History
What is The French Revolution?
The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a period of upheaval in France that overthrew the monarchy, ended feudal privileges, and reshaped Europe around ideas of liberty, equality, and citizenship. It began amid financial crisis and deep inequality.
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Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains the french revolution.
Key things to understand
- 1France was divided into estates: clergy, nobility, and everyone else (the Third Estate), who bore the tax burden.
- 2Financial crisis, food shortages, and Enlightenment ideas about rights ignited the revolt — symbolized by the storming of the Bastille in 1789.
- 3The monarchy was abolished and King Louis XVI executed; the radical 'Reign of Terror' followed.
- 4It ended with Napoleon's rise, but its ideals of citizenship and equal rights spread across the world.
Frequently asked questions
- When was the French Revolution?
- It began in 1789 and is generally considered to have ended in 1799 with Napoleon Bonaparte's rise to power.
- What caused the French Revolution?
- A mix of severe financial crisis, unfair taxation, food shortages, and Enlightenment ideas challenging the monarchy and aristocratic privilege.
- What was the storming of the Bastille?
- The 1789 attack on a Paris fortress-prison that symbolized royal tyranny — a turning point now marked by France's national day, 14 July.