against the King and whatever action he took. This was also a desperate moment because of financial crisis and starvation. Members demanded change, and it was not accepted, so 60,000 workers stormed Bastille. -
National Assembly decrees abolition of feudalism
France's monarchy ended when the National Assembly formed a new government. With this new power they eliminated everything such as services peasants owed landowners. They also eliminated all of the legal priveleges the first estate had. -
National Assembly decrees Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
This was a document that set forth the foundation and basic principles of the French Revolution, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity. The inspiration for this document was the English Bill of Rights, the American Bill of Rights, and The Enlightenment Thinkers. It stated that all men are equal, were born equal, and will remain equal. Gave men and citizens freedom of speech, the press, and relligion, except women. A Declaration was written for women but the National Assembly turned it down. -
Women's March for Bread to Versailles
This was the result of another mistake King Louis made, and he called the troops to protect his throne. People of Paris were mad because they thought the Revolution would end. So, 7,000 women marched in the rain, demanding bread, and broke into the palace. To be in peace with the people, he decided to live in Tuileries with his family. -
Abolition of nobility and titles
In November, the National Assembly sold churchlands to pay off France's huge debt. Religious orders were broken, and they passed out an act that made clergy into publbic employees. This event suprised and horrified everyone. -
Black Citizens of French colonies granted equal rights
The Society of the Friends of the Blacks (French: Societe eds amis des Noirs or Amis de noirs) was a group of French men and women, mostly white, who were abolitionists. In February 1794, the National Assembly legislated the Universal Emancipation decree, which effectively freed all colonial slaves. -
Beginning of Legislative Assembly
They completed a constitution, and created a Legislative Assembly. Only taxpaying men at the age of 25+ gained voting rights. Legislative Assembly kept the monarchy but restricted King. However, the King and Queen thought they were not safe so they ran away but got caught. Soon, they declared war with Austria but were defeated. Aftermath of war was alot of financial strain. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
They wanted to ecxecute the King to make sure the monarchy did not return to power. He made a speech and said he was innocent, he was cut off and the guillotine chopped his head off. This would defend the Revolution from enemies. -
Jacobin masses storm the Tuileries Palace, massacring the Swiss Guard, and the King imprisoned
A mob marched and killed the guards. King Louis, the Queen, and the kids were sent to prison. Legislative Assembly felt powerless, so they ended. However, soon the election for the National Convention came up. First action they took was by ending the monarchy and making France a Republic. The French won the battle against foreigners. -
Committee of Public Safety established
This Committee was setup to help and manage the countrys military defense against foreigners. Men between 18 and 45 went to serve military services.This also established a court called Rev. Tribunal. -
Beginning of the Reign of Terror
A period of terror thatbegan when the French Revolution entered the phase of political conflict namely between the political factions of the Girondins and Jacobins. The guillotine became the method of settling disputes. The Law of Suspects allowed the creation of tribunals to try and execute anyone who disagreed witht the French Republic. -
End of Reign of Terror
Robespierre is arrested and executed ending the phase known as The Reign of Terror, -
Creation of the Directorate
Directorate made voting rights only for men who owned property. There were five men called the directors, they passed some financial reforms that helped farmers and improved trade. The Directorate shared some of the same characteristics of the Old Order, and it was not effective or successful. -
Napolean Bonaparte named "First Consul," now the effective dictator
This event was a coup d'etat which is a forced transfer of power. The Consulate would be in place of the Directory. They voted Napolean as first consul, he was a dictator, and France remained a Republic. French people wanted stability and order that Napolean promised, so they were willing to give up some freedom and power. -
Napolean consecrated as Emperor
Napolean wanted to make the power the people gavae him permanent. So, he submitted a plebiscite, and the French voters accepted and did want to become an Empire. As a result Pope Pius VII was going to crown him emperor. However, Napolean took the crown and put it on his own head. This signified that he took his own authority and no one could take that away from him.
