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to the Revolution as their predecessor. Its central phrases and
cultural symbols, such as La Marseillaise and Liberté, fraternité,
égalité, ou la mort, became the clarion call for other major
upheavals in modern history, including the Russian Revolution over a

century later.
The values and institutions of the Revolution dominate French politics
to this day. The Revolution resulted in the suppression of the feudal
system, emancipation of the individual, a greater division of landed
property, abolition of the privileges of noble birth, and nominal
establishment of equality among men. The French Revolution
differed from other revolutions in being not only national, for it

intended to benefit all humanity.
Globally, the Revolution accelerated the rise of republics and
democracies. It became the focal point for the development of
most modern political ideologies, leading to the spread
of liberalism, radicalism, nationalism, and secularism, among many
others. The Revolution also witnessed the birth of total war by

organising the resources of France and the lives of its citizens towards
the objective of national defense. Some of its central documents,
such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen,
continued to inspire movements for abolitionism and universal
suffrage in the next two centuries.

From May 1792 to June 1815 France was engaged almost

continuously (with two short breaks) in wars with Britain and a
changing coalition of other major powers. The many French
successes led to the spread of the French revolutionary ideals into

neighbouring countries, and indeed across much of Europe.
However, the final defeat of Napoleon in 1814 (and 1815) brought a
reaction that reversed some – but not all – of the revolutionary

achievements in France and Europe. The Bourbons were restored to
the throne, with the brother of King Louis XVI becoming King Louis
XVIII.