The French revolution spanned over ten years. There are many key events that changed its direction over this period. Create a timeline of pivotal moments in the Revolution.

Solution-
Stage I – The meeting of the Estates-General
Despite the non-aristocratic members outnumbering the aristocrats in terms of population. Yet, they could be outvoted by the other two bodies.
 
Before the meeting of the Estates-General on May 5, members of the Third Estate (as the non-aristocratic class was known) began to mobilise the support of equal voting rights which would be on the basis of head and not by status
 
While the middle-class was of the opinion that fiscal and judicial reform was the need of the hour, the nobles were against the idea of giving up the privileges they had enjoyed under the traditional system.
 
When the meeting was convened, the question over the voting process turned to open hostility between the three orders, thus the original purpose of the meeting and the authority of the king who called for it being neglected.
 
With further talks having failed the Third estate met alone and formally adopted the title of National assembly on June 17, 1789. 
Stage II – The French Revolution Begins
The National Assembly continued to meet at Versailles. In the meantime, fear and violence had consumed Paris.
 
Speculations went around regarding an imminent military coup. This led to an insurgency which resulted in the taking of Bastille fortress on July 14, 1789. This event marked the beginning of the French Revolution.

The National Assembly adopted the Rights of Man and of the Citizen on August 4, 1789. The charter was grounded on democratic principles, drawing from philosophical as well as political ideas of Enlightenment thinkers like Jena-Jacques Rosseau. The declaration was published on August 26, 1789
 
The constitution was adopted on September 3, 1791. It symbolised a new French society where the king would have limited powers with a moderate assembly wield the most power. This, however, was not enough for the radical elements of the assembly like Goerges Danton and Maximilien de Robespierre, who demanded a trial of the king and a more republican form of government.
Stage IV – Reign of Terror
The revolution took a more radical turn when a group of insurgents attacked the royal residence in Paris and arrested Louis XVI on August 10, 1792
 
The following month many who were accused of being the ‘enemies of the revolution’ were massacred in Paris. Some of these included the moderate voices of the revolution. The Legislative Assembly was replaced by the National Convention which proclaimed the establishment of the Republic of France and the abolition of the Monarchy.
Stage V – End of the French Revolution
On August 22, 1795, the National Convention, now composed of moderates who had survived the excesses of the Reign of Terror approved the creation of anew constitution that created France’s bicameral legislature.
 
The power would be in the hands of the Directory, a five-member group appointed by the parliament. Any opposition to this group was removed through the efforts of the army, now led by an upcoming and successful general, Napoleon Bonaparte.
 
 

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