1 of 4 Stages of the French Revolution
I.
National Assembly (1789-1791)
May 1789
The Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate and some reform minded nobles
declare themselves the National Assembly.
July 14, 1789
is a revolution”
“Is it a revolt?” “No, sire, It
Fearful of the king’s army gathering in Paris, more than 800 Parisians
storm the Bastille in search of weapons.
August 4, 1789
“Feudalism is abolished!”
Nobles agree to end their special privileges creating equality of all citizens before
the law
August 1789
“Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!”
The National Assembly issues the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen,
inspired by the Declaration of Independence and John Locke.
October 5, 1789
“Bread!”
Thousands of women march from Paris to Versailles demanding food. They
force the royal family to return to Paris.
July 12, 1790
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The National Assembly put the French Catholic Church under state control,
removing papal authority. Many French Catholic disapprove of this decision.
September 3, 1791
Constitution of 1791
The National Assembly completes the first French constitution which creates a
limited monarchy, with the Legislative Assembly that creates laws and
collects taxes.
2 of 4 Stages of the French Revolution
II.
Reign of Terror (1792-1794)
August 10, 1792
Palace
Parisians Storm the
The royal family flees to the Legislative Assembly
September 1792
The September Massacres
Citizens attack prisons that held nobles and priests
and kill the prisoners
September 1792
The National Convention
Radicals, called Jacobins, call for a new election for the legislature and insist
that all male citizens should have the right to vote, not just property owners. The
Jacobins draw up a new Constitution and erase all titles of nobility.
January 21, 1793
Execution of a King
Louis XVI was tried as a traitor and beheaded. See pg. (659)
July 1793 “Liberty cannot be secured unless criminals lose their
heads.”
Robespierre begins the Reign of Terror where courts conduct rushed trials
passing death sentences. The Reign of Terror lasts about a year, killing 40,000
people with the use of the guillotine. Many who died were members of the
moderate revolution from 1789.
October 1793
Execution of a Queen
Marie Antoinette was executed. Her son, Louis XVII died soon after of unknown
causes in a dungeon.
3 of 4 Stages of the French Revolution
III. Directory (1795-1799)
August 1795
Constitution of 1795
Reaction to the Reign of Terror, moderates produce another constitution setting
up a 5 man Directory and a two-house legislature. Middle-class men
dominated the Directory until 1799.
The Directory was weak and soon royalist feelings returned to France.
4 of 4 Stages of the French Revolution
IV. Age of Napoleon (1799-1815)
1799
The Consulate
Napoleon Bonaparte helped overthrow the weak Directory and established the
Consulate, a 3-man governing board. They drew up a new constitution,
however, Napoleon named himself First Consul for life.
1803
Emperor
Napoleon gains enough power to declare himself Emperor of France and invites
the Pope to his coronation ceremony. The French support him because he calls
for reforms to create new jobs and industry under strict government control.