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The Tennis Court Oath
The Estates General began to weaken when its framework led to a difference of opinion within the Third Estate. The Third Estate decided to stick with representing their right and opposed Louis XVI when he did not allow each delegate to vote. The Third Estate, which was made up of mostly Bourgeoisie, were locked out of a meeting of the Estates General, so they met inside a tennis court where they establish the National Assembly and reasoned to draw up a constitution based on popular sovereignty. -
Storming of the Bastille
The people of Paris attacked the Bastille freeing prisoners and stealing gunpowder to use for the revolution. -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
First step toward a constitution. It was based of of the structure of the American Declaration of Independence. It stated all men were, "born and remain free and equal in rights." Natural rights to, "liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression." It also declared all male citizens equal before the law. French men were allowed to hold public office with "no distinctions on their virtues and talents." Asserted freedom of religions and taxes to be paid according to salary. -
Women's March on Versailles
A large crowd of women began to riot over the scarce quantity of bread and the rising prices of it. The women marched for twelve miles from Paris to Versailles. These women were fed up with the extravagant living of the King and Queen, when they were going hungry. The women demanded for the King to return with them to Paris. He agreed. The women were taking action during the revolution. This signifies that the king was no longer in control to make decisions. -
Louis' Escape from Paris
King Louis XVI of France, along with his wife Marie Antoinette decided to escape their embarrassing situation in Paris. Louis agreed. He disguised himself with his family. However, their disguises were revealed. They were returned back to Paris, this time confined to the Tuileries Palace. They were seen as traitors to the revolution. Reactions within France, as well as outside of France spurred about the king. Louis received threats from abroad. -
Revolution in Haiti
There was a slave revolt in the French colony of Saint-Domingue, which culminated in the elimination of slavery there and the founding of the Republic of Haiti. The Haitian Revolution was the only slave revolt which led to the founding of a new country. Furthermore, it is generally considered the most successful slave rebellion ever to have occurred and as a defining moment in the histories of both Europe and the Americas. -
The Execution of King Louis XVI
The National Convention held Louis XVI on trial for being a traitor to France. The king was then sentenced to death by a single vote. His words before he was killed were ignored as the crowd and drums masked them. He was sent to the guillotine, where he was beheaded. This was significant because people were now making decisions and held the power. -
The Committee of Public Safety is formed
The Committee of Public Safety was created by the National Convention in 1793. Originally consisting of nine members of the convention, it was formed as an administrative body to supervise and expedite the work of the executive bodies of the convention and of the government ministers appointed by the convention. The goal of the Committee was to keep the revolution alive at all costs. -
The Reign of Terror
Many executions took place against the enemies of the revolution. People who went against the ideas of the Revolution were instantly put in prison and killed. If any person said something counter-revolutionary, they would end up at the guillotine, a blade that beheaded people. 40,000 died during this time, sparking a terror. Nobles and clergy, middle-class citizens, and peasants were killed. Robespierre was behind the Reign of Terror. He stated terror would lead to the Republic of Virtue. -
Execution of Marie Antoinette
Many French people hated the Queen for her Austrian blood and her expensive tastes. Marie Antoinette was called Madame Deficit and blame was placed on her for the country's financial problems. She tried to change her image by wearing simple gowns and posing for portraits with her children, but her efforts had little effect on the brutal public. In October, she was tried by a mock trial, as was her husband. Marie Antoinette was convicted of treason and sentenced to be guillotined. -
Slavery is abolished in French colonies
On 4 February 1794, the First Republic (Convention) voted for the abolition of slavery in all French colonies. The abolition decree stated that "the Convention declares the slavery of the Blacks abolished in all the colonies; consequently, all men, irrespective of color, living in the colonies are French citizens and will enjoy all the rights provided by the Constitution." -
Execution of Robespierre
Maximilien Robespierre, the architect of the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, is overthrown and arrested by the National Convention. As the leading member of the Committee of Public Safety from 1793, Robespierre encouraged the execution, mostly by guillotine, of more than 17,000 enemies of the Revolution. The Terror came to an end with Robespierre's death. -
Napoleon as 1st Consul
Napolean had demonstrated successes early on in his life. His military career was prevalent when he drove out British forces out of the French port of Toulon and when he won victories against Austrians. His successes made him ambitious. He became popular in France as a hero. He became a political leader and he later overthrew a Directory and set up a Consulate. He then took up a title of First Consul for life. -
Louisiana Purchase
Napoleon sells the vast Louisiana Territory to the U.S. to help fund his military after the defeat of his forces in Saint Domingue. -
Haitian Independence
Haiti is granted their independence from France. -
The Coronation of Napoleon and Josephine
Napoleon had gained much power now to seize the title Emperor of the French. Napoleon held plebiscites to vote for in favor of his strong leadership. He promised to bring "order and stability." He invited the pope to Notre Dame cathedral in Paris for his coronation. Napoleon took the crown from the pope and places it on his head. He shows he wants to be the most powerful in Europe. He knew people supported him on his rise to power. -
The Invasion of Russia
His Russian ally was not agreeing with his Continental System, so he made the decision to invade Russia, a mistake. He led many of his troops, the Grande Armee, into Russia. However, the Russians had a tactic of scorched-earth-policy that they used, in which the Russians burned everything as they moved East, leaving nothing for the French. Napoleon captured Moscow, but it was also destroyed. The weather was an element that did not help. The winter Killed thousands of his army. He was defeated. -
Return from Exile
Napoleon escaped his exile on Elba with his intentions of ruling France again when Louis XVIII was renewed as king. Napoleon was successful in his triumphant advance. However, the allies reestablished their troops. Opposing armies met near the town of Waterloo in Belgium. The British and the Prussians managed to defeat Napoleon. Napoleon was once again exiled, but this time to St. Helena. -
The Battle of Waterloo
This battle took place in Belgium near the town of Waterloo. The United Kingdom, Russia, Austria, and Prussia organized their armies to defeat a French army under the control of Napoleon, when Napoleon wanted to be emperor again. This defeat ended Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French and exiled him again, this time to an island called, St. Helena.
