The Estates General - 1789 Convened to explore solutions to the problems of the Kingdom, most notably the financial crisis. Each estate was represented by an equal number of elected deputies representing all the regions of France (roughly 300 deputies per estate). Each estate was supposed to meet separately to deliberate, and then come together to debate and vote on resolutions that the King could choose to accept. Each estate would count as one vote.
Members of the third estate refused to begin discussions until the voting system was reformed. Necker urged the King to satisfy them by doubling their representation. However, this did not change the fact that the third estate was at the mercy of the privileged estates. The third estate began to argue that they were the true representatives of France and that the privileged estates were dead weight. Some supported a boycott of the Estates General in favour of a National Assembly composed of all members where votes would occur by head, not by estate. A pamphlet was circulated by E.J. Sieyes:
Inspired by Sieyes, the National Assembly was declared. Members from all estates were welcome, however only a few came from the privileged estates. Louis XVI was infuriated. He locked them out of their meeting place in an attempt to force them to disband. Instead, the deputies convened at a tennis court nearby. They declared that they would not disband until they drafted a constitution for France and ended the age of absolutism. Known as the Tennis Court Oath.
Louis XVI reluctantly instructed all members of the Estates General to join the National Assembly. The first steps toward change had been achieved.
The King s Options 1) Embrace the movement. Allow some democratic reforms and share power as a constitutional monarch. 2) Crush the movement using the army. He could still count on the support of most nobles and many peasants. He did neither.
The King s Actions He allowed the National Assembly to go on, yet he also called in loyal troops from the provinces. This threatened the delegates in the NA. He also dismissed the popular Necker. When this occurred, it sparked fear that the King was ready to attack the National Assembly and Paris itself. Fear and hysteria was whipped up by men such as Camille Desmoulins and Georges Danton. Paris erupted into chaos.
Two events in July 1789 signalled that the King was losing his grip on power. 1) Storming of the Bastille Anticipating a fight for their lives, Parisians ransacked the city searching for weapons. The mob moved towards the Bastille fortress. It served as a prison and a symbol of the King s authority. They wanted gunpowder. Soldiers sent to stop the mob mutinied and joined the protest. After a brief negotiation and some confusion, the mob stormed the Bastille, massacring the guards and setting fire to it. The fortress was torn down.
2) The Great Fear Food shortages continued in the countryside. Peasants were accusing landowners of hording grain to drive up prices. As authority appeared to be breaking down in Paris, chaos and panic spread to rural areas. The property and homes of nobles were stolen or destroyed. Peasants targeted records of feudal obligations and taxes. They were burned. The violence lasted for two weeks.
To solve the problem of lawlessness, the NA created the National Guard. They were separate from the regular army and served to protect the NA, the King, and property rights of citizens. They were commanded by Lafayette. Most cities also elected a civil government to keep things running smoothly and to ensure order. In Paris this was called the Paris Commune. The Commune tended to be more radical and sometimes acted independent of the NA. Cracks were starting to appear among the revolutionaries.
Key Players Moderates Mirabeau Lafayette
Radicals Georges Danton Max Robespierre Camille Desmoulins Jacques Hebert Jean Paul Marat
The National Assembly 1789-1791 The King had accepted the right of the National Assembly to exist. They began to propose and vote on new legislation. However, there was still debate on how it would function. Especially concerning the power of the king in the new system. Technically, the king was still the Head of State and had to give his assent to new laws. He demanded the right to veto. Others wanted to give him a suspensive veto. Others wanted no monarch (a republic) or for the king to remain as a symbolic figurehead.
This debate raged throughout the entire period. Due to public pressure and even threats to his personal safety, the king reluctantly allowed the NA to make several changes (reforms) to France.
The Revolutionary Tricolor Cockade worn on hats
N.A. Reforms 1) The 4 August Decrees In response to the Great Fear, the NA abolished feudalism and addressed the chief concerns of the peasantry. Tax exemptions were abandoned - tax would now be paid proportionate to income. The corvee was abolished. Noble privileges on peasant land were revoked (ex the right to hunt). The tithe became optional. Gov/Mil/Church positions were opened to anyone.
The decrees pacified the peasantry. From this point on they were not a revolutionary force, and later would oppose those who wished to abolish the monarchy and the church all together.
2) Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (Aug. 26 1789) see handout A human rights charter, based on the ideas of the enlightenment and similar to the Bill of Rights (USA) Enshrined fundamental freedoms, legal rights, and property rights. It destroyed the ancien regime. King Louis XVI refused to sign it because it attacked his divine right to rule and he was denied an absolute veto. However he eventually signs in October due to the..
Women s March to Versailles (Oct. 5, 1789) Chaos in France = shortage of food in the cities. Bread prices were high and at most bakeries there was no bread at all. Women (mostly mothers) marched to city hall to protest. The Paris Commune suggested they march to Versailles to demand bread. Others joined them, capitalizing on the opportunity to put political pressure on Louis XVI. There was an immense hatred for Queen Marie Antoinette. They saw her as a foreigner and a sexual deviant. Her opulent lifestyle enraged them.
When informed of the food shortages, the queen allegedly (but not likely accurately) uttered let them eat cake. Over 5000 women (and some men) forced their way into the palace, threatening the safety of the royal family.
Louis XVI was genuinely surprised by their plight. He agreed to the following to satisfy the crowd: Immediate shipments of grain to Paris He accepted the DOROMC and the limited veto powers demanded by the N.A. He agreed to leave Versailles and take up residence in Paris at the Tuileries Palace. He essentially became a prisoner of the revolution.
3) Nationalization of Church Land (Nov. 1789) The NA still had to solve the financial crisis somehow. They could not raise taxes and could not risk repudiating the debt. Instead, they nationalized church lands (15% of France) and sold it off. Justified this by having the state assume responsibility for education, record keeping etc. Saw wealth of church as part of ancien regime. The NA sold assignats government bonds based on the value of the lands (est. 400 million francs) Assignats became a paper currency printed too many and caused inflation later.
Created new landowners that owed their new found status to the NA these people become more opposed to the monarchy.
3a) Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790) Put the Church under the complete authority of the government and NOT Rome. Gov would now pay and appoint all clergy. Clergy had to swear an oath to the CCC. Many refused to do so and lost their positions. Louis XVI faced lots of pressure from Rome he opposed the CCC but accepted it. It furthered his disdain for the NA. It also angered the peasantry.
4) Constitution of 1791 Took two years to complete. It established the new government system and laws of the land. Similar to American system with separation of powers = legislative (assembly), executive (King), and judicial branches. King had suspensive veto and power to appoint ambassadors, generals, and ministers. Elections were to be held on a set calendar. HOWEVER - the franchise was limited to active citizens (those that paid a certain level of taxes). This restricted passive citizens (working classes) from voting.
Controversy Many felt the constitution was too conservative because of: Voting restrictions on the poor. It created political equality but not social equality. New system would be dominated by bourgeoisie. However, most of the opposition surrounded the status of the king, who s unpopularity had grown due to two events just prior to the acceptance of the new constitution.
Escape Attempt In June of 1791, the King attempted to sneak out of the Tuileries with his family and flee to a royalist stronghold in NE France. Why? Feared for his safety? Wanted to organize a counter-revolution? They were discovered and escorted back to Paris. The King was now seen as a traitor, possibly working against the revolution. His powers were temporarily suspended.
Champs des Mars Massacre (July 1791) A protest was organized by several revolutionary clubs (ex. the Jacobins) who opposed granting any power to Louis XVI. The National Guard under Lafayette were keeping order. Several protesters hurled stones at the NG, who ended up firing back and killing a few dozen. This increased hostility towards the King, National Guard, and the 1791 constitution. This foreshadows the struggle between radicals (Robespierre, Danton, etc) and moderates after 1791.
The National Assembly voluntarily dissolved after the constitution was accepted. New elections were to be held. No deputies from the NA would run for election. Many changes were made, but historians see it as a revolution of the Bourgeoisie. The most radical changes were still to come.