Causes of the French Revolution

Study Notes

Financial Crisis: France was heavily indebted from the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.
Social Inequality: The Estates-General system divided society into three groups: clergy, nobility, and commoners, with the burden of taxation falling on the common people.
Enlightenment Ideas: The writings of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu inspired the French people to demand liberty, equality, and democracy.

Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): A symbol of the absolute monarchy, the prison's seizure marked the beginning of the Revolution.
National Assembly: Formed by the Third Estate, it adopted the Tennis Court Oath, vowing to create a new constitution.
Great Fear (July-August 1789): Peasants and townspeople attacked and burned châteaux, leading to the abolition of feudalism.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 1789): A fundamental document of the Revolution, enshrining individual liberties and human rights.
Reign of Terror (1793-1794): A period of violence and executions, led by Maximilien Robespierre, aimed to purge France of perceived enemies.

King Louis XVI: The monarch who was eventually executed by guillotine in 1793.
Queen Marie Antoinette: The queen whose extravagance and Austrian heritage made her unpopular with the French people.
Maximilien Robespierre: A leading figure of the Revolution, who dominated the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror.
Napoleon Bonaparte: A military general who rose to power during the Revolution and eventually became Emperor of France.

Establishment of the First French Republic: The first republic in France, which lasted from 1792 to 1804.
Execution of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette: The end of the absolute monarchy and the rise of the revolutionary government.
Rise of Napoleon Bonaparte: The Revolution paved the way for Napoleon's coup d'état and his eventual rise to power.
End of Feudalism: The abolition of feudalism and the establishment of a more equal society.

France was heavily indebted from the Seven Years' War (1756-1763) and the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), leading to a financial crisis.
The Estates-General system divided society into three groups: clergy, nobility, and commoners, with the burden of taxation falling on the common people, creating social inequality.
The writings of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu inspired the French people to demand liberty, equality, and democracy, spreading Enlightenment ideas.

The Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, marked the beginning of the Revolution, as a symbol of the absolute monarchy was seized.
The National Assembly was formed by the Third Estate, adopting the Tennis Court Oath, vowing to create a new constitution.
The Great Fear (July-August 1789) saw peasants and townspeople attack and burn châteaux, leading to the abolition of feudalism.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 1789) enshrined individual liberties and human rights, becoming a fundamental document of the Revolution.
The Reign of Terror (1793-1794) was a period of violence and executions, led by Maximilien Robespierre, aimed to purge France of perceived enemies.

King Louis XVI was the monarch who was eventually executed by guillotine in 1793.
Queen Marie Antoinette was the queen whose extravagance and Austrian heritage made her unpopular with the French people.
Maximilien Robespierre was a leading figure of the Revolution, who dominated the Committee of Public Safety during the Reign of Terror.
Napoleon Bonaparte was a military general who rose to power during the Revolution and eventually became Emperor of France.

The First French Republic was established, lasting from 1792 to 1804.
The execution of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette marked the end of the absolute monarchy and the rise of the revolutionary government.
The Revolution paved the way for Napoleon Bonaparte's coup d'état and his eventual rise to power.
The abolition of feudalism led to the establishment of a more equal society.