Louis XVI and the Estates General
The Estates General
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- In France of the Old Regime, the monarch lacked the unilateral power to impose taxes.
- A meeting of the Estates General was required to pass proposals for new taxes.
- The Estates General included representatives from the three estates:
- First Estate: Clergy (300 representatives).
- Second Estate: Nobility (300 representatives).
- Third Estate: Common people (600 representatives).
Liberty - Liberty was one of the central ideals of the French Revolution, symbolizing freedom from tyranny and the rights of individuals. - The Third Estate and its Demands
- The Third Estate represented the more prosperous and educated members of society but excluded peasants, artisans, and women.
- They brought 40,000 letters outlining grievances and demands.
- The Third Estate demanded voting by individual members rather than by estates, reflecting democratic ideals inspired by philosophers like Rousseau.
- The Tennis Court Oath
- On 20 June 1789, members of the Third Estate assembled in an indoor tennis court and declared themselves the National Assembly.
- They vowed not to disperse until they drafted a constitution to limit the monarch’s powers.
- Leaders:
- Mirabeau: A noble advocating for the end of feudal privileges.
- Abbé Sieyès: A priest who authored the influential pamphlet *What is the Third Estate?*
The Tennis Court Oath - On June 20, 1789, members of the Third Estate took the Tennis Court Oath, vowing not to separate until a new constitution was established. 
A San-Culottes Couple - San-Culottes were working-class militants who played a crucial role in the French Revolution, advocating for equality and democracy. - The Storming of the Bastille
- On 14 July 1789, an agitated crowd stormed the Bastille, symbolizing resistance against royal oppression.
- The countryside also erupted in revolts as peasants attacked chateaux, looted grain, and destroyed feudal records.
- This widespread unrest forced Louis XVI to recognize the National Assembly.
- Abolition of Feudal Privileges
- On 4 August 1789, the National Assembly abolished feudal obligations, taxes, and privileges of the clergy.
- Church lands were confiscated, providing assets worth 2 billion livres to the government.
- The Constitution of 1791
- The Constitution limited the monarch's powers by dividing them among:
- Legislature: The National Assembly (745 members, indirectly elected).
- Executive: The king and his ministers.
- Judiciary: Independent judges.
- Voting rights were limited to active citizens (men above 25 years who paid taxes equal to 3 days' wages).
- Passive citizens, including women and children, had no voting rights.
System of Constitution under 1791 - The French Revolution led to the creation of the Constitution of 1791, establishing a constitutional monarchy in France. - The Constitution limited the monarch's powers by dividing them among:
- Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
- The Constitution began with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen.
- Key rights included:
- Right to life.
- Freedom of speech and opinion.
- Equality before the law.
- These rights were deemed natural, inalienable, and the state’s responsibility to protect.
