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Estates General Meeting
The King bring together member s of all three estates to try and gain support for a tax hike. Members of the third Estate use this opportunity to voice their dissatisfaction with the monarchy. -
National Assembly Formed
The third estate members at the Estates General Meeting decide to form their own group to represent "the rightful representatives of France" because they are locked out of the meeting. -
Tennis Court Oath Declared
The members of the national assembly meet (on a tennis court) and decide that they won't stop meeting with the Estates General until they get a new constitution. -
Storming of the Bastille
French people attacked the Bastille where prisoners were help and gunpowder was stored. They then dismantled it piece by piece, in defiance of the king. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man Written
National Assembly creates a document to end tyranny, protect peoples rights and freedoms, and put power into the hands of the people. It is much like the US Declaration of Independence. -
Legislative Assembly makes laws in France
This group made laws during the early part of the revolution. It was divided into conservatives, moderates, and radicals. -
Execution of King Louis XVI
The King is killed with the guillotine in public. -
Reign of Terror
A period when the revolutionaries executed anyone against the revolution to inspire fear and keep people from trying to stop the revolution. -
Committee of Public Safety governs France.
Ruling body of 12 that dictated emergency laws during the reign of terror. Led by Robespierre. -
Dechristianization
Revolutionaries thought the Church had too much power and that it was a relic of the past. They changed the calendar, took out street names with "saint" and destroyed statues, altars, and windows. -
Execution of Maximilien Robespierre
Robespierre is arrested for supposedly having a list of traitors to the government but not revealing who... he is killed with guillotine. This ends the reign of terror. -
The Directory controls France
Group of 5 rulers put in place after the Reign of terror who were essentially meant to hold France together. They were unpopular with the people. -
Napoleon takes over in a coup d'état
Without much resistance, Napoleon seizes power for himself from the unpopular directory. -
Napoleon sings Concordat with Catholic Church
The Church regains some power (government recognized influence of the Church) which was popular among the people as well as the Church. -
Napoleon crowns himself emperor of France
Napoleon is supported by the people in this decision. Crowning himself showed he was more powerful than the Church, which traditionally crowned rulers. -
Napoleon created the Napoleonic Code
The Napoleonic Code establishes uniform laws(eliminating injustices), but also limited freedom of speech and press. Also, it reinstated slavery in French Caribbean colonies. -
Napoleon dies after he is banished to island of St. Helena
Napoleon had lost support, was forced to leave the throne, and was exiled.
