The French Revolution

• The National Assembly issued the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen on August 26, 1789.
• On October 5, 1789, the Parisian mob marched to Versailles demanding bread.
• The National Assembly abolished feudalism on August 4, 1789.
• The First Estate consisted of clergy members who were exempt from taxes.
• Each Estate voted as a bloc (as one)- The First and Second Estate retained their privileges
• The third estate demanded double representatives and individual votes.
• Confrontation of voting at Versailles led to the Third Estate declaring themselves the National assembly- they moved to a tennis court and declared they wouldn't leave until a constitution was drafted for france
• Tennis court Oath significance was it signalled the revolution beginning and threatened the old government order + end of absolute monarchy.
• Louis summoned 20000 troops and considered using force to dissolve the national assembly. He dismissed Necker, the finance minister
• Frantic search for weapons - barricades placed and shops looted, national assembly asked for troop removal.
• An Arsenal was raided for weapons, the bastille was stormed for gunpowder. De Launay attempted to fight back, resulted in surrender and decapitation.
• Louis was forced to share his power with the National Assembly
• The commune was formed by Lafayette, turning citizens into National Guard
• The Great Fear occurred when peasants believed there would be another feudal taxation system called the "taille" which led them to attack landlords' homes and burn records.
• The Declaration of Rights was passed on August 1789, stating that all men are born equal and free, liberty is natural and cannot be taken away except through due process of law, property rights were protected, freedom of speech and religion were guaranteed, and the right to bear arms was established.
• National Guard was formed to prevent Counter Revolution. the great fear emerged- panic and revolt
• Great Fear demonstrated unity and desire to end feudal rights within third estate
• To resolve the great fear, national assembly began to reform social pattern and country structure. on august 5th, feudalism was abolished.
• Main changes included in the 19 decrees:

  • Abolishing of tithes payable to the church
  • Abolishing venality
  • Abolishing tax privileges relating to land
  • Everyone being taxed equally
  • Anyone being eligible for offices (church, civil, or military)

  Second and First Estate had no more privileges and no compensation
• Peasants loved the revolution due to the demolition of the feudal system
• The assembly began to replace institutions and personnel relating to government, law, army, and church (took over two years)
• The August Decrees prepared the ground for the creation of a constitution
• A constitution is a written document that outlines the basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group
• It determines the powers and duties of the government and guarantees certain rights to the people in it
• Before the constitution, the National Assembly created the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
• Rousseau outlined a social contract to replace the divine right to rule
• The goal was to grant individuals 'natural, inalienable and sacred human rights' including 'freedom, property, safety and the right to resist oppression'
• The Declaration condemned the Ancien Regime and outlined the rights of citizens, including:

  • Everyone is equal and free in rights
  • Rights included liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression
  • Power (sovereignty) is with people
  • Freedom of expression
  • Tax for everyone based on how much you earn
  • Freedom to own property
• The king refused to sign the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen when first presented, leading to increased restlessness
• Deputies who drafted the August Decrees and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen knew they needed the agreement of the king
• The king expressed his reluctance to ruin the power of the clergy and nobility
• The National Assembly considered whether to veto decrees, ultimately allowing a suspensive veto to establish a constitutional monarchy instead of a republic
• The king's refusal caused tension and coincided with a rise in bread prices
• A decision to summon the Flanders regiment to Versailles was seen as an attempt to suppress the National Assembly, leading to feelings of betrayal and suspicion of a counter-revolutionary attempt
• March of women to the Hotel to seize weapons, followed by a march to Versailles in pouring rain, demanding the king's agreement to the August decrees
• The National Assembly and the King were forced to move to Paris, placing them under the power of the people
• The majority of deputies expected a moderate revolution, where the monarchy would remain but with reduced powers and shared with a wide range of individuals
• France was governed by a Constitutional monarchy for two years, with Louis subject to laws like everyone else
• Efforts to create a constitution securing the future of the revolution lasted for two years
• Two years later, Louis accepted the new constitution but began vetoing laws, leading to the failure of the attempt at a constitutional monarchy