French Revolution

The French Revolution Unfolds

• The Third Estate, consisting of local officials, professionals, and property owners, refused to sit separately as the king wanted and invited the clergy and nobles to join them in forming a new legislative body, the National Assembly.
• Louis XVI attempted to reassert control by closing the room where the National Assembly met, leading to the famous Tennis Court Oath where members vowed to continue until France had a constitution.
• The king eventually capitulated, and the National Assembly, now the National Constituent Assembly, aimed for administrative, constitutional, and economic reform with a majority from all three orders.
• Louis XVI's attempts to regain control by mustering troops and dismissing his finance minister led to growing tension and anxiety in Paris.
• The populace of Paris, anxious about the royal troops and the dismissal of the finance minister, organized a citizen militia and marched to the Bastille to obtain weapons.
• The storming of the Bastille, a fortress that had once held political prisoners, resulted in the release of non-political prisoners, the killing of troops and the governor, and the formation of the National Guard under the command of Marquis de Lafayette.
• The attack on the Bastille marked a turning point, signaling that the National Constituent Assembly alone would not determine the nation's political future.
• The fall of the Bastille inspired similar disturbances in provincial cities and prompted Louis XVI to personally visit Paris.
• The revolution extended beyond events at Versailles, with the fall of the Bastille leading to further unrest in provincial cities.
• The fall of the Bastille also led to the formation of the National Guard under Marquis de Lafayette's command and the adoption of the tricolor flag of revolutionary France.
• The fall of the Bastille marked the first of many crucial events where the populace of Paris redirected the course of the revolution.
• Louis XVI's attempts to regain control and thwart the revolution ultimately led to growing tension and unrest, culminating in the storming of the Bastille and the formation of the National Guard.

The Revolution of 1789: The Estates General and the National Assembly

• The Estates General was convened due to a political deadlock between the French monarchy, aristocratic institutions, and the church.
• It was composed of three estates: the clergy, the nobility, and the Third Estate, primarily representing the commercial and professional middle classes.
• Representatives of the Third Estate expressed their determination not to allow the monarchy and aristocracy to determine the nation's future.
• Debate arose over the organization and voting method of the Estates General, with the aristocracy attempting to limit the influence of the Third Estate.
• The aristocracy's attempts to dominate the Estates General raised doubts about their concern for French liberty.
• The interests of the aristocracy and the prosperous members of the Third Estate had converged, but a fundamental social distance separated the two.
• The royal council decided to double the number of representatives from the Third Estate, aiming to strengthen its influence.
• The representatives brought cahiers de doléances, or lists of grievances, which criticized government waste, taxes, and aristocratic privileges.
• The cahiers also called for reforms such as equality of rights, more equitable taxes, and a free press.
• The cahiers indicated that the three estates could have cooperated for reform, but conflict soon emerged after the opening of the Estates General.
• The conflict among the estates, rather than cooperation, became the norm during the Estates General.
• The cahiers de doléances provided valuable insight into the state of France on the eve of the revolution and the desire for major reform.

The Revolution of 1789: The Estates General and the Birth of the National Assembly

• The Estates General was called due to political deadlock between the French monarchy, aristocratic institutions, and the church
• It consisted of the clergy, nobility, and the Third Estate, primarily comprised of wealthy members of the middle class
• The representatives of the Third Estate were determined to assert their role in decision-making for the nation
• There was a debate over the organization and voting process of the Estates General
• The aristocracy attempted to limit the influence of the Third Estate by demanding equal representation and voting by estate rather than by head
• Despite some shared interests, a fundamental social distance separated the aristocracy and the Third Estate
• The royal council decided to double the number of representatives for the Third Estate, strengthening its influence
• The representatives brought cahiers de doléances, listing grievances, to the royal palace, highlighting the state of France before the revolution
• The cahiers called for major reforms, including more equitable taxes, local administration control, and equality of rights
• The cahiers indicated that the three estates could have cooperated for reform, but conflict emerged as the Estates General opened
• The documents criticized government waste, indirect taxes, church taxes and corruption, and the hunting rights of the aristocracy
• There was broad agreement that the French government needed major reform and greater equality in taxation