The French Revolution was a period of far-reaching social and political upheaval in France and its colonies beginning in 1789 and ending in 1799. The Revolution overthrew the monarchy, established a republic, catalyzed violent periods of political turmoil, and finally culminated in a dictatorship under Napoleon that brought many of its principles to Western Europe and beyond.
Start of the French Revolution
Financial Crisis
The French government faced a financial crisis due to its involvement in the American Revolution and decades of lavish spending by the monarchy. Attempts to reform the tax system were blocked by the nobility.
Estates-General
In 1789, King Louis XVI called the Estates-General, a general assembly representing the French estates of the realm: the clergy (First Estate), the nobles (Second Estate), and the common people (Third Estate), to address the financial crisis.
National Assembly
The Third Estate, representing the common people, declared itself the National Assembly, signaling the start of representative government for France and challenging the authority of the king.
Tennis Court Oath
When the National Assembly was locked out of its meeting hall, members convened on a nearby tennis court and pledged not to disperse until a constitution was established.
Storming of the Bastille
On July 14, 1789, revolutionaries stormed the Bastille, a royal fortress and prison, in search of arms and to free prisoners. This event is often considered the start of the French Revolution.
Abolition of Feudalism
The National Assembly abolished feudalism and the privileges of the nobility and clergy in the August Decrees.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
In August 1789, the National Assembly adopted this document, which proclaimed liberty, equality, and fraternity as foundational principles.
End of the French Revolution:
Reign of Terror
From 1793 to 1794, the Revolution entered its most violent phase, with the Jacobins, led by Maximilien Robespierre, executing thousands of perceived enemies of the revolution, including King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette.
Thermidorian Reaction
In July 1794, Robespierre was arrested and executed, leading to the end of the Reign of Terror and the establishment of the more moderate Directory.
Rise of Napoleon
The Directory was marked by corruption and inefficiency, leading to its overthrow by Napoleon Bonaparte in a coup d’état on November 9, 1799 (18 Brumaire in the French Republican Calendar).
Consulate
Napoleon established the Consulate, with himself as First Consul, effectively ending the French Revolution and beginning his rise to power as the leader of France.
The French Revolution had a profound impact on France and the world. It led to the end of the Bourbon monarchy, the rise of secular and democratic republics, the development of modern political ideologies, and the spread of revolutionary ideals across Europe and the Americas. The Revolution’s legacy includes the Napoleonic Code, which influenced legal systems worldwide, and the promotion of nationalism and the concept of total war.