Last updated: October 2026 Β· 3 min read
The French Revolution overthrew France’s absolute monarchy and spread ideas of liberty, equality and rights that shaped modern democracies, including the values in India’s Constitution.
Causes
- Unfair society: the clergy (First Estate) and nobles (Second Estate) paid few taxes, while the Third Estate of peasants and townspeople carried the burden.
- Money crisis: wars, including support for the American Revolution, left France bankrupt.
- Bread prices: poor harvests made bread unaffordable.
- New ideas: Enlightenment thinkers such as Rousseau, Voltaire and Montesquieu questioned absolute power.
Key events timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 1789 | Estates-General meets at Versailles |
| June 1789 | Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly; Tennis Court Oath |
| 14 July 1789 | Storming of the Bastille prison in Paris |
| August 1789 | Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen |
| 1791 | First written constitution; limited monarchy |
| 1792 | France becomes a republic |
| January 1793 | King Louis XVI executed |
| 1793-1794 | Reign of Terror under Robespierre |
| 1799 | Napoleon Bonaparte seizes power |
Liberty, equality, fraternity
The revolution’s motto, LibertΓ©, Γ©galitΓ©, fraternitΓ©, promised freedom of speech and religion, equality before the law and brotherhood among citizens. Feudal privileges were abolished and the metric system was introduced.
The Reign of Terror
Radical Jacobins led by Maximilien Robespierre executed thousands of suspected enemies, including Queen Marie Antoinette, using the guillotine. The Terror ended when Robespierre himself was executed in 1794.
Impact on the world and India
- Spread ideas of democracy, nationalism and human rights across Europe and the world.
- Inspired later movements, including Indian reformers and freedom fighters such as Raja Rammohan Roy and Tipu Sultan, who reportedly planted a “Tree of Liberty”.
- Concepts of liberty, equality and fraternity appear in the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.
Frequently asked questions
When did the French Revolution begin?
In 1789; the storming of the Bastille on 14 July is celebrated as France’s national day.
Who was the king during the French Revolution?
Louis XVI, executed in January 1793.
How did the French Revolution end?
It is usually said to end in 1799 when Napoleon Bonaparte took power in a coup.
Keep exploring
- The Industrial Revolution
- The Roman Empire
- How India’s Constitution was made
- More History articles on Tiwaripedia
Facts are based on widely accepted official, scientific and historical sources at the time of writing. Spotted something that needs updating? Let us know.
