Definition
The French Revolution was the upheaval that began in 1789, dismantled the absolute monarchy of King Louis XVI, and replaced the old social order with new principles of citizenship, equality before the law, and popular sovereignty. It opened a decade of political experiment, violence, and war that reshaped France and echoed across Europe.
Its causes were tangled: a bankrupt royal treasury, an unfair tax system that exempted nobles and clergy, food shortages, and ideas drawn from the Enlightenment that questioned why birth alone should determine power. When the king summoned the Estates-General to raise revenue, ordinary delegates seized the chance to demand a constitution instead.
Why it matters
How it works
A revolution of this scale unfolds in stages. First a financial or political crisis exposes the weakness of the old regime. Then a moderate phase attempts reform within existing institutions — in France, a constitutional monarchy. When that fails to satisfy rising expectations or to meet external threats, a radical phase takes over, often accompanied by violence and the purging of perceived enemies. Finally, exhaustion and instability invite a strongman to restore order, which is how Napoleon Bonaparte rose to power.