Timeline by Adina Shapiro

The Causes of the French Revolution Approx. 1700 -1789

ashapiro20261 — 2024-09-23 17:55:45 UTC

The French Revolution was caused by six main things. During the time of the French Revolution, France was ruled by Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI. The monarchs were heavily disliked by the French population due to the fact that they neglected to make decisions to benefit the people. Both Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI were heavily focused on their appearance. A massive influx in population made it difficult to supply food to all the people. Severe storms destroy tons of crops. This lack of food caused a famine to break out in France. Hatred towards England caused the French to aid the Americans in the Revolutionary War. The third estate being the only one paying taxes makes the unbalanced social structure highly evident. The peasants and laborers were upset that their taxes were being used to fund the American Revolution and not for the benefit of their own country. France's finances were depleting due to their deficit spending in aiding the Americans. Additionally, the influence of the Enlightenment thinkers also added fuel to the revolution in France. John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu were among the Enlightenment thinkers with the most influence. Maximilien Robespierre also helped spread the ideas of Enlightenment philosophers, including John Locke. The philosophers helped the people realize they have a voice, and an ability to speak out against their leadership. The widespread knowledge of the Magna Carta, and other documents that limited the monarch's power also contributed to the rise of the revolution. This showed the French population that they infact had tha ability to speak out against their ruler.

Citations: History paper from class

The Meeting of the Estates General 1789

ashapiro20261 — 2024-09-23 18:22:29 UTC

The Estates-General was a meeting convened by Louis XVI. Its purpose was to help rectify the financial problems that were plaguing the French government. The delegates of each state all met in a hall, and voted. Each estate had one person to vote in representation of their people. Therefore, this means that the Nobles, the Clergy, and the Peasants all had one person standing in their place to vote. The Estates-General came to an end when the Third Estate formed the National Assembly.

Citations: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/the-beginning-of-revolution/#:~:text=1%3A%20Calling%20the%20Estates%2DGeneral,outbreak%20of%20the%20French%20Revolution.

The Tennis Court Oath June 17, 1789

ashapiro20261 — 2024-09-23 18:37:08 UTC

When the Third Estate was not allowed into the meeting room where the First and Second Estate were, they were infuriated. They broke down a door to a tennis court and planted themselves there, vowing to stay until they had a new constitution. Members from both the Clergy and Nobles decided to join and back up the Third Estate, which therefore formed the National Assembly. The tennis court was occupied by the National Assembly for three days.

Citations: French Revolution Text Book (page 220)

Storming of the Bastille July 14, 1789

ashapiro20261 — 2024-09-23 18:37:27 UTC

The Storming of the Bastille was when a group of rioters swarmed the Bastille Prison, and broke inside. Rumors flew through the streets that foreign troops were on their way to massacre the French. Fear strikes the population which caused a group of rioters to break into the Bastille Prison and free the seven prisoners inside, in an attempt to search for gunpowder and weaponry. The fall of the prison became a monumental day in French history, later becoming a national day of celebration and freedom for years thereafter.

Citations: French Revolution Packet (page 220-221)

https://www.worldhistory.org/Storming_of_the_Bastille/#google_vignette

The Establishment of the French Republic and the Deceleration of the Rights of Man August 4, 1789

ashapiro20261 — 2024-09-24 18:44:39 UTC

After the fall of the Bastille prison, and Bastille day, the National Assembly came together to create new document of rights. This document was called the Deceleration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens. The document stated that every man is born with the right to freedom. Some of the rights guaranteed in the document was to protect was the rights of liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression. It also secured the rights for the citizens to have equal justice, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. Although the document was widely received by most, but it was opposed by some revolutionaries.

Citations: French Revolution Textbook (page 222)

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Declaration-of-the-Rights-of-Man-and-of-the-Citizen

Trial of the King and the Queen December 1792

ashapiro20261 — 2024-09-25 18:34:32 UTC

The Flight to Varennes was the name given to the failed escape attempt of the King and Queen. They were arrested around 150 miles outside of Paris. As a cause of their escape, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were put on trial on trial for their crimes. Prior their trial, King Louis was reduced to the worth of a regular citizen, destroying his rank as a monarch. Their trial was initiated and held by the National Assembly, and both the King and Queen were charged for treason and counterrevolution. King Louis XVI was sentenced to death by the guillotine in 1793. In October of the same year, Marie Antoinette was sentenced to death by guillotine as well.

Citations: https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/trial-execution-of-louis-xvi/

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/king-louis-xvi-executed

https://alphahistory.com/frenchrevolution/flight-to-varennes/

Reign of Terror 1792

ashapiro20261 — 2024-09-26 18:22:44 UTC

The Reign of Terror was a time of absolute violence. It was mainly inflicted by Maximilian Robespierre. The Jacobin was a political organization. The people involved in the organization were called Jacobins. A member of the Jacobin named Jean-Paul Marat. He ordered that anyone who opposed this new form of leadership, and still followed in the ways of the King, was to be killed. On the day of his execution, King Louis calmly walked up the stairs to his death. He was beheaded by the guillotine in a swift motion, ending his life. During the Reign of Terror, over 40,000 people were sent to their deaths.

Citations: French Revolution Textbook (page 224-226)

Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte 1795-1802

ashapiro20261 — 2024-09-27 17:46:09 UTC

The National Convention was worried and horrified for their personal safety and took measures into their hands and demanded and fought for the arrest and execution of Robespierre. The Convention was successful in bringing him to his gave, and in 1794, he was sent to the Guillotine. July 28th 1794, the day that Robespierre was executed, was the day that the radicalism in the French Revolution was ended. After this, the National Convention adjourned for a meeting to draft a new form of government. As director of the new government, Napoleon rose to power. His new changed to the government and country and how things were ran , jump started the Napoleonic Era.

Citations: French Revolution Textbook (page 229-230)