french rev timeline

Paris Bread Riots, April-May, 1775

Nobility refused to pay taxes while the peasants could not afford to, leading to rioting against the wealthy.

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Writing of the Cahiers de Doleances,

early 1789

This was the list of grievances written up by each of the three estates, which none of them ended up reading.

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Meeting of the Estates General, May 5, 1789

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This was a meeting between the three social "estates", or classes in France, the nobility, clergy, and remainder of the population.

Doubling of the Third Estate, May 5, 1789

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King Louis decided to double the voting size of the Third Estate (everyone except for the nobles and clergy), which in actuality had no effect.

Creation of the National Assembly, June 13, 1789

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The third estate refused to meet with the others because of the unfair treatment, calling themselves the National Assembly.

Tennis Court Oath, June 20, 1789

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This was the agreement made among the third estate members to never disband until there was a French Constitution.

Declaration of the National Constituent Assembly, July 9, 1789

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This group adamantly protested against how they were being treated.

Storming of the Bastille, July 14, 1789

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Parisians stormed a government fortress to protect the Assembly.

Beginning of the Great Fear, July 20, 1789

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Peasants were disturbed by rumors of potential French military invasions, leading them to take action against those above them.

Surrender of Feudal Rights, August 4, 1789

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After the peasants revolted, they abolished the old system of feudalism.

Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, August 26, 1789

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This was a political writing that discussed how French government should be run onward.

Nationalization of Church Property, November, 1789

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In the new government, officials began to incorporate the church into the government, against its wishes.

Civil Constitution of the Clergy is passed, July 12, 1790

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This is the act that officially assimilated the church into the government, which clergy members did not agree with.

Flight to Varennes, June 21, 1791

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Louis XVI attempts to run away from France with family, but is caught and brought back to Paris.

Declaration of Pillnitz, August 27, 1791

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Austria and Prussia pledged allegiance with French Royal Family, which the people distrusted.

First Constitution Accepted by Louis XVI, September 3, 1791

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The National Constituent Assembly Forced Louis XVI to accept a Constitution that ended France's absolute monarchy.

French Declaration of War on Austria, April 20, 1792

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In the second revolution, the revolutionaries turn on the countries who were supporting the royal family.

Arrest of Louis XVI, August 13, 1792

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King Louis XVI was imprisoned by revolutionaries and stripped of power.

Establishment of the Revolutionary Tribunal, August 17, 1792

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This aimed to eliminate everyone who served as a threat to the radical, revolutionary republicans.

Abolition of the Monarchy, September 1792

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The revolutionary government officially and legally ended the absolute monarchy.

Louis XVI's execution, January 21, 1793

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The king was guillotined for "conspiring against liberty of the people".

Creation of the Committee of Public Safety, April 1793

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This group enforced the safety of the state as a whole, rather than that of the people.

Jacobins gain control of the Committee of Public Safety, July 27, 1793

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Jacobins were a group of radical enlightenmentists from the third estate who wanted a republic.

Robespierre elected to the Committee of Public Safety, July 27, 1793

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Robespierre was an aggressive leader of the committee who endorsed a great number of arrests and executions.

Start of the Reign of Terror, July 27, 1793

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The government began to execute over 25,000 people, anyone who disagreed or started problems with the government.

Festival of the Supreme Being, May 7, 1794

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Robespierre initiated the Cult of the Supreme Being, which intended to replace Roman Catholicism as the official religion.

Thermidorian Reaction, July 27, 1794

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This was essentially the people's realization that the Reign of Terror was no longer needed. A lot was dialed back.

Execution of Robespierre, July 28, 1794

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Since the radicality of the revolution had been pulled back, radical revolutionaries like Robespierre were eliminated.

Executive Directory take on executive power, November 2, 1795

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This was the next governing body of France, until a coup would introduce Napoleon.

Rise of Napoleon to Ruler, November 10, 1799

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In the aftermath of all of France's revolution, a new emperor was able to assimilate power fairly easily through a coup.

SUMMARY QUESTION

The French Revolution fell off track when it first tried to make the church a part of the government. At this point there weren't many major issues, but this sparked a lot of discontent among the religious groups in France, which would continue to ripple through all of its revolutions.

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