Timeline by IONNA L THURMAN

Bad Harvests of 1787 & 1788

ithurman26 — 2025-03-21 16:10:37 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 contributed to growing unrest and calls for reform.

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

ithurman26 — 2025-03-21 16:23:21 UTC

France's population was divided by law into 3 statues groups. 1st: The Clergy, 2nd: Nobility, and 3rd: Ranged from lowest peasants to wealthiest merchants. The 3rd Estate was angry with the small amount of power they had. Government invested large sums of money to support American colonists against the British. Debt came very quickly and they tried to fix it. Louis XVI called a meeting of the Estates-General to discuss the tax increase. They all met on May 5th, 1789.

Third Estate Declares itself the national assembly (June 17th, 1789)

ithurman26 — 2025-03-24 16:09:30 UTC

When 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. It became a direct challenge to the Kind's authority.

Tennis Court Oath

ithurman26 — 2025-03-24 16:10:29 UTC

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

-Create an oath at an old tennis court to no leave until they created a brand new constitution.

Storming of the Bastille

ithurman26 — 2025-03-24 16:18:03 UTC

Storming of the prison (angry mob with whatever weapons they could scavenge)

-Tests the kings authority.

-Cut off the Prisons ward head, destroyed the city brick by brick and freed everyone. They were trying to salvage gunpowder they desperately wanted.

National assembly abolishes the legal privileges of the Nobles and Clergy

ithurman26 — 2025-03-24 16:24:02 UTC

No more Feudal privileges, Nobility and Clergy lose their special rights and tax exemptions

-No group should be exempt from taxation (everyone pays them now)

Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

ithurman26 — 2025-03-24 16:27:52 UTC

No tax exemptions. Guaranteed the natural and imperceptible rights of man to property, liberty, security, and resistance to oppression.

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette forced to leave Versailles and move to Paris

ithurman26 — 2025-03-26 14:43:01 UTC

Angry mob of women protested food shortages

National Assembly completes the new Constitution

ithurman26 — 2025-03-26 14:47:08 UTC

Limited kings power

Legislative assembly makes laws for the 3rd estate.

The royal family tried to escape France to get protection from Austria

ithurman26 — 2025-03-26 15:30:26 UTC

Louis XVI thought Austria would give him protection since the queen was from Austria. A Gatepost Guard recognized them from a coin,and arrests them. The king and queen are now labeled as traitors

France declares War on Austria (then later Austria

ithurman26 — 2025-03-26 15:32:10 UTC

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

Abolish the Monarchy- French Republic is created

ithurman26 — 2025-03-26 15:38:55 UTC

Revolutionaries fear supporters of the king would help the enemy. sans-culottes and radical revolutionaries stormed the Paris Prisons and massacred thousands. It increased pressure to abolish the monarchy. France is ruled by elected officials

Louis XVI executed by guillotine

ithurman26 — 2025-03-26 15:45:09 UTC

Louis XVI was on trial for treason. He was found guilty. It was the only way to truly end the monarchy is to kill the king. Truly established the French Republic also.

Committee of Public Safety

ithurman26 — 2025-04-07 15:19:48 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 Military.

The start of the Reign of Terror (September 1793)

ithurman26 — 2025-04-07 16:04:47 UTC

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

Marie Antoinette executed by guillotine.

ithurman26 — 2025-04-07 16:13:37 UTC

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

Maximilien Robespierre executed by guillotine

ithurman26 — 2025-04-07 16:19:17 UTC

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

Reign of Terror ends (July 1794)

ithurman26 — 2025-04-07 16:22:48 UTC

After Robespierre died, the ring of terror ends. Killing stops and revolution calms down. People were tired of fear and chaos.

New Constitution of 1795

ithurman26 — 2025-04-08 15:10:45 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 subtle military takeover.

ithurman26 — 2025-04-08 15:13:55 UTC

Used the weakness of the directory to seize power in a sudden military takeover. He established the Consulate and made himself the 1st consul. (French revolution ends, he is the 1st consul for life) This event finally ended the French revolution. He promised to bring order and stability to France. He takes over with his military and becomes emperor.