A break with the Ancien Régime

The French Revolution begins in 1789 and profoundly transforms the country's political and social structure. It challenges privileges and monarchical authority and asserts new principles of liberty and equality.

Key milestones to know

• The storming of the Bastille on 14 juillet 1789.
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted in 1789.
• The proclamation of the Republic in 1792.

Remember: the Revolution is not a single event, but a period of transformations, conflicts and changes of regime.