Timeline by ABIGAIL L PETTIT

Bad Harvests of 1787 & 1788

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 16:10:59 UTC

Poor weather led to widespread crop failures in France, causing food shortages and rising bread prices.Many peasants faced starvation, which fueled resentment toward the monarchy and nobility.These economic hardships contributes to growing unrest and calls to reform

Louis XVI calls a meeting of the Estates-General (May 5th, 1789)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 16:24:02 UTC

Louis XVI called a meeting to try to fix the great amount of debt that they were in. The third estate was mad during this meeting because they felt they had no power in what was being said.

Tennis Court Oath (June 20th, 1789)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 16:26:10 UTC

National Assembly (3rd Estate) is locked out of Versailles.

-Create and Oath at a old tennis court to not leave until they created a brand new constitution.

National Assembly Abolishes all Legal Privileges of Nobles and Clergy (August 4th, 1789)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 16:26:29 UTC

No more Feudal privileges. Nobility and Clergy lost their special rights and tax exemptions.

Storming of the Bastille (July 14th, 1789)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 16:26:48 UTC

Storming of the prison (angry mob with whatever weapon they could scavenge) to challenge the king's authority, cut off the wards head and tore it down brick by brick and let all the prisoners out. They were also trying to build up a supply of gun powder.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen (August 26th, 1789)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 16:27:03 UTC

All men were free and equal before the law. It began with "The natural and imperceptible rights of man to liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. No tax exemptions.

Royal Family Tries to Sneak Out of France (June 20-21st, 1791)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 16:27:21 UTC

Louis XV thought Austria would give him protection because the queen was from Austria. Gatepost guard recognize them from there faces on a coin, and arrests them. The king and queen are now thought as traders.

Louis XVI and Mary Antoinette forced to leave Versailles and move to Paris (October 6th, 1789)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 16:27:45 UTC

Angry mob of women protested food shortages.

Monarchy Abolished, French Republic Established (September 21st, 1792)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 17:52:14 UTC

France is now ruled by elected officials.

France Declares War Against Austria (April 20th, 1792)

apettit75 — 2025-03-21 17:57:16 UTC

Prussia also joins on the side of the Austrians. France feared Austria and Prussia would invade to restore the monarchy.

Third Estate Declares Itself the National Assembly (June 17th, 1789)

apettit75 — 2025-03-24 16:06:46 UTC

When the Estates-General failed to address their concerns, the Third Estate broke away and declared itself the National Assembly, claiming to represent the people of France. This was a direct challenge to the king's authority.

National Assembly Completes the New Constitution (September 3rd, 1791)

apettit75 — 2025-03-27 14:06:09 UTC

Limited kings power, Legislative assembly makes new laws.

Louis XVI Executed (January 21st, 1793)

apettit75 — 2025-03-27 14:12:27 UTC

The only way to truly end the monarchy is to kill the king. This truly established the French Republic.

Committee of Public Safety (April 6th, 1793)

apettit75 — 2025-04-07 15:20:17 UTC

Ran by 12 men with Robespierre in charge. Anyone who was suspected of being a royalist is Executed and hunted down. Controlled the Economy and Miltary.

Start of the Reign of Terror (September, 1793)

apettit75 — 2025-04-07 16:04:27 UTC

Extreme violence led to fear and execution to silence opposition. Anyone who was accused of being a traitor was arrested and most likely executed by guillotine.

Marie Antoinette Executed by Guillotine (October, 1793)

apettit75 — 2025-04-07 16:13:43 UTC

Arrested after the fall of the Monarchy and put on trial. Executed in the second month of the Reign of Terror.

Maximilian Robespierre Executed by Guillotine (July 28th, 1794)

apettit75 — 2025-04-07 16:20:02 UTC

Paranoid of the Reign of Terror as it grew. He accused his allies of treason. The National Convention turns on Robespierre in fear of being accused next and he was executed with no trial.

Reign of Terror Officially Ends (July 28th, 1794)

apettit75 — 2025-04-07 16:24:06 UTC

When Robespierre died, the Government revoked their policies and executions slowed down. France shifted to stable, but still revolutionary Government.

Constitution of 1795 Created

apettit75 — 2025-04-07 16:26:14 UTC

Established the Directory (two-house Legislative) and 5 man executive committee. This constitution tried to bring stabilization after years of chaos. Struggled with economic problems.

Napoleon Bonaparte Leads a Sudden Military Takeover and Seizes Control of France

apettit75 — 2025-04-08 15:13:50 UTC

Used the weakness of the directory to seize power in a Sudden military Takeover. He established the consulate and made himself 1st consul. This event finally ended the French Revolution. He promised to bring order and stability to France.