Pre-revolutionary France operated under the Ancien Régime, a feudal system that divided society into three estates. The First Estate consisted of clergy making up only 1% of the population. The Second Estate comprised nobility at 2%. The Third Estate included everyone else - 97% of the population. Despite this massive majority, the Third Estate bore almost the entire tax burden while the privileged estates enjoyed exemptions. This created enormous social and economic tensions that would eventually explode into revolution.
The year 1789 marked the explosive beginning of the French Revolution. It started with King Louis XVI calling the Estates-General for the first time since 1614 due to France's financial crisis. When the Third Estate was locked out of their meeting hall, they took the famous Tennis Court Oath, vowing to create a new constitution. The revolution reached its symbolic climax on July 14th with the storming of the Bastille fortress, which became the enduring symbol of popular uprising against tyranny. By August, the National Assembly had abolished feudalism and adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, fundamentally transforming French society.
The French Revolution was one of the most significant events in world history, lasting from 1789 to 1799. It was caused by a combination of factors including France's massive debt from wars, social inequality under the Three Estate System, and the spread of Enlightenment ideas about liberty and equality. The Third Estate, representing 97% of the population, bore the heaviest tax burden while having the least political power. Economic problems, including food shortages and inflation, further fueled discontent among the common people.
The early phase of the French Revolution, from 1789 to 1792, was marked by several pivotal events. The Estates-General met for the first time since 1614, leading to the Tennis Court Oath where representatives vowed to create a new constitution. The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, became a symbol of popular uprising against tyranny. The National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen, establishing fundamental principles of liberty and equality. Feudalism was abolished, and a constitutional monarchy was established, limiting the power of King Louis XVI.
The French Revolution entered its most radical and violent phase from 1792 to 1794, known as the Reign of Terror. The monarchy fell in 1792, and King Louis XVI was executed in January 1793. The Committee of Public Safety, led by Maximilien Robespierre, took control and implemented increasingly extreme measures. Over 17,000 people were executed by guillotine during this period, with executions peaking in 1794. The Terror was driven by external wars with European monarchies and internal counter-revolutionary threats. Robespierre justified the violence as necessary to preserve the revolution, but the escalating bloodshed eventually led to his own downfall.
The Thermidorian Reaction marked the end of the radical phase of the French Revolution. Robespierre was executed in July 1794, ending the Reign of Terror. The Directory, a new government consisting of five directors, was established in 1795. This period saw more moderate policies and attempts at economic stabilization. However, the Directory faced ongoing challenges including political opposition, economic problems, and military pressures. The government's weakness and instability eventually created conditions that allowed Napoleon Bonaparte to seize power in a coup d'état in 1799.
The French Revolution had a profound and lasting impact on world history. It ended absolute monarchy in France and established the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen became a model for human rights documents worldwide. The revolution promoted nationalism and the idea of popular sovereignty, fundamentally changing how people viewed government and citizenship. It inspired democratic movements across Europe and the Americas, contributing to the spread of republican ideals. The legal reforms, particularly the Napoleonic Code, influenced legal systems globally. The French Revolution's emphasis on individual rights and democratic participation continues to shape modern political thought and institutions.