Formation of the national assembly
The national Assembly was when many people from the third estate moved to a handball court and swore that they wouldn't leave untill a constitution was mad and declared themselves a National Assembly. This brought the start of developing a government.
Tennis Court Oath
When the meeting of the National Assembly took place, the members arrived at their meeting place to find the doors were locked. They moved to an indoor tennis court and swore that they would not leave until they had a new constitution, which became known as the Tennis Court Oath.
Fall of the Bastille
On July 14th, 1789, 900 Parisians gathered in the courtyard of the Bastille. The king's troops were on their way, but a group of attackers lowered the drawbridge. Hours of fighting sustained until the prison warden surrendered. His His head was cut off and the rebels destroyed the Bastille brick by brick.
Women's March on versailles
On October 5th, 1789, thousands of Parisian women, armed with anything from pitchforks to pistols, marched to Versailles. Some women met with the King and told him that their children were starving because there was no food, and then forced Louis to accept the new decrees.
Declaration of the rights of man
Inspired by the English Bill of Rights in 1689 and the American Declaration of Independence, the charter began with "the natural and imprescriptible rights of man" to " liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression."
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
A law that was passed that stated that bishops and priests were to be elected by the people, not appointed by the pope and the Church hierarchy. The state also would pay the salaries of the bishops and priests. Due to these changes, many Catholics became enemies of the revolution.
constitution of 1791
This new constitution set up a limited monarchy. There was still a King, but a Legislative Assembly would make the laws. Only men over 25 who paid a certain amount of taxes could vote, and all other citizens were now considered "passive" with equal rights but no vote. Local governments were put in charge of taxation, and the influence of the new government began to spread throughout France.
War with Austria
European leaders began to fear that the revolution would spread to their other countries. Austria and Prussia threatened to use force to restore Louis XVI to full power, and insulted by the threat, the Legislative Assembly struck first declaring war on Austria in the spring of 1792. The French fared badly in initial fighting.
Sans culottes
Members of the Paris Commune proudly called themselves sans- culottes meaning " without breeches." They rebelled by wearing long trousers, not knee high breeches like the nobles. They were often depicted as poor workers, although they were merchants or artisans.
Paris commune
In the spring of 1792, angry citizens demonstrated to protest against food shortages and defeats in the war. They decided to declare themselves a commune ( a popularly run council) and organized a mob attack on the royal palace and Legislative Assembly. Later, many members called themselves san-culottes.
invention of the guillotine
The guillotine was introduced in 1791 and was suppose to have a painless exocution. The guillotine was for the nobility and clergy at first but then everyone was able to choose this method. This provided a public entertainment system as people would watch exocutions.