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Meeting of the Estates General
The Estates General was called upon by King Louis XVI in attempt to solve the monarchy's financial crisis. The Estates General represented 3 classes: the nobles, the clergy, and the Third Estate(the rest of the population). With the way the voting was set, the Third Estate's vote could be over-ruled, so they left and formed their own National Assembly, vowing they would remain until a new constitution was written. -
Fall of the Bastille
The revolt of armed citizens capturing and storm Bastille. In France, many thought this to be a symbol of Louis' regime and Parisians who were angry and unemployed saw the revolt as a opportunity to vent their frustrations. The commander of Bastille, Marquis de Launay, and his troops surrendered to the mob after hours of resisting. -
Women's March on Versailles
A group of women marched from Paris to the Palace of Versailles, more specifically the living quarters of Queen Marie Antoinette demanding bread and for the King to come with them and live among his people, in an effort to gain food for the citizens. Louis conceded their demands and agreed to go with the mob. -
Flight to Varennes
The royal family felt like prisoners in Paris and quietly left to seek refuge in Austria. They only traveled a few miles before being recognized in Varennes and forced to go back to Paris. -
National Assembly Dissolves
After the National Assembly's new constitution comes into act, France is proclaimed a constitutional monarchy and the National Assembly is dissolved and replaced by the Legislative Assembly. Due to no former politicians that were in the National Assembly being allowed to be a part of the Legislative Assembly or parliament, valuable political experience was lost in the government. -
France Declares War on Austria
As the issue of war was debated by the new Legislative Assembly, tensions were rising throughout Europe. The Austrian Monarchy viewed France with both anger and fear after observing their many revolutions. In France, Louis XVI and other monarchists wanted war because they thought foriegn armies would overthrow the government The revolutionaries, pushed for war because they thought it would unify the nation. -
Attack on the Tuileries Palace
The Austrian army and its Prussian allies started going into French territory. Economic stagnation was spreading throughout the country and the King was viewed as a traitor for fleeing. On August 10, a crowd of about 20,000 people attacked the Tuileries Palace. The Legislative Assembly arrested the people and over the next month, hundreds of suspected royalists were executed in what was called the “September Massacre”. -
The Trial of Louis
After Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were arrested, the Legislative Assembly disbanded and was replaced with the National Convention. Louis was charged with treason and the vote at the end of the trial was that Louis was guilty. Louis was driven through the streets of Paris to a guillotine and decapitated. Marie Antoinette had a short trial next and faced the same punishment. -
Reign of Terror
Maximilien Robespierre claimed himself leader of the Reign of terror, in which all enemies of the Revolution were executed. From September 1793 to July 1794, an estimated 16,000 people were guillotined. Later, Robespierre was arrested and guillotined. -
Directory and the Rise of Napoleon
The National Convention created a new constitution for France that was implemented in 1795. Leading the new government was the Directory, which consisted of an executive council of five members. In 1799, a successful military commander named Napoleon Bonaparte established the Consulate and himself as the First Consul.
