The Revolution was the result of multiple long-term and short-term factors that culminated in a social, economic, financial and political crisis in … See more

Abolition of the Ancien Régime
Even the limited reforms the king had announced went too far for Marie Antoinette and … See more

Proclamation of the First Republic
In late August, elections were held for the National Convention. New restrictions on the franchise meant … See more

The role of ideology in the Revolution is controversial with Jonathan Israel stating that the "radical Enlightenment" was the primary driving force … See more

Financial and political crisis
The monarchy faced a series of budgetary crises during the 18th century, as revenues failed to keep pace with expenditure on the … See more

Jacobin sympathisers viewed the Directory as a betrayal of the Revolution, while Bonapartists later justified Napoleon's coup by emphasising its corruption. The regime also faced internal … See more

The Revolution initiated a series of conflicts that began in 1792 and ended only with Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo in 1815. In its early stages, this seemed unlikely; the 1791 Constitution specifically disavowed "war for the purpose of conquest", and … See more