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"Great Fear"
A period of panic by the peasants and others amid rumours of an “aristocratic conspiracy” by the king and the privileged to overthrow the Third Estate. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate decided to break from the Estates General and draw up their own constitution- they were fed up. On June 20, 1789 they found themselves locked out of their regular meeting place, and so they gathered in an nearby tennis court and vowed that they would continue to meet until they had established a new constitution for France. -
Fall of Bastille
The increased mob activity in Paris had resulted in the formation of a permanent committee to keep order. This organized popular force broke into a royal armory and collected arms and then stormed the Bastille, incited by a rousing speech delivered by Camille Desmoulins. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
Document defining the individual rights of men. Guaranteed due process in judicial matters and established sovereignty among the French people. -
Women march on Versailles
This march began because women were really upset with the high prices and scarcity of bread. This was the earliest significant event of the French Revolution. -
Civil Constitution of Clergy
A law passed by the National Assembly that established a national church system with elected clergy- subordinated the Roman Catholic Church in France to the French government. -
Constitution of 1791
Second written constitution of France which declared France to be a constitutional monarchy. All legislative powers went to a single legislative Assembly, which had the power to declare war and raise taxes. -
The Royal Escape
This is when King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette tried to flee to Paris. -
Declaration of Pilnitz
Issued by Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II and Frederick William II of Prussia. Declaration stated that they would invade France if the power of the King Louis XVI was threathened by revolutionary forces. -
Creation of National Convention
The National Convention comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795. It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic -
reign of Terror Begins
This was when France executed anyone who was an enemy of the state. Begins when Robespierre declares Terror "the order of the day." This marks the beginning of almost two years of repressing perceived enemies of the Revolution. It will claim an estimated 18,500-40,000 lives before its end in July 1794. -
Death of Robespierre & end the Terror
The last victim of the Reign of Terror was Robespierre - ended the reign of terror. People had enough of Robespierre, he threathened the other members of the Committee of Public Safety. He was arrested and sent to the guillotine. -
Constitution of 1795
Established the directory and liberal republic with a franchise based on the payment of taxes. A five man directory. A bicameral legislature to slow down the legislative process. -
Creation of Directory
A body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate -
Napoleon becomes Consulate
Napoleon was First Consulate, had established himself as the head of a more conservative republican government in France while not declaring himself head of state. -
Concordat Of 1801
Agreement between Napolean and Pope Pius VII to reestablish the Catholic church in France. -
Coronation of an Emperor
Napoleon's Coronation as Emperor of the French. The task of organizing the coronation was given to L. Ph. de Ségur, the Grand master of Ceremonies, and A. L. de Rémusat, then First Chamberlain. -
Battle of Trafalgar
A sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy. -
Battle of Austerlitz
One of Napolean's greatest victories, where the French Empire effectively crushed the Third Coalition - brought it to an end. -
Invasion of Spain
Triggered independence movements that tore just about most of the empire. -
Invasion of Russia
Turning point in the Napoleonic Wars. It reduced the French and allied invasion forces to a tiny fraction of their initial strength and triggered a major shift in European politics as it dramatically weakened French hegemony in Europe. -
Exile to Elba
Napolean was exiled to Elba after he abdicates the throne -
Congress of Vienna
An international conference that was called in order to remake Europe after the downfall of Napoleon I. -
"A Hundred Days"
The period between Emperor Napoleon of France's return from exile on Elba to Paris and the second restoration of King Louis XVIII. -
Battle of Waterloo
The battle of Waterloo put an end to the rule of Napolean as the emporer of France. A battle fought between the French and British, Germans, Belgians, Dutch, and Prussians.
