French Revolution

noun

, French History.

1. the revolution that began in 1789, overthrew the absolute monarchy of the Bourbons and the system of aristocratic privileges, and ended with Napoleon's overthrow of the Directory and seizure of power in 1799.

French Revolution

noun

1. the anticlerical and republican revolution in France from 1789 until 1799, when Napoleon seized power

French Revolution

1. The event at the end of the eighteenth century that ended the thousand-year rule of kings in France and established the nation as a republic . The revolution began in 1789, after King Louis xvi had convened the French parliament to deal with an enormous national debt . The common people's division of the parliament declared itself the true legislature of France, and when the king seemed to resist the move, a crowd destroyed the royal prison (the Bastille ). A constitutional monarchy was set up, but after King Louis and his queen, Marie Antoinette , tried to flee the country, they were arrested, tried for treason, and executed on the guillotine . Control of the government passed to Robespierre and other radicals — the extreme Jacobins — and the Reign of Terror followed (1793–1794), when thousands of French nobles and others considered enemies of the revolution were executed. After the Terror, Robespierre himself was executed, and a new ruling body, the Directory, came into power. Its incompetence and corruption allowed Napoleon Bonaparte to emerge in 1799 as dictator and, eventually, to become emperor. Napoleon's ascent to power is considered the official end of the revolution. ( See Georges Danton and Jean-Paul Marat .)

Example Sentences

The Framers were not hostile to religion; this was not the French Revolution.

From The Daily Beast

Like the French Revolution, the Tea Party Revolution is devouring its own children.

From The Daily Beast

Fearing that the French Revolution might encourage similar action by the British people, Burke penned his Reflections.

From The Daily Beast

France, after all, transitioned from absolute monarchy by way of the French Revolution and its Reign of Terror.

From The Daily Beast

When the French Revolution descended into the Terror, he risked his life to stand up for the innocents.

From The Daily Beast

Among the middle class there was a strong party which had accepted the doctrines of the French Revolution.

From Project Gutenberg

In these ideas, agitating the heart of Phlippon, behold the origin of the French Revolution.

From Project Gutenberg

Wrongs less wanton and outrageous precipitated the French Revolution.

From Project Gutenberg

The following study proposes to deal with this attack on religion that preceded and helped to prepare the French Revolution.

From Project Gutenberg

The French Revolution had appealed to men's selfish and personal interests, their rights, their desire for happiness.

From Project Gutenberg