The event that started the French Revolution in 1789 was the convening of the Estates-General on May 5, followed by the storming of the Bastille on July 14. The Estates-General was called to address the financial crisis in France, but it quickly highlighted the growing discontent among the Third Estate, which represented the common people. The storming of the Bastille became a symbol of resistance against tyranny and marked the uprising against the monarchy's oppressive rule. These events set in motion a series of revolutionary changes that transformed France and had a profound impact on the course of history.