The French Revolution, which began in 1789 and lasted for roughly

a decade, was a transformative period in French history that

profoundly impacted not only France but also the course of
modern Western civilization. It was a period marked by radical
political, social, and cultural upheaval, characterized by the
overthrow of the absolute monarchy, the rise of republicanism, and
the Reign of Terror.

Several factors contributed to the outbreak of the French

Revolution. Economic inequality, exacerbated by heavy taxation
and rising food prices, placed a heavy burden on the lower classes
while the nobility and clergy enjoyed privileged status and
exemption from taxation. Enlightenment ideas of liberty, equality,
and fraternity also played a signi cant role, inspiring calls for
political reform and the assertion of individual rights.

The revolution began in 1789 with the convening of the Estates-

General, a representative assembly composed of representatives
from the clergy, nobility, and commoners. Frustrated by the lack of
progress in addressing their grievances, the commoners, known as
the Third Estate, declared themselves the National Assembly and
pledged to draft a new constitution.

The revolution quickly escalated with the storming of the Bastille on

July 14, 1789, a symbolic act of de ance against royal authority.
This event sparked widespread popular unrest and led to the
collapse of the monarchy. In 1791, the National Assembly adopted
the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which
proclaimed the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity as the
foundation of the new French Republic.

However, internal divisions and external threats soon plunged

France into turmoil. The radical phase of the revolution, known as
the Reign of Terror, saw the rise of the radical Jacobin faction led
by Maximilien Robespierre. Thousands of perceived enemies of the
revolution were executed, including King Louis XVI and Queen
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Marie Antoinette, as the revolutionaries sought to root out counter-
revolutionary forces and consolidate their power.

The revolution also led to signi cant social and cultural changes,
including the abolition of feudal privileges, the secularization of
society, and the introduction of revolutionary symbols and rituals.
The French Revolution inspired similar movements for political
reform and independence across Europe and the Americas,
shaping the course of modern history.

Ultimately, the French Revolution ended with the rise of Napoleon

Bonaparte, who seized power in a coup d'état in 1799 and
established himself as Emperor of the French. While the revolution
did not achieve all of its goals, it laid the groundwork for the
emergence of modern democracy, individual rights, and the rule of
law, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to resonate to this day.
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