The French Revolution is historically known as one of the most violent and universally significant revolutions to this day. It began in 1787, reached a climax in 1789, and ultimately ended in 1799. There are several reasons cited for the origins of the Revolution but all unitarily rest in the shortcomings of the French monarchy. For one, the bourgeoisie, or working class of France, resented their lack of representation in the nation's politics and the monarchy did little to appease their requests for positions of honor. Secondly, French peasants were unhappy with their destitute state,which the monarchy did little to address, especially due to the nation’s bankrupt state following their participation in the American Revolution. And thirdly, France was going hungry after the crop failures in the country in 1788 that the monarchy largely ignored. Indeed, Marie Antoinette, the wife of King Louis XIV and XV who ruled France at this time, is known for her famous quote, “Let them eat cake” after being told that the peasants of her country had no bread to eat. The Revolution ultimately ended in 1799 when Napoleon Bonaparte led a coup d’etat to overthrow the French consulate and assert himself as the nation’s new leader.

Many of JS Mill’s acquaintances mentioned throughout his Autobiography had connections to the French Revolution. Notably was his acquaintance M. Say who was described as “a man of the later period of the French Revolution, a fine specimen of the best kind of French Republican, one of those who had never bent the knee to Bonaparte though courted by him to do so; a truly upright, brave, and enlightened man” (pg 36).

Source:

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. "French Revolution." Encyclopedia Britannica, September 10, 2020. https://www.britannica.com/event/French-Revolution.