1789 French Revolution

The French Revolution of 1789 was a major upheaval that dismantled France’s monarchy and old social order. Facing economic hardship, inequality, and widespread dissatisfaction, the common people, known as the Third Estate, demanded political reform. Key events included the storming of the Bastille prison and the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, which asserted personal freedoms and equality. The revolution led to the abolition of royal authority, the rise of democratic ideals, and eventually, a shift from monarchy to a republic, profoundly influencing France and the broader world’s ideas about rights and governance.