The event that led to the downfall of the French monarchy was the French Revolution, which began in 1789. Driven by widespread discontent among the populace due to social inequality, economic hardship, and Enlightenment ideas advocating liberty and democracy, the Revolution drastically altered France's political landscape. Key events, such as the storming of the Bastille, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, and the rise of radical factions, culminated in the monarchy's overthrow. King Louis XVI was executed in 1793, marking the end of absolute monarchy. The Revolution significantly influenced future democratic movements worldwide.