Covers the initial, moderate phase of the French Revolution, from the meeting of the Estates-General to the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. Key events include the Tennis Court Oath, the Bastille, and the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
What event marked the transformation of the Estates-General into the National Assembly?
On June 17, 1789, the Third Estate, frustrated with the voting dispute, unilaterally declared itself the 'National Assembly,' an assembly not of the Estates, but of 'the People.' This was a revolutionary act asserting its sovereignty.
What was the Tennis Court Oath?
On June 20, 1789, after being locked out of their usual meeting hall, members of the National Assembly gathered in a nearby tennis court and swore an oath not to disband until they had drafted a new constitution for France.
What was the significance of the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789?
Parisian crowds stormed the Bastille, a medieval fortress used as a prison, to seize weapons. The event symbolized the downfall of the Ancien Régime and royal authority. It is still celebrated as France's national day.
What was the 'Great Fear' (Grande Peur)?
A wave of peasant panic and revolt that swept through the French countryside in the summer of 1789. Fearing retaliation from nobles, peasants armed themselves and attacked manor houses, burning feudal documents that recorded their obligations.
What foundational document was issued by the National Assembly in August 1789?
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. Inspired by the Enlightenment, it proclaimed that 'men are born and remain free and equal in rights' and defined individual and collective rights of the nation.
What was the Women's March on Versailles in October 1789?
Thousands of Parisian women, angered by bread shortages, marched to the Palace of Versailles. They forced the royal family (Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette) to return to Paris, making them prisoners of the revolution in the Tuileries Palace.
What was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (1790)?
A law passed by the National Assembly that subordinated the Roman Catholic Church in France to the French government. It required clergy to swear an oath of allegiance to the new constitution, which deeply divided the country between loyal 'juring' priests and 'non-juring' or 'refractory' priests.
What type of government did the Constitution of 1791 establish?
It established a constitutional monarchy. It created a unicameral Legislative Assembly with lawmaking power, while Louis XVI retained executive power and a 'suspensive veto.' This officially ended absolute monarchy in France.
What was the significance of the royal family's 'Flight to Varennes' in June 1791?
King Louis XVI and his family attempted to flee France but were caught and returned to Paris. This act was seen as treason by many, shattering his credibility as a constitutional monarch and fueling calls for the establishment of a republic.
What were 'assignats'?
A form of paper money issued by the National Assembly during the revolution. Their value was based on the confiscated lands of the Church. Over-issuance led to massive inflation, causing economic turmoil.
What were the 'August Decrees' of 1789?
In response to the Great Fear, the National Assembly issued these decrees, formally abolishing feudalism and the privileges of the nobility and clergy, such as tax exemptions and manorial dues.
