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Meeting of the Estates General
In the past, things were not fair for the Third Estate. There were three estates in total, the first, which was the church, whom payed no taxes. The Second Estate, which was the nobles, whom payed almost 0% of taxes, and the Third Estate, was the common folks, having 97% of the population in the Third Estate, paying over 50% of taxes. They met up in a meeting with one person representing each estate. -
Voted to Establish the National Assembly
People from the Third Estate wanted a change in government since it wasn't that fair for them. So, a men named Emmanuel Joseph-Siyes made a speech suggesting that the Third Estate delegates named themselves the National Assembly, and that they would pass laws in the name of French people. So, in June 17, the people voted to establish the National Assembly, trying to end Absolute Monarchy, and start a Republic Democracy. -
Storming of the Bastille
The Third Estate were mad, so they through a protest which was called the Tennis Court Oath, they entered a tennis court, saying they would stay there until they made a new constitution. So, the nobles, in response, send Swiss guards around Versailles. On July, 14, a mob searching gunpowder stormed Bastille, a prison in Paris. The mob killed some guards, then, paraded with their heads on the street. Today, July 14 in France, is celebrated as a sign of revolution for the French. -
Feudalism is ended, divisions between estates ended
Nobles made speech on the night of August 4, who said to take away the feudal privileges of the First and Second Estate. Adding to that, making common folks equal to the nobles. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Later, the National Assembly made a declaration, that stated that "men are born and remain free and equal in rights" which the rights included "liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. It guranteed people equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Later, a writer named Olympe de Gouges, publish a declaration for women, her ideas were later rejected. -
Women's March on Versailles
Bread was very important for a French person's diet. Not only there wasn't enough for everybody, but it was also expensive. Women went on a march on Versailles, the women entered the palace searching for the queen. They demanded King Louis XVI to distribute bread to the people. -
Louis XVI Attempts to Escape
When the National Assembly had a good relationship with the curch and the state, some of King Louis XVI advisors informed him, that he and his family were in danger. Later, he and his family tried to escape to Netherlands, when they were in the border, he was arrested and returned to Paris under guard. King Louis XVI's attempted escaoe increased the influence of enemies in the government. -
King accepts Constitution
In September 1791, the National Assembly completed the constitution, whom King Louis approved it. The constitution created a constitutional monarchy, and a new legislative body called Legislative Assembly. The new legistlative body had the power to create laws and to approve or reject declarations of war. -
France declares War
Nobles in European countries saw changes made in France, they feared that similar revolts might happen to them. So, some countries took action, Austria and Prussia, for example urged French to restore King Louis to his position as an absolute monarch, so the Legislative Assembly responded by declaring war in April, 1792. -
King Louis XVI executed
Overall, King Louis XVI was doing a bad job being a king for France. He was very selfish and many people wanted him out of the throne. So in January 21, in 1793 King Louis XVI was executed by The Guillotine in front of many people. Later they showed his head in front of the people as it is shown in the picture. If you google "King Louis XVI execution" it will apear where a person is carrying his head in front of the people.
