The Revolutions of 1789

The French Debt Crisis

• France is deeply in debt b/c of the Seven Years’ War and American Revolution

• 1786-1788 Louis XVI can’t convince aristocracy and church to pay more taxes.

• parlement of Paris says only Estates General can make new taxes.

The Estates General Become the National Assembly

• Divided into the three Estates

• Meet in Versailles in May 1789

• On June 1, the Third Estate mostly bourgeosie asks the others to form a legislature.

• June 17th The National Assembly is created

• Three days later they take the Tennis Court Oath: They will sit until France has a constitution

• Louis XVI orders them to stop but more clergy and some nobles join

• June 27th: The king gives up and they become the National Constituent Assembly

The Fall of the Bastille• Louis XVI gathers troops near Versailles and Paris

• The troops make the people of Paris nervous and they organize a militia in June.

• On July 14, they march on the Bastille, a fortress, to get weapons.

• Troops open fire. The angry crowd frees prisoners and kill the governor. Louis recognizes the gov. and its National Guard.

The Great Fear• Peasants start reclaiming rights and property.

• They burn chateaux, destroy documents and refuse to pay feudal dues.

• Aug 4th: Aristocrats in the NCA surrender game rights, judicial authority, tithes and exemptions.

• All were now subject to the same laws.

Declaration of the Rights of Man• Issued on August 27, 1789

• Said all men were born equal with rights to liberty, property and personal safety.

• Gov. exists to protect rights.

• Equality before the law and in work

• Due process

• Religious freedom

• Progressive taxation

• Louis hesitates to ratify and on Oct 5th 1,000s of Parisian women march on Versailles demanding bread

• Louis is forced to return to Paris and the assembly follows