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The Estates General Meeting
The meeting was summoned by King Louis XIV to propose solutions to the government's financial problems. They sat for several weeks in May and June. The three estates clashed over their respective powers. It eventually came to end when many members of the third estate formed themselves into a National Assembly. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Tennis Court Oath was a critical point in the beginning of the French Revolution. The Oath was a pledge signed by the 576 and the 577 member of the third Estate. This Oath inspired several revolutionary activities, along with foreshadowing to the Declaration of Independence. The revolutionary activity involved rioting in the French countryside. -
Storming of Bastille
Paris seized the spotlight from the National Assembly meeting in Versailles. More than 800 parisians gathered outside the Bastille- a medieval fortress used as a prison for political and other prisoners. The commander of the Bastille refused to open the gates and opened fire on the crowd. Many were killed in the battle that followed. The mob finally broke the defenses. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Ideas on this document were influenced by the American Declaration of Independence. The French Declaration stated that all men were “born and remain free and equal in rights”. They had natural rights to “liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression”. The document insists that the governments exist to protect the natural rights of citizens. The French Declaration also stated that male citizens were equal before the law. All French men had an equal right to hold public office “with n -
Women's March on Versailles
About 6,000 women marched 13 miles in the pouring rain from Paris to Versailles shouting “Bread!”. The anger from the crowd was directed toward Marie Antoinette. She was frivolous and extravagant, which angered people. The National Guard helped calm down the crowd, but the women refused to leave Versailles until the king met their demand- to return to Paris. The following morning the crowd along with the King & his family & they set out for the city. The royal family moved into Palace Tulieries -
Constitution of the Clergy
The document called for bishops and priests to become elected, salaried officials. It ended papal authority over the French Church and dissolved convents and monasteries. Many people refused to accept the document but the pope condemned it. The government punished clergy who refused to support the Civil Constitution which caused a hole to open up between revolutionaries in Paris and peasants in poverty. -
September Massacres
This was a wave of killing throughout Paris and several other cities throughout France in the summer. There was a fear that foreign and royalist armies would attack Paris along with freeing inmates in prisons to help attack. -
Execution of Louis XIV
He was convicted of conspiracy with foreign powers. He was put to death by a guillotine after being put on trial. -
Execution of Marie Antoinette
Nine months after her husband was executed, Marie was beheaded. Marie lived extravagantly, even when her country was in economic trouble. The people were not happy with her and did not like how she was living an extravagant life and not helping the people. When she heard about the starving people and the lack of food she responded “Let Them Eat Cake” which created an even bigger uproar. -
Execution of Robespierre
Robespierre was an architect during the French Revolution Reigns of Terror. He was overthrown and arrested by the National Convention. He was deserted by his supporters and accused of being a tyrant. He wanted to extend emergency powers, but others felt that the emergencies were over and wanted to return to regular administration.
