Fact Finder - History

The French Revolution erupted on July 14, 1789, when a Parisian mob stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress and political prison that symbolized the tyranny of the Bourbon monarchy. This event signaled the beginning of a radical transformation of French society, shifting from an absolute monarchy to a republic. The revolution was fueled by high bread prices, financial crisis, and Enlightenment ideas challenging the divine right of kings. Shortly after the storming, the National Assembly adopted the 'Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen,' asserting that all citizens are equal before the law. The revolution eventually led to the execution of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, the rise of the Reign of Terror, and the eventual crowning of Napoleon Bonaparte. It remains the foundational event of modern European politics, spreading the concepts of secularism and nationalism across the continent.