Key Dates Flashcards
5th May 1789
Opening of the Estates-General on advision of Necker
17th June 1789
National Assembly formed by 3rd Estate members, vow not to leave until a new constitution is made
9th July 1789
National Assembly declares itself Constituent Assembly
12th July 1789
Necker is dismissed. Very unpopular decision with the people and 50,000 citizens form the National Guard
14th July 1789
Storming of the Bastille (Prison that symbolised State Rule).
17th July 1789
Beginning of the Great Fear. A period of panic and riot among peasants after the fear of a conspiracy by the King to overthrow the 3rd Estate, provoked by the gathering of soldiers in Paris. Peasants overthrew their landlords & burnt Feudal Documents. To appease the 3rd Estate the National Constituent Assembly abolished Feudalism (Peasants lived on the landlord’s land in exchange for labour and homage) and introduced the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of Citizen (‘All men are born free’)
26th August 1789
National Assembly decrees Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
5th October 1789
October Days. A mob of women rioting over the scarcity of bread, march to the Palace of Versailles. Guards were killed and Louis XVI reluctantly returned with the women back to Paris the next day.
21st June 1791
Flight to Varennes. Louis attempts to flee France but is recognised at the border and sent back to Paris
17th July 1791
Champ de Mars Massacre. Brissot has created a petition for the removal of the King, 50,000 had gathered at the Champ de Mars as a result. The rioters were dispersed but arrived again, led by Danton. The National Guard opened fire on the protesters, leaving up to 50 dead.
27th August 1791
Declaration of Pillnitz. Stated the support of Prussia and the Holy Roman Empire for Louis XVI against the revolution.
1st October 1791
Commence of the Legislative Assembly.
10th August 1792
Insurrection of 10th August 1792. Louis had been vetoeing radical measures implemented by the Assembly, such as the requirement for the return of the emigres. Tensions rose and the National Guard stormed the Tulieres Palace, where Louis was under the protection of the Swiss Guard. 6 weeks later the monarchy was abolished.
2nd September 1792
September Massacres. Danton instigates the massacre of 1,200 Royalist prisoners.
21st September 1792
The Convention, elected by the Legislative Assembly, commences. The monarchy is abolished and France is made a Republic.
21st January 1793
Execution of Louis XVI
17th September 1793
The Terror starts after the Law of Suspects is announced.
A law that orders all suspected enemies of the revolution to be executed.
24th March 1794
Robespierre and the CPS execute all leaders of the Dantonists and Herbertists, essentially becomes Dictator
27th July 1794
Robespierre is executed by the Convention and the Terror is over.
22nd August 1795
Directory established to rule France. Group of 5 men who were elected by the Council of Ancients and Council of 500. Each year one member would be replaced. The Directory annulled election results that didn’t fall in their favour and France were failing in the war. Eventually overthrown in the Coup of Brumaire by Napoleon
9th November 1799
Coup of Brumaire. The 2 Councils were told they were under threat from a Jacobin coup and sent the Chateau de Saint-Cloud. Napoleon’s men pressured the 5 members of the directory to resign. Napoleon is named First Consul
