The French Revolution was one of the most important events in the history of France and the whole of Europe, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of Robespierre's reign of terror, followed by the Revolutionary Wars and the rise to power of Napoleon. Even after the defeat of the French Empire its impact on Europe and the power base of the monarchies was massive and resulted in the fall of many of them. Napoleon's rise to power and the Napoleonic Wars influenced the rise of nationalism in Europe which led to the unification of Germany and Italy. This nationalism and the long peace that followed played an important role in the First World War.

France was one of the last countries still practising feudalism. The country was sinking deeper and deeper into debt and the peasants were becoming poorer and poorer while the upper classes did no work and lived in a constant feast. In 1791 King Louis XV died and was succeeded by Louis XVI, who was young for a king and still unprepared to lead the state. His wife, Marie Antoinette, an Austrian, a woman used to a life of luxury, found herself unfamiliarized with the people and was considered an Austrian spy.

The French government decided that it was necessary to convene the Estates General, which was divided into three areas, the first for the nobles, the second for the clergy, and the third for the rest of the population. Each had one vote, so although the first two domains represented 5% of the population they had more power than the third domain and could win any vote 1 to 2. On 20 June 1789 the third estate, along with other members of the Estates General, declared the National Assembly. Louis XVI, frightened by this new group, locked up the building where the Estates General met. The National Ensemble gathered in a tennis hall and took an oath called the ,,Tennis Court Oath" in which they vowed to continue meeting until a new constitution was created. Such an uninspired name for an oath, don’t you think? Haha:)

On 14 July Paris was in a state of turmoil. A mob of people had gathered in the streets. The men were unarmed, however, so they decided to invade the Bastille fortress, a prison filled with ammunition and political prisoners. After a skirmish between protesters and guards and an unsuccessful attempt to conditionally surrender the director Marquis de Launay, the mob took control of the fortress. Before long they were walking with de Launay's severed head on a spear through the streets. In total over 100 people died, mostly revolutionaries.

As early as 11 July the National Assembly had created an early version of a new constitution, but it would not be published until 26 August. This constitution, called ,,the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen’’, was seen as radical by most of Europe. It was inspired by the American Constitution and parts of it are still present in today's French constitution.

On 5 October, 7000 women took to the streets to protest food shortages and demand lower bread prices. Protesters marched to the Palace of Versailles. There is a myth that Marie Antoinette exclaimed "Let them eat cake!" when she saw the crowd, but that probably didn't happen for real.

From october 1789 to the spring of 1791 was a relatively calm period in France, but political differences between factions of the revolution were growing considerably. The centrists and moderates, led by Sieyes, Lafayette, Mirabeau and Bailly wanted a constitutional monarchy, while radicals such as the Jacobins, led by Robespierre and Marat wanted reclassification as a normal citizenry. The radicals were gaining more and more power, which was worrying for the nobility, many of whom left the country as émigrés.

Louis XVI was kept in Paris in the Tuileries Palace almost as a prisoner. He had to forge support for the revolution to save his own skin. On 20 June 1791, urged on by his brother and wife, he left in a carriage during the night with Marie Antoinette for the Austrian border, now Belgium. The two were dressed as commoners, but were eventually caught and recognised in Varennes. The king and queen were arrested and brought back to Paris. The people were now of the opinion that the king wanted to collaborate with the Austrians to regain power and their opinion of the king fell drastically. On 27 August Austria and Prussia published the Declaration of Pillnitz, announcing their support for Louis and suggesting that they might invade France to bring him to power.

During the period attributed to the French Revolution, France was governed by 3 entities: until 1794 by the constitutional monarchy, thereafter by the Committee for Public Safety, led mainly by Robespierre, and finally by the Directory.

There were a lot of social changes during this period, which spread over time throughout Europe, but also an economic transition from a centralised economy around the nobility to one around the middle class.

French revolutionary François-Noël Babeuf advocated a proto-socialist economic policy, such as the abolition of private property and the equal sharing of goods in order to eventually achieve a so-called "The society of equals". Babeuf moderated his ideology over time, which was largely unimplemented, at least at the time.

The directorate did not have the resources to employ enough police, and in combination with high poverty this led to a significant increase in crime, especially in the countryside, where bandits, often ardent supporters of the monarchy, would loot carts carrying goods to the towns. Corruption also became endemic.

The changes, however, were felt most socially. The period saw the dismantling of the former national independence built around the monarchy and the church, and the building of a completely new one, unique in Europe - something that had never happened before - in an extraordinarily short period of time, which continues to this day in France. This new national consciousness was centred around the revolution's slogan "Liberty, equality, fraternity". In fact, the liberalism of the French frightened and even horrified observers from more conservative foreign countries, many describing France as being in a state of "social anarchy".

A good thing is that the divorce, once an almost impossible act, was simplified, buuut the population did not hesitate to take advantage of it, their numbers increasing dramatically. Arranged marriages disappeared with the nobility.

Also, many social taboos also disappeared. People no longer met only in private in relatively small groups and occasionally at a village feast. Society became much more vibrant and lively; balls, restaurants and public gardens were the French's most favourite places. Many old convents were converted into ballrooms. Waltz became popular, replacing the ultra-formal dancing of the old days. Huge public gardens offered a wide range of entertainment, from promenades, orchestras and small cafés to fireworks, hot-air balloon flights and even mock battles between soldiers. These events were attended by everyone from doctors and lawyers to ministers and actors. While in the old days it would have been impossible for a nobleman to associate with people who were inferior to him, the new class had no such restrictions.

On the other hand, the church lost much of its influence during the revolution. Its lands had been taken by the state since the time of the constitutional monarchy, and later, during the regime of terror, most of its property might be nationalized. Priests were forced to swear allegiance to the new code or flee the country. Religious services could no longer take place. Finally, Robespierre proclaimed a new religion "The Cult of the Supreme Being'', but it wasn't long before this was executed and religious oppression ceased. However, religious holidays were replaced by republican ones. A new religion was founded, with the help of a director, called Theo Philanthropy.

Although the Directory initially decreed that education was free and compulsory for everyone, by closing the churches and driving out the clergy, they crippled the entire educational system, as they were the main place where students learned, and the disastrous financial situation did not allow for the construction of a new educational system. All the while, new schools, high schools, libraries and museums were built. New scientific societies were also founded during this period.

In another train of thoughts, art was not much affected by the revolution. Although the nobles were the main sponsors of painters and sculptors, the new upper class continued to financially support them and even often sponsored lesser-known artists, giving them the opportunity to make a name for themselves.

Talking about art… the literature was largely critical of the revolution and, in particular, of the regime of terror. Many of those who dared to make their grievances public were severely punished by the leadership. Something like a gossip session but more cultural. Interesting, right?

The reign of terror was the immediate aftermath of the formation of the first republic, a series of massacres and public executions (mainly using the infamous guillotine, nicknamed Madame guillotine). These had to hold mainly the remnants of the nobility, its loyalists, any counter-revolutionary or even anyone who was considered a threat. The movement degenerated into the arbitrary persecution and execution of anyone who dared to express dissatisfaction with the current regime, especially writers, anti-monarchist factions rivaling the ruling one (such as the Hébertisti), personal rivals of the rulers, or supposed future enemies of the revolution. There was no need for proof, and there were no correct precedents. Execution was a daily spectacle, with thousands of people coming to witness and shouting against the counter-revolutionaries with frightening fury. People reported their enemies just to get rid of them, whether they were against the revolution or not. No one dared to say anything against these actions lest they in turn end up facing the guillotine. A general paranoia gripped France.

In time, the so-called Committee for Public Safety realised that it could not continue in this way, given the unrest among the people, and began to end the terror. Robespierre, who orchestrated this regime of terror, and who used it for his own self-interest, was even his last victim when his former comrades executed him to end this dark chapter of the revolution.

The effects of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars can still be seen today. This revolution inspired the French spirit to rebel against tyranny, which is one reason for the book France has had 5 major revolutions in the last 200 years. At the end of Napoleon's rule the monarchy had been reinstated, but within 40 years it had been overthrown again. Napoleonic ideas had a great impact on nationalism in Europe, which was almost non-existent until then. This nationalism led to the German Revolution, the unification of Italy and Germany, the Balkan Wars and eventually the First World War. The French Revolution may be the greatest turning point in human history. And even if not the greatest, it is certainly one of the candidates for this title!

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editorial: Ștefan Brădianu, Dragoș Sărățeanu

graphic design: Bianca Constantin,

Anastasia Chivu

reviewer: Bianca Constantin

translation: Irina Aldescu

DP (desktop publishing): Andreea Seba