Opening of the States-General at Versailles, 1789

(Painted by Couder.) efforts to ward off bankruptcy, and Louis XVI. convoked the estates, May 25, 1789, in which the general di atisfaction was reflected. The 3d estate protested against the vote by cla instead of by poll, constituted itself the National A embly (June 17), and invited the other two estates to unite with it. It demanded a Constitution; the king replied by summoning troops. An insurrection broke out in Paris July 12; the Bastile was stormed July 14. The mob of Paris ma acred the royal Chandler's Encyclopedia guard Oct. 5, and secured the persons of the king and queen: the king accepted the new constitution July 14, 1790, and the Legislative A embly met Oct. 1, 1791. Meanwhile the hostility of Austria, the reverses of the army, and the more determined attitude of the king caused the wildest excitement. The Tuileries were invaded, and the royal family imprisoned. The Republic was proclaimed Sept. 21, 1792, Radicals (Jacobins) and Constitutionalists (Girondists) divided the National Convention; Jacobins gained the ascendency, and, angered by royalist intrigues and inflamed by the succe of the army, sought to IMG:content-0169.png:[merged small][graphic] IMG:content-0170.png:[graphic] Napoleon Overthrowing the Directory, Nov. 9, 1799. (Painted by Bouchot.) carry out their radical principles, and executed the king Jan. 21, 1793, and the Giron dist leaders Oct. 31. The mob now ruled, the Reign of Terror began, the Christian religion was abolished, and "Reason" enthroned. With the fall of Robes pierre, July 28, 1794, a reaction began; a Directory of five was constituted to establish order; a fresh revolt of the mob was suppre ed by Napoleon, and his brilliant victories made the Republic respected abroad. But the Directory proved incapable of administering the state, and the country approved of its overthrow and a umption of supreme power by Napoleon Nov. 9, 1799.— Minor revolutions occurred 1830 and 1848, overthrowing Charles X. and Louis Philippe; temporarily re-establishing the Republic.