Why is the French Revolution so unique?

Why is the French Revolution so unique?

The late eighteenth century saw a new phenomenon of common people rising in opposition to the monarch and kings who ruled them. These important revolutions occurred in countries like England and France.

First, England’s main colonial possession in North America declared itself independent and emerged as a new nation. Next, the French people, weary of the absolute despotism, rebelled against Louis XVI, who had been in power since 1774. Both the middle class and the poor had long been unhappy with the privileges and power of the nobility. Their anger ignited the revolution when Louis declared the nobility exempt from taxes.

On July 14, 1789, an enormous throng of people stormed and captured the Bastille, the Royal Fortress in Paris. The people declared themselves to be citizens of France, and no longer subjects of the King of France. As the momentum of revolution grew, anarchy reigned in France especially in Paris. The King, the Queen and their family were imprisoned; and in 1793, they were beheaded one by one on the guillotine.