Final answer:
The French Revolution is considered a true revolution due to its drastic and lasting changes to the political and social structures of France, including the promotion of Enlightenment ideas, the end of feudalism, and the inception of principles that laid the groundwork for modern democracies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Even though the French Revolution led to a period of absolutist government under Napoleon after deposing the existing monarchy, it is still considered a revolution due to the significant and enduring changes it brought about. Political systems were profoundly altered as a result of the Revolution, providing the foundation for modern democracy in Europe. It challenged the absolutist monarchy, introduced Enlightenment ideas into the political sphere, and ultimately resulted in a constitutional monarchy under Louis XVIII who recognized new constitutional rights for his subjects.
The French Revolution witnessed the social dismantling of the nobility and clergy's disproportionate power, which was a drastic shift from the pre-Revolutionary structures. The Revolution also spread enlightened thinking throughout Europe, promoting ideas such as liberty, equality, and fraternity. Overall, the French Revolution reshaped the long-standing feudal systems and contributed to the end of feudalism in Europe.
Despite the rise of Napoleon's empire, the legacy of the French Revolution continued to influence European and global politics, encouraging movements towards democratization and economic progress based on Enlightenment principles. The radical nature of the Revolution, its widespread support amongst the poor, and the attempt to create a republic differentiated it from other movements of the era and marked it as a true revolutionary change.