The French Revolution: Origins and Key Political Shifts

The French Revolution: Origins and Political Shifts

The Estates General and the Third Estate

The French National Assembly traces its roots to the meeting of the Estates General on 5 May 1789 at Versailles, chaired by King Louis XVI. Traditionally, each estate deliberated separately and cast a single vote. The privileged classes (First and Second Estates) consistently imposed their views, holding two votes against the single vote of the Third Estate, which represented the vast majority of the French population.

The dispute over voting procedures triggered an institutional revolt. The Third Estate proclaimed itself the National Assembly, asserting its exclusive right to make policy decisions and vote on taxes.

The Tennis Court Oath and Constituent Assembly

Following the closure of their meeting hall, the Third Estate gathered in the Tennis Court, vowing not to dissolve until France had a constitution. This act, known as the Constituent Assembly, marked the first triumph of social groups opposed to the privileged classes. This political shift was followed by the urban revolt of 1789, the assault on the Bastille, the formation of the National Guard, and the violent peasant uprising known as the "Great Fear."

Reforms of the Constituent Assembly

The Assembly enacted several transformative measures:

• Abolition of Feudalism: On 4 August, the Assembly decreed the end of the feudal system and established tax equality.
• Declaration of Rights: The adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
• Religious Reforms: Expropriation of Church property, dissolution of monastic orders, and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. Clerics who accepted these measures were known as "sworn" clergy, while those who refused were "refractory."
• Territorial Reorganization: A new administrative structure for France.
• Constitution of 1791: Established national sovereignty and the separation of powers.

The Legislative Assembly and Economic Crisis

The Legislative Assembly was dominated by moderates and monarchists. This period was marked by food shortages and foreign threats, leading to the declaration of war on Austria in 1792, which ignited French national sentiment.

Causes of the Revolution

The revolution was driven by a deepening economic crisis that severely affected the national treasury. Ministers attempted to implement reforms based on Enlightenment ideals, but the privileged classes refused to accept tax changes. Furthermore, France's intervention in the American War of Independence deepened the financial crisis, leading to the resignation of Calonne and the appointment of Necker as finance minister in 1788.