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ECONOMIC CRISIS
The french economy was in deep trouble. Bad harvest in 1787 and 1788, and a slowdown in manufaturing led to food shortages, rising prices for food and unemployment -
Early Revolution
The King called for the Estates-General to discuss a fiscal reform. Each estate had each a collective vote. The reform did not go forward -
The Tennis Court Oath
The National Assembly, considering that it has been summoned to establish the constitution of the kingdom decress that all members of this assembly shall immediately take a solemn oath not to separate until the constitution of the kingdom is established on firm foundations -
The Storming of the Bastille
The mob, joined by some of the king's soldiers stormed the Bastille, a small but key fortification that could attack popular neighbourhoods -
The Declaration of the Rights of Man
The assembly adopts this important document, wich was inspired by the American Declaration of Independence -
Curch Reforms
Secularization of the Clergy and a Civil Constitution for the Curch -
Constitution
Finally, the promised Constitution was ready:
- It defined France as a Constitutional monarchy.
- It established division of powers.
- Representatives would be elected by census suffrage. -
Flight to Varennes and the Storming of the Tuileries
The king, who since 1789 was forced to live in the Tuileries palace instead of Versailles, tried to flee in 1791 but was caught and considered a traitor -
Economic and Social crisis
The continuation of the economic and social crisis escalated up to 1792 into mob violence by the sans-coulottes in early August, who stormed in the Tuileries, on the 11ºth, the Legislative Assembly voted to suspend the king