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Tennis Court Oath
Cause: The Third Estate was locked out of the Estates-General and vowed to draft a new constitution.
Effect: Unified the National Assembly, setting the stage for revolutionary reforms. -
Storming of the Bastille
Cause: Discontent over high taxes and political inequality, exacerbated by fears of a royal crackdown.
Effect: Sparked the French Revolution, symbolizing the end of royal despotism. -
Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Cause:Enlightenment ideals of liberty and equality inspired the drafting of this declaration.
Effect: Became a cornerstone for democratic principles in France and beyond. -
October March on Versailles
Cause: Rising bread prices and famine prompted Parisian women to demand action from the king.
Effect: Forced Louis XVI to relocate to Paris, increasing revolutionary control. -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Cause: Revolutionary leaders sought to reduce Church influence and alleviate financial issues.
Effect: Alienated many Catholics, deepening divisions within France. -
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Haitian Revolution
Cause: Enslaved Haitians, inspired by revolutionary ideals, fought against French colonial rule.
Effect: Haiti became the first independent Black republic and abolished slavery. -
September Massacres
Cause: Fear of counter-revolutionary uprisings and foreign invasion led to panic in Paris.
Effect: Thousands of prisoners, many of them clergy or aristocrats, were executed, radicalizing the revolution further. -
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Reign of Terror
Cause: Revolutionary leaders like Robespierre sought to purge enemies of the revolution.
Effect: Thousands were executed, leading to Robespierre's own downfall and a shift to more moderate rule. -
Execution of Louis XVI
Cause: Louis XVI was convicted of treason for conspiring against the revolution.
Effect: Solidified the republic but intensified both internal rebellion and foreign opposition. -
Thermidorian Reaction
Cause: Robespierre's extremism and mass executions alienated even his allies.
Effect: Marked the end of the Reign of Terror and the beginning of the Directory. -
Concordat with Pope Pius VII
Cause: Napoleon wanted to reconcile with the Church to stabilize his regime.
Effect: Restored some religious authority while maintaining state supremacy. -
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Napoleonic Code Passed Across the French Empire
Cause: Napoleon exported his civil code to the territories under French control.
Effect: Influenced European legal systems and reinforced revolutionary principles of equality and property rights. -
Napoleonic Code Passed
Cause: Napoleon sought a uniform legal framework to ensure equality under the law.
Effect: Modernized legal systems worldwide while restricting women's rights. -
Napoleon Crowned Emperor
Cause: Napoleon sought legitimacy and absolute power through self-coronation.
Effect: Marked the beginning of his imperial ambitions and centralized authority. -
Battle of Trafalgar
Cause: Napoleon aimed to defeat Britain's navy to prepare for invasion.
Effect: Secured British naval dominance and thwarted Napoleon’s invasion plans. -
Battle of Austerlitz
Cause: Napoleon sought to decisively defeat the Third Coalition's forces.
Effect: Solidified Napoleon's control over Europe and dismantled the Holy Roman Empire. -
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Peninsular War
Cause: Napoleon invaded Spain to enforce the Continental System, facing local resistance.
Effect: Drained French resources and morale, weakening Napoleon's empire. -
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Invasion of Russia
Cause: Russia’s withdrawal from the Continental System prompted Napoleon's campaign.
Effect: The disastrous retreat destroyed much of Napoleon's Grande Armée. -
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Congress of Vienna
Cause: European powers aimed to restore balance after Napoleon's defeat.
Effect: Established a conservative order and maintained peace in Europe for decades. -
Escape from Elba
Cause: Napoleon escaped exile after learning of discontent in France.
Effect: Sparked the Hundred Days, culminating in his final defeat at Waterloo.