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Great Fear
From the time of Bastille day a great fear traveled across France. The peasants worried for their safety and began to arm themselves with stolen weapons. By October the woman, angry over rising price of bread, rioted. they stormed the palace and killed guards and forced the king to leave Versailles. With the king no longer in Versailles this signaled a dramatic change in power and a step forward for the revolution. -
Meeting of the Estate General
Louis XVI called this meeting in order to approve a new tax. The clergy, the nobility and everyone else were invited to this meeting. Since France found itself in debt due to its involvement in the American Revolution and the 7 Years War an increase in taxes was necessary for the government to continue in the way it had always managed. However the people were famished and angry and decided to break away from the convocation. -
The National Assembly of France
The third estate voted to create the National Assembly. When Louis XVI found out about this he locked them out of the room in which they had been meeting. They were not deterred. They were getting ready to begin a revolution, much like the colonies had already done. -
Tennis Court Oath
After finding themselves locked out of their meeting room the delegates of the third estate broke into an indoor tennis court at Versailles. There they pledge to create a new constitution. This pledge is known as the Tennis Court Oath. -
Storming the Bastille
The people of France heard that the king was gathering troops from other lands to massacre the people of France. this caused the people to gather storm the Bastille in order to steal ammunition and weapons and also to free the political prisoners that were being held there. This is the true beginning of the French Revolution and is celebrated as Bastille Day much like how the 4th of July is celebrated in the US. -
National Assembly completes new Constitution
Although king Louis was not in favor of the constitution he did approve it. The new constitution left him with less power and created a new legislated body called the Legislated Assembly. -
National Convention becomes Governing body
The legislated assembly felt pressure from outside countries. Starting in April 1792 the French were at war with Prussia which caused a great deal of unrest. Therefore the legislated assembly decided to get rid of the assembly in order to elect a new legislator. They abolished the monarchy and gave every male citizen the right to vote. -
Reign of Terror
From this date through to the following year Maximilien Robespierre uses his power and becomes the dictator of France he uses the guillotine execute around 40,000 people including peasants and even those who were apart of the national convention. Eventually Robespierre was sentenced to death and on July 28th 1794 he was beheaded. -
Louis XVI Beheaded
After becoming a prisoner the Jacobins decide that Louis should be tried for treason. He is found guilty and sentenced to death. He is beheaded by the guillotine. -
End of the French Revolution
After a successful war with Austria, Britain and Russia peace agreements were signed. At this point the government was still in a financial crisis and the people were still very unhappy. This allowed Napoleon Bonaparte to stage a cope, where he becomes the first console, but was considered a dictator. His rise to power marks his rise to power
