Major Events of the French Revolution
1789 June 29 – Tennis Court Oath July 14 – Storming of the Bastille Aug. 27 – Declaration of the Rights of Man Oct 5-6 – King Louis forcibly brought to Paris
1791 June 20 – King Louis XVI tries to flee France, captured. Aug. 27 – Austria and Prussia support Louis XVI with the Declaration of Pillnitz. Sept. – The National Assembly issues the French Constitution, elections held.
1792 April 20 – France declares war on Austria and Prussia. Aug. 10 – Paris mob storms the royal palace. Demand the King be put on trial. Sept. 20 – The French army stops Prussian and Austrian invasion. Sept 21 – Monarchy is abolished, France now a republic.
1793 Jan. 21 – King Louis XVI executed. March – Reign of Terror begins. Aug. 23 – Military draft instituted in France Fall – The de-Christianization of France begins.
1794-1795 July 28 1794 – “Thermidor” Robespierre executed and the Reign of Terror ends. Feb. 21 1795 – Churches reopened. Aug. 22 1795 – New Constitution adopted and the Directory is formed. Oct. 5 1795 –” Whiff of Grapeshot” saves the Directory from a royalist mob.
1797-1799 Sept. 4 1797 – Coup d’etat removes royalists from the Directory Oct. 17 1797 – France defeats the Austrians in Italy, makes peace. 1798 – Napoleon makes gains in Switzerland and Italy, defeated in Egypt. Spring 1799 – Coalition of Austria, Russia, Turkey, and GB drive the French Army back.
1799 Nov. 9 – Napoleon’s coup d’etat He abolishes the Directory and forms the Consulate. Names himself First Consul of France Now begins the Age of Napoleon that we will look at tomorrow.