-
Agricultural Recession
Agricultural recession forces landowners to increase their sources of revenue: the lower class works harder and is taxed more. -
Period: to
France Supports Patriots
France supports the Patriots in the American Revolution, leading to more national debt. -
Charles Alexandre calls an assembly
Charles Alexandre de Calonne, National Director of Finances, called an assembly of notables to have the upper class share in the national debt by paying tax. They refuse in effort to protect economic privileges. -
The Harvest Fails
The harvest fails and the winter is fairly extreme, further angering and hurting the poor. Food becomes even more scarce and expensive. -
Third Estate is kicked
The Third Estate is kicked and meets on the tennis court. A few of the liberal nobles and many clergy join them and swear the tennis court oath: "We won't seperate until the constitutional regime was established." On June 27th, the King agrees to their demands but also surrounds his place with guards. -
Period: to
National Assembly
The National Assembly appoints a committee of 30 members to draft a constitution. The National Assembly proclaims itself the Constituent National Assembly, with full authority and power to decree laws. Demonstrations and speeches take place at the palais -royal. The electors of Paris form a standing committee and a citizens' militia. -
Fall of Bastille
The storming of the Bastille. -
Period: to
Grande Peur
The period of the Grande Peur (great fear). Peasants start robbing and burning the chateaux (mansions) of the rich and burn records of money owned. -
End of feudalism
The end of feudalism and serfdom in France was announced by the National Assembly. -
Declaration of Rights
The Declaration of the Rights of Man was issued by the National Assembly. -
Civil Constitution
The Civil Constitution of the clergy was passed and in 1791 the constitution was adoption. -
France declared was on Austria
France declared was on Austria. It is believed that Austria (where the queen was from) is intending to invade to help the King regain the Monarchy. -
Louis Sentenced
Louis XVI was sentenced to the guillotine -
National Draft
The National Draft was issued calling for all able-bodied men to enlist in the Army. -
Period: to
Thermidorian Reaction
Known as the Thermidorian Reaction, anarchy and inflation almost overwhelmed the country. -
A new Constitution
A new Constitution was adopted and it took effect after a reactionary rising in Vendemiare was suppressed by General Napoleon Bonaparte. -
The Parliament is purged
The Parliament is purged ruthlessly. Many deputies were labeled as royalists and sent to the penal colony of French Guinea- called the dry guillotine. -
Fall of Directory
The fall of the Directory heralds the end of the French Revolution.