The French Revolution test events

The Three Estates

Pre 1789

French society divided into the 1st Estates (clergy), 2nd Estates ( nobility), and the 3rd Estates ( commoners).

Which Estate paid all the taxes but had little political power?

The 3rd Estate

Estates general meeting 

May 1789 

King Louis XVl called a meeting of the Estates general to solve France’s financial crisis, but voting was unfair to the 3rd Estate. 

Tennis court Oath 

June 1789 

The 3rd Estate declared themselves the national assembly and vowed not to leave until they wrote a new constitution. 

Storming of the Bastille 

July 14, 1789 

Angry Parisians stormed the Bastille prison, a symbol of royal tyranny. 

What did the storming of the Bastille mark?

The start of the Revolution.

The great Fear & end of feudalism

Summer 1789

Peasants attacked nobles’ home and burned records of feudal dues.

What abolished feudal privileges?

The national assembly

Declaration of the Rights of man and citizen

August 1789

The national Assembly adopted a statement of evolutionary ideals ( all men are equal )

What was the statement the declaration of the rights of men and citizen lived by?

Liberty, equality, fraternity

Women’s march on Versailles

October 1789

Thousands of women marched to Versailles demanding bread and forcing the king to move to paris.

Civil constitution of the clergy

july 1790

Brought the church under state control; clergy had to swear loyalty to France. Deeply divided Frances over religion. 

Flight to varennes 

June 1791

King Louis XVl and his family tried to flee but were captured. Destroyed the king’s credibility and trust.

Champ de Mars massacre

July 1791

The national guard fired on protestors calling for the king’s removal.

Declaration of Pillnitz 

August 1791

Austria and Prussia warned France not to harm the royal family.

What did the Declaration of Pillnitz increase?

Increased fear of foreign invasion and united revolutionaries.

Constitution of 1791

september 1791

Created a constitutional monarchy with a legislative assembly.

What did the Constitution of 1791 end?

Ended absolute monarchy, but tensions remained.

war with Austria and Prussia

April 1792

France declared war to defend the revolution from monarchies abroad

Rise of the sans-culottes 

1792

Workings class revolutionaries in Paris demanded equality, price controls, and punishment for tractors. 

The Paris commune

august 1792

The radical city government seized power in Paris and supported the Jacobins. 

What did the Paris commune become?

Became a major influence pushing the revolution towards violence.

storming of the tuileries

august 10, 1792

revolutionaries attacked the royal palace and arrested the king

what did the storming of the tuileries end?

ended monarchy power in France

september massacres 

september 1792

parisians attacked prisons, killing thousands accused of treason

what did the september massacres reveal?

Revealed the revolutions growing chaos and fear

national convention established 

september 21 1792

The monarchy was officially abolished ; France became a republic. Gave rise to radical Jacobin leadership. 

Trial and execution of louis XVl

january 21 1793

The king was executed by guillotine for treason.

what did the Trial and execution of louis XVl end?

ended monarchy completely; intensified foreign opposition

Formation of the first coalition

february-march 1793

European monarchies formed an alliance to attack revolutionary france.

what did the Formation of the first coalition increase?

increased national emergency and radical measures

creation of the committee of public safety

april 1793

The national convention created a 12 member committee to defend the revolution.

what did the creation of the committee of public safety begin?

Began centralized control and the radical reign of terror

execution of Marie antoinette

october 1793

The queen was executed by guillotine, symbolizing the complete fall of the old monarchy.