Chronology of the

French Revolution
The Top 6 Events

List of Events

(Ranked from Left to Right)

The Political
Crisis

Economic
Crisis

The
French
Revolution

The Reign of
Terror

Storming
of the
Bastille

Estates
General

The Political Crisis (6 )

th

The French Revolution was set in motion by issues such as this.

France was governed under an absolute monarchy, and most people
where denied basic human rights. These people, the Third Estate,
who made up 98% of the population, had the least amount of land,
rights and the heaviest taxation. The government was driving the
country into the ground, and thus, the Political Crisis. I have ranked
this as the least important simply because the other 5 issues had a
bigger impact. Sure the country relies on the political party that was
running it, but if that government could bring in some money, then
everyone would be happy.

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The Economic Crisis (5 )

th

From 1756 to 1783, France builds up its debt by participating in the

Seven Years War and the American Revolution. To add to this, the
government had a very large army and navy to maintain, sending
France further into the red. It was because of this that there were
even heavier taxes on the common people, lighting a spark. I have
chosen the economic crisis as the 5 th most important event because it
had a bigger impact than the political crisis, because the man with
the most money is the man who always wins, but below everything
else because it helped persuade the people to revolt, and then that is
all. Other events became a symbol of freedom and equality, or even
left battle scars on the face of France.
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The Reign of Terror (4 )

th

After the execution of Louis XVI, the Reign of Terror began. The first
person to die was Marie Antoinette, Louis wife. After that, a further
30,000 died across France. The Terror was meant to get rid of all of
the enemies of the Revolution, and did so with extreme prejudice.
Led by a mad man, the Reign of Terror has scarred the Face of
France and remains a nightmarish memory to this day. Of course, its
often overlooked because of all of the good things the Revolution did.
I have ranked this 4th because although it did help make France
what it is today, there were still other events that made a bigger
impact. Such as the French Revolution itself, or the Storming of the
Bastille (which is celebrated on July 14 th every year as it was the
official beginning of the Revolution).
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The Storming of the Bastille (3 )

rd

The Storming of the Bastille was an attack on the political prison

known as the Bastille by an angry and aggressive mob of
Revolutionists. The reason why this prison in particular was
attacked was because of the weapons cache inside, but also because
of how the Bastille was a symbol of the Monarchy's power. The
Storming of the Bastille is considered the beginning of the French
Revolution. I have put this as the 3 rd most important because it was
a very symbolic day and event and has been remembered for 226
years. However, there are still bigger things that happened during
the French Revolution.

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The French Revolution (2 )

nd

The French Revolution Began in 1789 and ended in 1799. The

French Revolution was the revolt of the French citizens against the
Monarchy and their dictatorial ways. The French citizens overthrew
the monarchy and executed the King and Queen (However this was
slightly afterward during the very early stages of the Reign of
Terror), and made France what it is today. They even made the
French flag as it is seen in the 21 st century. I have ranked this as the
2nd most important because although it is the main event, the most
important event has to be what caused The French Revolution, what
created the main event.

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The Estates General (1 )

st

The Estates General was a meeting of the three estates. The Clergy,
or Monarchy, the Nobility and the Third Estate, or the common
people. It was a meeting called to order by the King, its sole purpose;
to fix France. It was because of this meeting that the French
Revolution began. It sparked other things as well, such as the
National Assembly of France and, later on, the Declaration of the
Rights of Man and of the Citizen. That is why it has earned the
number 1 position, because it was the match that lit the fuse; it
started the Revolution; it was the beginning.

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