French Revolution: Facts, Timeline, and Resources
Fun Facts about the French Revolution
Historians and academics disagree when it comes to determining what actually started the French Revolution To some extent at least, it started because the France’s economic and intellectual development was not matched by social and political change. In the fixed order of the ancient regime, most bourgeois were unable to exercise commensurate political and social influence. King Louis XIV, had destroyed the roots of feudalism; yet outward feudal forms persisted and became increasingly burdensome. Either way the timeline and fun facts about the French Revolution that are outlined below outline the political upheaval that ended with the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy in France and marked a watershed in European history.
Timeline of the French Revolution
October 18, 1598- Henry IV made a law allowing religious tolerance called the Edict of Nantes.
1661- Louis XIV spent over $100 million to build the Versailles Palace.
April 13, 1685- Louis XIV abolished the Edict of Nantes which caused many Hugenots to flee France
1715- Louis XIV died leaving his country in debt from the money he spent supporting the arts.
1740- The War of Austrian Succession caused the monarchy to fall heavily into debt.
1756- Start of the Seven Years’ War, which compounded the debt situation.
1772- A second revolution occurs, as Jacobins and sansculottes force the creation of a French Republic. The Legislative Assembly is replaced by the new National Convention.
1774- Louis XV died leaving an even bigger debt from all of the wars France was in during his reign.
1775- Start of the American War of Independence
1778- France declares war against Great Britain in support of the American colonies. The subsequent war worsens the debt situation further.
1789- French peasants were mad because of an unfair tax system and a poor harvest in 1788.
May 5, 1789- Louis XVI called Estates-General to a meeting in Versailles to approve a tax plan.
June 17, 1789- The Third Estate declared themselves the National Assembly and made the Tennis Court Oath.
July 14, 1789- The people of Paris stormed Bastille.
August 4,1789- The National Assembly announced the end of feudalism and serfdom in France.
August 27, 1789- The National Assembly issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
October 5,1789- Paris women invaded Versailles.
1790- The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was passed. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy Demands priests to take an oath of loyalty to the state, splitting the clergy between juring and non-juring priests.
1791- The Constitution of 1791 was adopted.
March 10, 1791- Pope Pius VI condemns the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
June 20, 1791- Louis XVI and his family tried to flee France but were arrested.
September 30, 1791- Dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly
April 20, 1792- France declared war on Austria.
September 1792- The National Convention held their first meeting.
September 3–7, 1772- The September Massacres of prisoners in the Paris prisons.
January 21, 1793- Louis XVI sentanced to the guillotine.
April 6, 1793- Committee of Public Safety established.
June 24, 1973- Ratification of new Constitution by National Convention, but not yet proclaimed. Slavery is abolished in France until 1802.
August 1793- A national draft called for all able-bodied men to join the army.
September 1793 to July 1794- The Reign of Terror court sentanced 20,000 to 40,000 people to death.
March 28, 1774- Death of philosopher and mathematician Marquis de Condorcet in prison.
July 27, 1794- The National Convention arrested Robespierre.
July 28, 1794- Robespierre was beheaded.
1795- A new Constitution was adopted.
July 14, 1795- Marseillaise accepted as the French National Anthem.
February 1798- Roman Republic proclaimed
April 1798- Helvetian Republic proclaimed
May 11, 1798- Law of 22 Floréal Year VI – Council elections annulled, left wing deputies excluded from Council.
July 21, 1798- Battle of the Pyramids
August 1,1798- Battle of the Nile – Nelson’s victory isolates Napoleon in Egypt.
December 24,1798- Alliance between Russia and Britain
October 9, 1799- Napoleon returns to France
December 24, 1799- Constitution of the Year VIII – leadership of Napoleon established under the Consulate. French Revolution may be considered ended.
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Resources about The French Revolution
Teaching Lesson Plan about The French Revolution. To ensure that students understand the basic political events of the French Revolution, broken down into four stages, and the shifts of power during each stage.
Exploring The French Revolution
Fordham’s guide to the French Revolution
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