The critical event in French history was the revolution of the 18th century. A combination of reasons made people infuriated with the situation in the country, with the local aristocracy playing a pivotal role. As a result, the events of those years caused upheavals not only in France but also in Europe as a whole.
The first reason for the revolution should be considered the incapability of the authorities to satisfy the needs of the lower stratum in the conditions of socio-economic and political changes. The upper classes, the Catholic clergy, and the nobility refused to make any changes and continued to utilize their “fiscal and political” privileges (Goodwin, 2016, p.9). The crises and seasonal changes that resulted in the inefficiency of crops also contributed to revolutionary sentiments.
The French Revolution became notorious for its cruelty since the hunger and poverty of the majority of people made them ruthless. The people were tired of injustice and wanted changes, and the only way for this to happen was the upheaval. Thus, the critical events of the French Revolution were the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy and the establishment of the republic (Goodwin, 2016). After the Convention, power passed to the Directory, and then Napoleon Bonaparte finally took over in 1799.
The primary outcome for France was the final destruction of the old system, the transformation of the structure of society, and the completion of the formation of the French nation. The abolition of workshops, the unification of the country, the abolition of privileges, the unified monetary system, and the metric system contributed to the rapid development of entrepreneurship. The French began to own land on an equal basis, the privileges of the seigneurs were destroyed, with new owners taking control.
References
Goodwin, A. (2016). The French Revolution. Routledge.