The French Revolution 1789-1799

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The French Revolution 1789-1799

• The Moderate Stage

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The National Assembly

• Created by the 3rd Estate due to the internal
  squabbling of the Estates-General.
• Functioned independently, but were gradually
  joined by some of the nobles and the majority of
  the clergy.
• Declared itself an assembly not of the Estates
  but of the People.

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The Tennis Court Oath June 20, 1789
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The Tennis Court Oath

• Louis XVI opposed the formation of the Assembly
  and closed the Salle des États where they were
  meeting.
• Fearing that a royal coup was imminent, the
  Assembly congregated in the Kings nearby tennis
  court as swore an oath to never separate and to
  create a new constitution.
• This oath was both a revolutionary act and an
  assertion of political authority of the people
  rather than the monarch.
• The Assembly received widespread support, such as
  the storming of Bastille, from the population and
  was able to effectively maintain control of the
  government.

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The Storming of Bastille, July 14, 1789
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The Storming of Bastille, July 14, 1789

• Started by the Parisians who were fearful of the
  royal troops presence and wanted to defend the
  National Constituent Assembly.
• Bastille was seen as a symbol of tyranny from the
  monarchy.
• Weapons were seized, 7 prisoners were freed, and
  the rioters were successful in helping the
  Assembly establish the new governmental structure
  The Commune.

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Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen
August 26, 1789

• The National Constituent Assembly used the U.S.
  Declaration of Independence as a model.
• Includes fundamental rights such as freedom of
  speech, press, and religion, right to property,
  equality under law.
• The Assembly also abolished feudalism, formulated
  a new taxation system, created a new constitution
  (D of R), and laid the groundwork for a new
  French government.

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Womens March on Versailles

• Despite the National Constituent Assemblys
  efforts in creating reforms, the fact still
  remained that many in the French population were
  starving.
• On October 5, 1789 the people of Paris, mainly
  working women, marched on Versailles in protest
  to the previous economic conditions under Louis
  XVI and bead shortages.

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Womens March on Versailles

• The protestors also demanded that Louis stop the
  Royalist efforts to oppose the National Assembly
  and for Louis and his administration move to
  Pairs to help address the poverty situation.
• On October 6, 1789, Louis, his administration,
  and 20,000 National Guards moved to Paris which
  effectively legitimized the National Constituent
  Assembly.