Liberté, égalité, fraternité, this was the motto of the French Revolution. It was coined by Pierre Leroux in 1838. The years 1779-1789 saw everything from the drafting of the first French Constitution, to the “Reign of Terror” in which the symbolic guillotine proved to be both judge and executioner. The Revolution initially began in an attempt to make the king answerable to the people, in an attempt to overthrow the absolutist role, and in an attempt to achieve equality in all areas, including taxation. The financial crisis was too heavy a burden for the Third Estate to bear. People began to suffer from a hunger that quickly turned into anger. The lack of results led to the end of the monarchy and the execution of both King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. However, despite the bloodshed, the ideals the French fought for were alive in their hearts. Freedom is the freedom to think or act without being bound by necessity or force. In France, people sought freedom from the tyrannical rule of the monarch where the queen used taxes to endow herself with wealth. The second ideal, equality, consists of equal rights, treatment, quantity, or value to everyone else in a specific group. This meant eliminating the hierarchical system and ensuring that neither the Church nor the nobles were exempt from taxes. The ultimate ideal, brotherhood, means a group of people with feelings of friendship and mutual support among themselves. The French lacked this during the Revolution. Civil disobedience was present and very few showed camaraderie with each other. Ten years of hardship, struggling towards a common goal, sacrificing thousands of lives, the French achieved what they set out to do. With great willpower and the help of a benefactor...... middle of paper...... 2009 .Kirchberger, Joe H. The French Revolution and Napoleon. New York: Facts on File inc, 1989.ibidGilbert, Stolgarov. June 08, 2007. October 26, 2008. Woloch, Isser. "The French Revolution." He introduced democratic ideals to France. June 2008.March 24, 2009 .ibidibidKreis, Steven. "Lesson 15: Europe and the Superior Being: Napoleon." The leading historical guide. February 28, 2006. April 28, 2009 Censer, Jack R. Liberty, Equality, Fraternity: Exploring the French Revolution. University Park: Pennsylvania State UP, 2001.