Key Dates of the French Revolution

Key Dates of the French Revolution

• 1789:

• May: The Estates-General convenes, marking a crucial early stage of the revolution. The assembly, representing the three estates of French society (clergy, nobility, and commoners), was largely ineffective in addressing pressing economic and social issues like famine and inequality.

• June: The National Assembly is formed, signifying a shift in power. The Third Estate (commoners), frustrated by the inaction of the Estates-General, declared themselves the National Assembly, challenging the authority of the king and the established order.

• July: The storming of the Bastille occurs on the 14th, symbolizing popular defiance and the revolution's violent phase. The fall of the Bastille, a royal prison, triggered widespread revolt.

• August: The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen is adopted, outlining fundamental rights and freedoms. It declared popular sovereignty as the basis of the new order.

• 1790:

• July: The Civil Constitution of the Clergy is enacted, reorganizing the Catholic Church in France. Aimed at nationalizing the Church, it alienated many Catholics and fueled social divisions.

• 1791:

• June: The King attempts to flee France. This revealed the King's lack of support for the revolution, fueling calls for greater change and undermining trust in the monarchy.

• September: The Constitution of 1791 establishes a constitutional monarchy, a compromise that ultimately proved ineffective due to instability.

• 1792:

• August: The monarchy is abolished and the First Republic is proclaimed, marking a turning point and accelerating change. The fall of the monarchy resulted in the imprisonment of King Louis XVI.

• September: Mass executions, known as the September Massacres, take place in response to fears of counter-revolution and external threats. This highlighted the revolutionary violence.

• 1793:

• January: Louis XVI is executed. This action further intensified the conflict and the revolution's impact on French society.

• June: The Reign of Terror begins, marked by mass executions of perceived enemies of the revolution, led by the Committee of Public Safety. This extreme violence, instigated by the radical Jacobins, aimed to suppress dissent and consolidate power.

• 1794:

• July: The Reign of Terror ends with the execution of Maximilien Robespierre. His death signaled a transition away from revolutionary violence towards a more moderate period.

• 1795:

• October: The Directory comes to power, a five-member executive body aiming for a more stable, moderate government. This period was unstable and ultimately led to the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte.

• 1799:

• November: Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power in the Coup of 18 Brumaire. Overthrowing the Directory, he ushered in a new era under Napoleonic rule, marking the end of the French Revolution.

This quiz covers significant events from the French Revolution, focusing on key dates like the formation of the National Assembly, the storming of the Bastille, and the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Test your knowledge of these pivotal moments that reshaped France's political landscape.