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Napoleon Bonaparte was born
Napoleon was born on the Island of Corsica, which meant he was not really French. Becuase the French had just taken over Corsica, he was able to calim that as his nationality. This was very important in allowing him his roles of leadership that he had throughout the years. -
Bad Harvest
In 1787, there was a bad harvest that created a food shortage in France. There was more demand for food, so therefore it affected the price by going up. It also created unemployment for people and eventally led to Bread Riots in order to keep themselves fed. -
King Louis forced to call estates General
King Louis XIV spent too much money on war and luxuries and needed to raise taxes. The Parliament refused and forced Louis to call a meeting of the three Estates, called the Estates General. -
The Estates General meet at Versailles
The Estates General met for the first time in one hundred and seventy five years. The Estates General was a meeting of the three classes in france: The Clergy or the 1st Estate, Nobles or the second Estate, and the 3rd Estate was everyone that was not in the 1st or second. -
National Assembly
The 3rd Estate was frustrated with the way that voting was set up, so in June of 1789, they declared themselves the National Assembly. They stated that they meet would draft a constitution. -
Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly went to Versailles to meet and draft a constitution. King Louis XVI did not approve of this and simply locked them out. They found a nearby tennis court as a meeting place. The vowed to meet until they formed a constitution. Louis prepared to take action against the National Assembly. -
Storming of the Bastille
On July 14th, 1789, the National Assembly stormed the prison Bastille. They were hoping to get weapons and gunpowder. They freed many of the prisoners, but were not able to find weapons. The Storming of the Bastille became a symbol of the revolution. -
New Flag
On July 15, the day after the Storming of the Bastille, the French got a new flag. The new flag was the tricolour, consisting of blue, white, and red. They still use this flag today as their national flag. -
National Assembly abolishes legal privileges of the 1st two Estates
On August 4, 1789 the National Assembly abolished the legal privileges of the first two estates making it more equal for the people of the 3rd Estate. They wanted it so that every could vote equally and have the same political and legal rights as everyone else. -
Declaration of Rights of Man
On August 26, 1789, the National Assembly created The Declaration of Rights of Man. This was influenced by the English Bil of Rights, the Declaration of Independance, and the American Constitution. It affirmed free speech and press, reflected Enlightenment ideas saying that all men are equal, political position should be based on talent and not title, and finally that no people group should be exempt from taxation. -
March on Versailles
Early in the morning on October 5, 1789, fishwives went to buy bread to find that there was none for sale. They gathered 6000-7000 people and marched to Versailles to demand food. The King wanted to appease the mob and gave them political rights, but they only wanted food. The next day, they got into the palace and killed and wouned the guards. Marquis de Lafayette convinced them to capture the king and not kill him, so they took the king to Paris. -
Constitution of 1791
In 1791, the Constitution of 1791 was created. This constitution created a limited Monarch. -
Constitution of 1791
The day of the Tennis Court Oath, the Natinal Assembly vowed to meet until they had a new constitution. They were able to create one that became oficial in 1791. -
France declares war on Austria
France declared war on Austria. Austria was soon joined in the war by Prussia and Sardinia. This war had devastating effects on France. Food shortages and poverty ran rampant throughout France and nearl tore the country apart. -
French Republic
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September Massacre
The September Massacre happened when the Sans-Culotte broke intot the prisons and carried out their own short trials that usually all ended in death. Hundreds and Hundreds of people were killed. -
Committee of Public Safety
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Reign of Terror Starts
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Napoleon made Brigadier General
Napoleon was called by the Directory to stop an uprising in 1794. He was able to do this succesfully and demonstrated his militaritic knowledge. He was promoted to Brigadier General. -
Thermidorian Reaction
The Thermidorian reaction happened in July or what the French called Thermidor. It marked the end of the Reign of Terror and included the death of Robespierre. It resulted in a loss of passion in the Revolution. -
Constitution of Year III
The Constitution of Year III happened in 1795, or what the French called year III. It largely favored the Bougeoisie in the laws that it stated. The Directory came about soon after this as well. -
Prairial Uprising
The Directory sent troops to end the Prairial Uprising and it was the first time that the mob lost in the Frech Revolution. This uprising really showed where the Bougeoisei stood. -
Royalist Fighting
The Royalists were fighting in the streets when Napoleon used grapeshot to defeat them. This made him a hero among the people and helped pave his way to fame. It really demonstrated that he was willing to do what was neccessary. -
Napoleon made General of France
In 1796, Napoleon was made the General of France by the Directory. His armies in Italy were able to defeat the Papal States. They were also able to bring defeat to the armies in Austria. -
Napoleon attacks Egypt
Napoleon was told to attack Great Britain in 1797, but he decided to attack Egypt instead. This was a big mistake and he failed greatly. He returned home and told a lie saying that he had won. This increased his popuarity greatly. -
Overthrows Directory
In 1799, Napoleon overthrew the Directory. This was very ironic because they were the ones that promoted him to his position. He set up a triuvirate with two other people. This did not last very long. -
Coup D'état
The coup d'état, or sudden overthrow of the government that came about from Napoleon, marked the end of the French Revolution and the begin of the Napoleonic era. He took complete control over Frances political system. -
Napoleon made Consul
Napoleon had overthrown the Directory and set up a triuvirate, but he wanted to take the power to himself. He was wise about it and held a vote in which he won and became consul for life. -
Napoleon made emperor
Napoleon had been was made consul for life, but he wanted to be emperor. He was smart about it again and held an election. He was the obvious winner. He now had a vast amount of power over almost all of Europe. -
Fall of Napoleon
Napoleon was recieving trouble from Russia and he needed to do something about it. He took 600,000 troops with him to invade Russia. Russia burned their cities to leave no supplies for the army. Napoleon had to retreat. Many of his men died from starvation. He returned with only 40,000 troops. He was not as popular now. He was exiled to the island of Elba. -
Battle of Waterloo
Napoleon returned from his exile on Elba and returned to his amy. His troops were still loyal to him and he tried to invade Belgium. He lost again to the Duke of Wellington and the armies of England and Prussia. This time he was exiled to St. Helena. He would not be able to return from here. -
Napoleon Dies
Napoleon died in 1821 from what was thought to be stomoch cancer on the island of St Helena. He was the most influencial leader in all of history and people still study his methods of rule.
