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The effects of the French Revolution (1788 -1799) extended far beyond internal chaos, the throwing out and slaughtering much of its aristocracy, and the journey of Louis XVI and his family to visit Mme. Guillotine. In its simplest ramifications, however, like most revolutions, the one in France resulted is what generally occurs when any group of revolutionaries gain power. It was the inevitable and constant overthrow of the "ancien regime" by the newer, "purer" revolutionaries. It also brought Napoleon to power, and Napoleon turned out to be a broker to the most breathtaking real estate deal in America's history.

In France at the beginning, no one, it seemed - even the vicious and powerful Robespierre - turned out to be immune from the revolutionary process. The chaos of that process ultimately resulted in a further unexpected outcome: a dictatorship troika called The French Triumvirate with Napoleon Bonaparte as the "First Consul" who eventually crowned himself Emperor of France.

Beyond the borders of France, the French revolutionary government faced a hostile Europe, whose monarchs justifiably feared export of radical populist ideas to their kingdoms. France warred with Austria and Britain, and even had a naval struggle in the New World with the United States, its erstwhile ally in the recently won American Revolution. Britain, the stronger sea power, fared better against France, and the famous Lord Nelson defeat of the combined French and Spanish fleet at Trafalgar (south of Spain) established Britain as the world's preeminent sea power. Those struggles, in turn, earned Napoleon his reputation as a fighting general and brilliant strategist that promised future glory to France.

In America, the Federalist government looked upon the French Revolution as a dangerous and chaotic mob-driven movement. The French Revolution was one of the driving forces behind John Adams' Alien and Sedition acts, which targeted home grown as well as foreign-based anti-government activity and lengthened the process required to become an American citizen. These acts were also the beginning of the end of Adams' chances for reelection and the United States witnessed its first (and remarkably peaceful) transition of power between to opposing American parties.

Returning to France and the most significant outcome of the French Revolution, Napoleon, the Napoleonic period saw nearly 16 years of constant warfare in Europe. The war was fought from Portugal in the west to Napoleon's badly chosen

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