French Revolution

French Revolution, political upheaval of world importance in France that began in 1789.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Effects of the Revolution
• The Directory and the Coming of Napoleon
• The Reign of Terror
• The Republic
• The Revolution of 1792
• Factionalism and War
• The Revolution of 1789
• The Estates-General and the National Assembly
• Origins of the Revolution
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2025, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: French History