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The French Revolution Timeline

Fall of the Bastille

Directory and the Rise of Napoleon

July 14, 1789 an angry crowed marched on bastille, a fortress in East Paris that was housing mostly political prisoners. The unemployed and hungry saw it as a place and opportunity to express their anger. The commander of bastille was Marquis de Launay his troops tried resisting but eventually surrendered to the mob.

King Louis XVI withdrew the royal troops from the French capital Paris and recalled finance minister Jacques Necker who he had dismissed just 3 days earlier. However, King Louis XIV could no longer reverse the Revolution, while the National Assembly became de facto the French government.

After the execution of Robespierre, the National Convention created a new constitution for France that was implemented in 1795. There was now five executive council members that were leading the new government. Almost from the start, the Directory became mired in corruption, political conflict, financial problems and depended on the army to remain in power.

In 1799, a successful military commander named Napoleon Bonaparte returned from a military expedition in Egypt and ousted the Directory. Napoleon established what he called the Consulate and himself as the First Consul.

Attack on the Tuileries Palace

Meeting of the Estates General

Flight to Varennes

March on Versailles

Many of the people from Paris and the rest of France were starving, unemployed and restless. In October, Most of the people were done waiting and a large crowd of protesters, mostly women marched from Paris to the Palace of Versailles. Once the protesters reached the Palace of Versailles they broke into the quarters of Queen Marie Antoinette who was despised by the people. The crowd demanded bread.

Louis accepted their demands and agreed to go to Paris with the mob, believing it would only be a temporary inconvenience. As they left Versailles the crowd of protesters chanted that it was “bringing back the baker, the baker’s wife and the little baker’s apprentice!”

Declaration of the Republic and the Trial of Louis

During the spring and summer of 1792, the French government found itself in a difficult situation. The Austria army and its allies started making their move and advancing into the French Territory. After trying to flee the country the King was widely viewed as a traitor. On August 10th, a crowd of about 20,000 people attacked the Tuileries Palace.

The King and Queen had flee the palace and placed themselves under the protection of the Legislative Assembly. The Assembly was fearing any further violence, they fore placed themselves under arrest. Over the next few months hundreds of royalist and suspected royalist were executed in what became known as the “September Massacre”. Many French men and women fled for their lives.

The Estate General had an aim to solve the monarchy’s financial crisis. The Nobles, Clergy, and the rest of the population which is also called the Third Estate were represented by the Estates General. Each estate had one vote which meant that the Nobles and the Clergy could always overrule the Third Estate.

The Third Estate decided to form their own National Assembly fearing they would be forced to bear the burden of the financial crisis. After the Third Estate was locked out of the meeting of the Estates General, they moved into an indoor tennis court where they pledged the “Tennis Court Oath” vowing to remain there until a new constitution had been written.

The national assembly continued working on a new constitution for France. After much debate, members of the assembly decided to put restrictions to the Kings authority. The king would still have power on most things but the National Assembly could overrule the kings wish. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette did not like these new restrictions, both the king and Marie Antoinette left France and decided to seek refuge in Austria, hoping to eventually go back and have absolute power again.

While leaving France they were both recognized and was forced to go back. The kings attempt to leave France was devastating for the National Assembly, they now had to deal with a monarch who was against the constitution and very hated with the people

After the arrest of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette had taken place, the Legislative Assembly disbanded and replaced itself with a new political body named the National Convention.On September 21, 1792 the assembly made their first official act which was to declare France as a republic. Meanwhile, the French military had stalled the foreign invasion and pushed back the Austrians and Prussians.

Louis XVI was then charged with treason. The vote at the end of the trial was unanimous: Louis was found guilty. The vote on the death penalty was much higher and closer but had passed. On January 21, 1793, Louis was driven through the streets of Paris to his execution where he was decapitated. Marie Antoinette then had a very short trial. Marie Antoinette was the found guilty of numerous crimes, many of them based on rumors. On October 16 she was then sent to her execution and was decapitated

war

Dissolution of the National Assembly

The war became an issue and started a new debate in the Legislative Assembly. Tensions began to rise with the rest of Europe. The revolution of France was viewed with both fear and anger by the Europeans Monarchies. The support in France was growing well. Louis XVI and other monarchs wanted a war because they believed that foreign armies would easily overthrow the new government.

The people who believed in the revolution on the other hand wanted a war as they thought it would unify the nation and spread ideas of the Revolution throughout the rest of Europe. On April 20th, 1792 it was official that France declared war on Austria.

Reign of Terror

On September 30th, 1791 the long awaited constitution finally came into effect. France was now claimed as a constitutional monarchy. This was happening while the National Assembly was being removed and replaced by a new political body called the Legislative Assembly.

The Legislative Assembly was made from various political factors, ranging from the moderate royalist to radical Republicans. No members from the National Assembly were selected to the new legislative body as it was agreed that the members of the National Assembly would not be allowed to hold a seat in the new Parliament

The new National Convention was controlled by the Committee of Public Safety. Maximilien Robespierre came to dominate the Committee and established himself as the leader of the so-called Reign of Terror. Robespierre wanted to get rid of all of France enemies of the revolution to protect the "virtue" of the nation. From September 1793 to July 1794, an estimated 16,000 people were executed/decapitated. Many royalist were executed along with moderates. Most leaders of the French Revolution were now either dead or had fled.

Robespierre then made the execution of popular Committee member Georges-Jacques Danton, and Robespierre proclaiming himself as the leader of a new religion of the Supreme Being caused much resentment. On July 27, 1794, Robespierre was arrested. He was executed the following day.

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