French Revolution

French Revolution

Introduction

The French Revolution, and the Napoleonic period that followed, stand among the most significant events of world history, and they had a major impact on the United States. Driven to the verge of bankruptcy, in part by aiding the United States during the Revolutionary War(1775-83), King Louis XVI called the Estates General to meet in the spring of 1789. This group was unsatisfied with simply discussing the financial needs of the monarchy and asked for a host of reforms, including reorganizing itself as a national assembly, demanding control over taxation, and writing a constitution. Efforts by the king to oppose these measures ...