"The French Revolution [...] began with the Estates General of 1789, and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799."
The major social and political upheaval that occurred in France in the late 18th century, which was partially inspired by Enlightenment ideas.
The Enlightenment: An intellectual movement during the 18th century that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism.
The Estate System: A class hierarchy that divided French society into three groups: the clergy, nobility, and common people.
King Louis XVI: The last king of France who ruled during the French Revolution and was executed in 1793.
Marie Antoinette: The queen of France who was known for her extravagance and was executed during the French Revolution.
The Estates-General: A legislative body made up of representatives from each estate that was convened by the king in 1789 for the first time in over 170 years.
The National Assembly: A group of representatives from the Third Estate who declared themselves the legitimate government of France in 1789.
The Tennis Court Oath: A pledge made by members of the National Assembly to not disband until a new constitution was written.
The Storming of the Bastille: A violent uprising in 1789 where a mob of French citizens stormed a fortress in Paris that was used to imprison political prisoners.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen: A document that declared the natural rights of all citizens and was adopted by the National Assembly in 1789.
The Reign of Terror: A period from 1793-1794 where thousands of people were executed or imprisoned by the French government.
Maximilien Robespierre: A radical French politician who was one of the leaders of the Reign of Terror and was eventually executed in 1794.
The Directory: A period of French government that followed the Reign of Terror and was marked by instability and political corruption.
Napoleon Bonaparte: A military general who became the leader of France in 1799 and went on to conquer much of Europe.
The Napoleonic Wars: A series of conflicts between France and various European countries that lasted from 1799-1815.
The Congress of Vienna: An international conference that was held in 1815 to redraw the map of Europe in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars.
Estates-General: It was a meeting of the three estates (clergy, nobility, and commoners) in 1789 to discuss the financial crisis in France.
National Assembly: Formed by the Third Estate in 1789 after being excluded from the Estates-General, it was the first step towards creating a constitutional monarchy.
Storming of the Bastille: On July 14, 1789, a mob of revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison to seize weapons and gunpowder, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
Reign of Terror: The Reign of Terror, led by Maximilien Robespierre, was a period of state-sponsored violence and executions, during which around 40,000 people were killed between 1793 and 1794.
Napoleonic Era: After overthrowing the Directory in 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte became the First Consul and eventually declared himself Emperor in 1804, marking the end of the French Revolution.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen: This document, adopted on August 26, 1789, outlined the natural, civil, and political rights of all citizens and influenced the development of democracy and human rights worldwide.
Constitution of 1791: It established a constitutional monarchy in France, with limited powers for the king and a unicameral legislative assembly.
Women's March on Versailles: In October 1789, a group of women marched to Versailles to demand bread for their families and the king's return to Paris, which put pressure on the National Assembly to take more radical action.
Civil Constitution of the Clergy: It was a decree passed by the National Assembly in 1790, which confiscated the property of the Catholic Church and required priests to take an oath of loyalty to the state, leading to a schism within the French Catholic Church.
Abolition of Feudalism: Feudalism was abolished by the National Assembly in 1789, which ended the system of serfdom and peasant labor in France.
"Many of its ideas are considered fundamental principles of liberal democracy."
"Its causes are generally agreed to be a combination of social, political and economic factors."
"In May 1789, widespread social distress led to the convocation of the Estates General."
"Continuing unrest culminated in the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July."
"...the abolition of feudalism, the imposition of state control over the Catholic Church in France, and extension of the right to vote."
"Austria, Britain, Prussia and other external powers sought to restore the Ancien Régime by force."
"Many French politicians saw war as the best way to unite the nation and preserve the revolution by exporting it to other countries."
"Following the Paris-based Insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793, the constitution was suspended and effective political power passed from the National Convention to the more radical Committee of Public Safety."
"An estimated 16,000 'counter-revolutionaries' were executed during the subsequent Reign of Terror."
"The Reign of Terror [...] ended with the so-called Thermidorian Reaction in July 1794."
"Weakened by a combination of external threats and internal opposition, in November 1795 the Republic was replaced by the Directory."
"The Consulate seized power in a military coup led by Napoleon Bonaparte."
"This is generally seen as marking the end of the Revolutionary period."
"The next three years were dominated by the struggle for political control, exacerbated by economic depression and civil disorder."
"The French Revolutionary Wars in April 1792, abolition of the French monarchy."
"...followed by the execution of Louis XVI in January 1793."
"Following the Paris-based Insurrection of 31 May – 2 June 1793, the constitution was suspended and effective political power passed from the National Convention to the more radical Committee of Public Safety."
"[...] the values and institutions it created remain central to French political discourse."
"...the abolition of feudalism, the imposition of state control over the Catholic Church in France, and extension of the right to vote."