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The National Constituent Assembly, created in July 1789 from the deputies of the Estates General, acted as France’s revolutionary representative body until 1791. It led major reforms, including abolishing feudalism and the nobility, confirming citizens’ rights, and reorganizing France’s judicial, administrative, and religious systems. After completing the first written constitution, elections were held for the National Legislative Assembly.
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On May 5, 1789, the Estates-General met at Versailles. There were about 300 people from the Church, 300 from the nobles, and twice as many from the common people, including both the middle class and the peasants. The assembly hadn’t met since 1614 and was called by Louis XVI because France was nearly bankrupt and people starving with famine and riots everywhere. The King accidentally united the commoners by bringing their deputies together.
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The Tennis Court Oath was a key event at the start of the French Revolution. Members of the Third Estate vowed not to separate until they had drafted a new constitution, challenging King Louis XVI. It showed their determination for political representation, equality, and democratic reforms, marking a turning point against absolute monarchy.
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The Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, was a really important event in the French Revolution. On that day, revolutionaries attacked the fortress prison in Paris, which showed the people’s anger against the monarchy and tyranny. This event marked the start of a big rebellion and became a strong symbol of the fight for freedom and justice, connecting deeply to the larger effects of the French Revolution.
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After the storming of the Bastille, the next significant event of the French Revolution occurred on August 4, 1789. On that day, the National Constituent Assembly adopted 18 decrees or articles. The August Decrees concerning the abolition of feudalism, other privileges of the nobility, and seigneurial rights.
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The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was created in 1789 by the Constituent Assembly to precede the new Constitution. Written and voted article by article in August, it declared the natural rights of freedom, property, security, and resistance to oppression. Ratified by Louis XVI, it became the base of the 1791 Constitution and inspired future human rights declarations worldwide.
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The Flight to Varennes was the royal family’s failed attempt to escape Paris in June 1791. King Louis XVI, unhappy with the revolution and its attacks on the Church, planned to flee with his family, but they were arrested in Varennes, about 150 miles from Paris.. Their capture was humiliating and showed that a constitutional monarchy was no longer realistic.
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The Consulate was France’s government from 1799 to 1804, after the fall of the Directory and before Napoleon became Emperor. During the Consulate, Napoleon became First Consul and built a strong, centralized government. He created lasting institutions, and by the end, his rule had become a military dictatorship.
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In 1805, Napoleon ruled much of Europe, and the British controlled the seas. He planned to conquer all of Europe, including Britain, and had tried to invade in 1804. When this failed, Napoleon turned his attentions to Austria, which had recently declared war. In October 1805, Napoleon sent 33 Franco-Spanish ships from Cadiz, led by Villeneuve, to attack Naples and distract Austrian forces in central Europe. The British saw the Franco-Spanish fleet as threat, so Nelson gathered 27 ships to attack
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The Battle of Leipzig happened in October 1813. Napoleon and his French army fought against Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Sweden. Although he tried to defend the city, he was outnumbered and surrounded. After several days of fighting, Napoleon lost and had to retreat to France, losing much of his power in Germany and Poland.
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La batalla de Waterloo se libró el 18 de junio de 1815 entre el ejército francés de Napoleón y una coalición liderada por el duque de Wellington y el mariscal Blücher. Fue la batalla decisiva de su época, puso fin a una guerra que se había prolongado durante 23 años, acabó con los intentos franceses de dominar Europa y destruyó para siempre el poder imperial de Napoleón.