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 Louis' … See more

Proclamation of the First Republic
In late August, elections were held for the National Convention. New restrictions on the franchise meant the number of votes cast fell to 3.3 … 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 … 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 … See more