Economic inequality and abuse of power by the reigning government were two major factors in the outbreak of the French Revolution. The French peasants’ anger about these issues was so great that they turned to extreme violence, killing anyone who voiced dissent with the revolutionary cause. Informative sidebars and primary sources are presented alongside the engaging main text to help illustrate the danger of allowing social and economic disparity to remain unaddressed by governing bodies. A fact-filled timeline highlights key events before, during, and after the revolution.