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Earth’s Greatest Happenings: The French Revolution (1789–1799)
A time of radical change, violence, and uncertainty.
The French Revolution was one of the most chaotic periods in history. It reshaped France, toppled a monarchy, and sent shockwaves around the world.
It was about grand ideals. It was also brutal, bloody, and filled with terror.
By the late 18th century, France was in crisis. The country was drowning in debt, due to costly wars and extravagant spending by King Louis XVI and his predecessors.
The tax burden fell on commoners, while the nobility and clergy lived in luxury. Food shortages made life unbearable, and resentment boiled over.
In May 1789, the king called a meeting of the Estates-General, a gathering of representatives from the three social classes: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners.
The Third Estate, the commoners, realized they were being sidelined. Frustrated, they broke away and formed the National Assembly. They vowed to create a new constitution.
On July 14, 1789, an angry mob stormed the Bastille, a fortress-prison in Paris. It was a symbol of royal tyranny, and its fall marked the beginning of the revolution. The attack freed prisoners and sent a message. The people were done…
