French Revolution Timeline

I chose four dates that I thought represented the French Revolution. The four dates I chose are June 20, 1789, April 1792, February 4, 1794, and June 10, 1794. Below I outlined why I found each date important and how they fit into the Revolution.

a) The first date that I thought was an important one for the French Revolution was June 20, 1789. This was the date of the Tennis Court Oath. I thought this was an important date because it turned the tables for what was about to happen with the Revolution. The nobility had met with other members to decide on political matters but left out the third-estate. The estates were the way the members of society are classed by historians because the classes, as we refer to them today, were not existent at

This date seemed important because it was when France declared war on Austria and France pretty much remained at war during the rest of the Revolution and during the reign of Napoleon. France having declared war on Austria created plenty of issues for France. The idea was for France to lose to Austria, so the monarchy could be re-established, however, this is not what happened. France had some difficulties at the beginning of the war because the army was not strong enough, but after a few months of fighting the army became much stronger and started winning against Austria which led to plenty of fears for the monarchy. Austria and France had been at an alliance before the war was declared because the Queen of France had family that ruled in Austria. The announcement of war went against the constitution that was in place at the time of war being declared. In the document, The French Declaration of War Against Austria, “The National Assembly proclaims that the French nation, faithful to the principles consecrated by its constitution, "not to undertake any war with a view to conquest nor ever to employ its forces against the liberty of any people," only takes up arms for the maintenance of its liberty and independence.” (The French Declaration of War Against Austria) The principles of the war went against everything the Revolution had began to achieve. War constantly became a source of contention and a continuous part of

This was the abolition of slavery within the colonies and France itself. It did not last as Napoleon reinstated slavery once he rose to power. The reason I thought this was important was because it was the first-time slavery had been abolished by a nation. Slavery was a practice that enabled workers to be used as property and this was, especially, the case in the colonies that were settled by the nations in Europe. The major colony that France owned was St. Domingue which is now Haiti. The most common slavery was for sugar cane production and the cocoa bean production (which is used to make chocolate). Sugar cane was the most common because sugar was becoming one of the most widely used commodities. In the assembly when slavery was being abolished they recorded the events which occurred, “Camboulas: Since 1789, a great transformation remained incomplete; the nobilities of the sword and the Church were eliminated, but an aristocracy of the skin still ruled; it has just breathed its last. Equality is established; a black man, a yellow man, and a white man will sit among you representing the free citizens of Saint-Domingue. (The deputies applaud).” (The National Convention-Abolition of Slavery, p. 129) As mentioned, slavery would not be abolished for too long as Napoleon would reinstate slavery, but France finally abolished slavery for good in 1848. Slavery took some time