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Calling of the Estates General
In July 1787 Comptroller-General Lomiene de Brienne, asked the Parlement du Paris to register the tax on property of all three estates. The Parlement refused and France entered a year of intense conflict between the royal government and the parlements. On July 5, 1788, with the government at a standstill, and in spite of his misgivings, Louis XVI gave in to the demands of the nobility and issued an edict calling the Estates General to meet in May 1789. -
Meeting of the Estates General
The Estates General was greeted by Louis XVI in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles on May 2, 1789. On May 5 the meeting convened with an opening speech from the king. -
What is the Third Estate?
10 Jan 1789 In January of 1789, the Abbe Sieyes wrote a pamphlet titled "What is the Third Estate?" In it, the abbe denounced the nobility and said that the third estate was the most significant estate, in fact it was the nation. His words became the battle cry of the bourgeoisie. -
Tennis Court Oath
The Third Estate was locked out of its meeting room as preparations were being made for a royal session of all three estates. Confused and angry, the delegates met instead at an indoor tennis court on the palace grounds and signed an oath not to disband until they had drawn up a new, fair constitution for France. -
Storming of the Bastille
Medieval fortress and also a prison, although there were only seven inmates when it was stormed. It was the representation of royal authority and was in the centre of Paris.
Crowd gathered around mid-morning, numbering 1,000 and called for the surrender of the prison and that the arms and gunpowder be given to them. When requests were delayed and denied, they became violent. Governor de Launay opened the gates and was killed. -
The Great Fear/Terror
The Great Fear spread across the country. Once the revolutionary spirit seized control of the people of Paris, people in surrounding areas began to demand cheaper bread and suspension of feudla dues. Civil unrest grew in the countryside, with many peasants attacking manor homes. Aristocratic property was destroyed by the peasantry. From July 20 to August 5, 1789, hysteria spread across the country, but was gradually put down by militias that imposed law and order. -
August Decrees
Outbust of patriotism asserted principles of equality and meritocracy.
Abolition of feudalism & church/noble/corporate privileges in France -
Declaration of the rights of man and citizen
Sets out the principles on which the new France will be governed. 'Natural, inalienable and sacred rights of man'. Aimed to abolish absolute monarchy and ensure that the government was answerable to the people. -
La Journee
Women of Paris and the National Guard set out to bring the royal family from Versailles to Paris -
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Passed by National Assembly, reorganising the Catholic church -
Fete de la Federation
Celebration of the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille with representatives from across France -
Clergy oath of loyalty
National Assembly requires all Clergy to take an oath of Loyalty to the consitiution -
Flight to Varennes
King's attempt to flee Paris fails. Seen now as a traitor to the state -
Massacre of the Champs de Mars
National Guard opens fire on a crowd signing a petition for republic. Showed that the National Guard were no longer on the side of the people, but also important for showiung that the revolution would not be so easily stopped. -
Declaration of Pillnitz
Leopold II of Austria and Frederick William II of Prussia appeared to threaten intervention in France of behalf of Louis XVI - increasingly worrying foreign threat. -
King agrees to new constitution
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New Legislative Assembly opens
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King vetos decrees - Issues of refractory priests and émegrés.
Refractory priests seen as unpatriotic.
By end 1971 - >4000 army officers left to join émigré forces in Coblenz.
November, King refused to sanction decrees recalling all émigrés or threatening, seeming to confirm fears of his own lack of patriotism. Vetos decrees against emigres (clergy) and refractory priests.
