KidZone History: France

The French Revolution began in 1789. An uprising of French citizens radically changed the political and royal landscape in what was a major European power. The people of France were unhappy with how the country was being run by King Louis XVI, especially the costly involvement in the American Civil War and extravagant spending at home.

The removal of King Louis XVI from power began an extremely violent and tumultuous period of the revolution where fear and paranoia ruled. LArge numbers of supposed enemies of the revolution were executed. Eventually survivors of this period created a Directory, a very unpopular move at the time. The directory’s time in power was marred by financvial crises and discontent. Eventually it was abolished and Napoleon Bonaparte annointed himself first consul of France, beginning the Napoleonic era.