May 5, 1789

Estates General convene at Versailles.

June 17, 1789

Third estate declares itself the National Assembly.

June 20, 1789

Oath of the Tennis Court is sworn.

July 14, 1789

Storming of the Bastille occurs.

July-August 1789

Great Fear ravages the countryside.

August 4,1789

National Assembly abolishes feudal privileges.

August 27, 1789

National Assembly issues Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

October 5, 1789

Women march on Versailles and force royal family to return to Paris.

November 1789

National Assembly confiscates church lands.

July 1790

Civil Constitution of the Clergy establishes a national church.  Louis XVI reluctantly agrees to accept a constitutional monarchy.

June 1791

Royal family is arrested while attempting to flee France.

August 1791

Austria and Prussia issue the Declaration of Pillinitz.  Slave insurrections break out in Saint-Domingue.

April 1792

France declares war on Austria.  Legislative Assembly enfranchises free people of color.

August 1792

Parisian mob attacks the palace and takes Louis XVI prisoner.

September 1792

September Massacres occur.  National Convention declares France a republic and abolishes monarchy.

January 1793

Louis XVI is executed.

February 1793

France declares war on Britain, Holland, and Spain.  Revolts take place in some provincial cities.