The French Revolution
The French Revolution began in 1789 when the people overthrew the monarchy, demanding liberty, equality and fraternity.
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The French Revolution began in 1789 when the people overthrew the monarchy, demanding liberty, equality and fraternity.
- The Bastille was stormed in 1789
- The king was executed in 1793
- The Terror followed
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Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is The French Revolution?
Within History, which covers ancient civilisations, empires, revolutions, world wars and the making of the modern world, this topic explains The French Revolution. History topics connect events, people and ideas across time, so each one here gives a clear summary and a way to test your understanding.
Check that you can explain The French Revolution in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding The French Revolution helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
The French Revolution in detail
The French Revolution began in 1789 when France faced financial crisis, inequality between the three estates, food shortages and Enlightenment ideas. The Third Estate formed a National Assembly, and on 14 July the Bastille prison was stormed. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen proclaimed liberty and equality.
The monarchy was abolished and Louis XVI was executed in 1793. During the Terror under Robespierre and the Committee of Public Safety, thousands were guillotined. The turmoil ended with Napoleon's coup in 1799. The revolution ended the old regime, spread ideas of citizenship and nationalism and inspired movements worldwide.
How the interactive helps you understand The French Revolution
Watch the timeline in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the timeline responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of The French Revolution.
Real-life uses and examples
- Build a timeline that shows when The French Revolution happened and what came before and after.
- Judge how important The French Revolution was by weighing evidence from more than one source.
- Explain the causes and consequences of The French Revolution in a well-structured paragraph.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing events without explaining why they happened.
- Treating one source as the whole story when you study The French Revolution.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about The French Revolution
What is The French Revolution?
The French Revolution began in 1789 when the people overthrew the monarchy, demanding liberty, equality and fraternity.
What are the most important points about The French Revolution?
The main points are: The Bastille was stormed in 1789; The king was executed in 1793; The Terror followed.
Why is The French Revolution useful?
Understanding The French Revolution helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
How can I practise The French Revolution?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to The French Revolution?
Related topics in History include Factories and Working Conditions, Votes for Women, Unification of Italy and Germany.