1789: Estates-General, Storming of the Bastille, and Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

 1.The Estates General Meeting of 5th May 1789.

The estates general meeting of 5th May 1789 comprised of 621 

representatives of the third estate, 308 clergy and 285 nobles. Louis xvi and 

his poor advisors thought that each estate representative would present a 

list of grievances (cashiers) and offer some advice which would help in 

solving financial crisis and other problems that France was facing. The 

cashiers expressed loyalty and fidelity (faith) to the king; most of them 

reflected the radical philosophy of the age and demanded for reforms in 

the government and society. Many of the cashiers demanded for the 

abolition of social inequalities in the society. The mood of the third estate 

was expressed in a pamphlet written by Abbey Sieyes which was circulated 

in large numbers on the eve of the French revolution

What is the third estate? , Asked Sieyes, Everything'

What has it been in politics up to now?

Nothing

What does it desire?

To become something.

Louis xvi expected separate deliberations from each estate than a joint 

assembly, of the clergy, nobles and third estates representatives. He thus 

insisted on the ancient system of sitting and voting where each estate 

would sit and vote as one house. By this procedure, the privileged estates 

(clergy and Nobles) would always out vote the third estate by a ratio of1:2 

(one vote for the third estate, and two votes for the first and second). This 

was because the 1st and 2nd estates were the privileged class and had 

similar interest of defending their privileges.

The third, .estate objected to this arrangement and wanted a single 

assembly of the three, classes where deliberations and voting would be on 

the principle of one man one vote (show of hands). They were aware that 

a joint assembly would offer them opportunities for reforms since they had 

twice as many representatives as the clergy and the nobles combined.

However, the privileged class rejected the demands of the third estate and 

influenced Louis, xvi to rule against it under the guidance of Mira beau, the 

third estate refused to accept the ruling. There, were a number of 

deliberations and on 17th June 1789 the third estate declared itself the 

national assembly. They were strengthened when dissatisfied nobles and 

clergy joined the assembly.

1. The significance of this event in the course of the French revolution is that 

it was the beginning of the revival of the parliament and parliamentary 

democracy in France. For about 175 years, the estates general had never 

sat and the 5'^ May 1789 assembly resurrected it. From 1789 onwards, the 

estates general met continuously and enacted a number of reforms in 

France.

2. This event triggered off the revolution. The self-conversion of the 3rd 

estate into the national assembly marked the beginning of the French 

revolution. They had taken up the responsibility of acting on behalf of the 

whole nation. This weakened the position of the Bourbon monarchy and 

Louis xvi over state affairs.

3. The meeting gave the third estate the chance to begin fighting for their 

rights. Had it not been because of the hectic disagreement over the sitting 

arrangement, the third estate would have found it difficult if not impossible 

to start the revolution in 1789. This is so because they used the disagreement 

over the sitting order as an excuse to revolt against King Louis xvi and the 

monarchy.

4. it's also of significance that the national assembly is known as the 

constituent assembly because it's main responsibility was to make a 

constitution. It was the beginning of constitutional system of governance in 

France. The constitution later became the guarantor of people's freedom 

and rights.

5. It portrayed the unity that existed amongst the third estate and disunity 

within the privileged class. The unity of the third estate was evidenced in 

the tennis court oath and disunity of the privileged class was witnessed 

when the lesser nobles and lower clergy joined the 3rd estate against the 

monarchy.

6. The event exposed the king's inconsistencies and weaknesses. His failure 

to settle the sitting arrangement and his order to the privileged class to join 

the assembly is a testimony of his wavering character.

However, the higher clergy and the greater nobility refused to join the 

national assembly. This undermined the nationalistic outlook which the 

assembly was to portray.

2. The Tennis Court Oath June 1789

In order to overcome the pressure from the 3rd estate, the king decided to 

hold a special royal session in which he planned to give his last order. 

Unfortunately, the delegates of the third estate were not informed of the 

royal session. When they arrived at the assembly hall on 20th June 1789, 

they found the doors blocked by soldiers. They were informed of the royal 

session and that the hall was closed for making the necessary preparations 

(including cleaning of the hall). At the same time rumors was spreading that 

the king was planning to use force against the representatives of the third 

estate.

For a moment, the third class delegates were stranded. However after 

sometime, they proceeded to a neighboring building which served as a 

tennis court and held a memorable session there under the presidency of 

Bailly, They took the famous tennis court oath in which they swore;

Never to separate and to reassemble whenever circumstances shall 

require until the constitution of the kingdom shall be established,

3. The Royalsession, June 1789

On 23rd June 1789, a special royal session was held. In his speech, the king 

announced a number of reforms which satisfied the demands of the third estate but made some fatal mistakes. He declared the recent actions of 

the 3rd estate in converting itself in to the national assembly illegal and 

unconstitutional. He also ordered that the three estates should meet 

separately. The king, the nobility and the clergy left the hall in the spirit of 

victory.

However, the third estates representatives remained in the hall. The master 

of ceremonies reminded them of the King's orders and told them to quit the 

assembly hall. Soldiers were also seen at the gate. They were to force the 

3rd estate delegates out of the assembly hall. This provoked Mira beau, 

who went straight to the M.C and blasted him that,

Go; tell your master that we are here by the will of the people and that we 

shall not leave except at the point of the bayonet •

Humiliated by the tough stand of the third estate, Louis Xvi ordered the 1st 

and 2nd estates to join the national Assembly. He allowed all the three 

estates to sit, deliberate and vote as one body. This was a triumph for the 

3rd estates that had been in the backyard of French politics for centuries. 

The third estate had therefore succeeded in reforming and restricting the 

ancient regime in France.

4. The Storming Of Bastilles 14™ July 1789

The Bastilles, was the state prison where those arrested under the infamous 

lettres-de-cachet were imprisoned. After the declaration of the national 

assembly by the third estate, the king’s diehard nobles and clergy 

continued to oppose it. Rumours were that the king was organizing to 

destroy the assembly using foreign troops. Besides, Necker was expelled for 

the second time on 11th July1789. This was a great disappointment 

because he was the only 'messiah' of reforms in France The news spread 

throughout France and on 13th July Camille Desmoulins a journalist argued 

people to take immediate action he proclaimed;

To arms, to arms, no moment must be lost Monsieur Necker has been 

dismissed. Tonight the German and Swiss battalions will come out to kill us, 

we have but one chance left, to fly to arms.

Consequently, the Paris mob led by' Desmoulin invaded the armoury at 

Invalids and stormed Bastilles on 14th July l789. This was to release the 

innocent prisoners and demolish it as a symbol of despotism. There was 

heavy fighting between the mob and the guards but with time their 

commander. Governor de-Launay surrendered but was murdered.

i) The fall of Bastilles was applauded in France and elsewhere as the 

greatest and most significant event of the century. It signified the fall of 

despotism’ the end of lettress de-cachet and other forms-of oppressions in 

France. This was because the Bastilles was a symbol of despotism where the 

victims of lettres-de-cachet were thrown.

ii) Its fall led to the release of prisoners most of whom were innocent. 

However, the freed prisoners took up to revenge against those who had 

imprisoned them (nobles). They killed such nobles and looted their farms 

and homes.

iii) The fall of Bastilles ushered in violence not only in Paris and other 

surrounding provinces but also in other districts. The revolutionaries 

acquired more arms, which they used against the hated nobles and clergy.

iv) The violent destruction of the Bastilles and the violent events that 

followed forced the Émigrés in to exile (under the leadership of comte-de-

Artois). This is yet significant because the émigrés later re- mobilized against 

the revolutionaries who contributed to the reign of terror and war with other 

powers in Europe.

v) It also led to the dissolution of the Royal guard which was replaced by 

the National Guard. The National Guard was to protect the revolution and 

all what it stood for i.e. its achievements. It was under the command of 

Lafayette, the hero of American war of independence and Trour, the vice 

president of the national assembly. Foreign troops were withdrawn 

immediately and to avoid chaos Necker was reinstated.

vi) The National flag of France was changed from the white colour to the 

current tri-colour of red, white and blue. This symbolized a change from the 

Bourbon monarchy to the revolution.

vii)The storming of Bastilles was quickly followed by an almost complete 

decentralization of government. Anew government was formed to govern 

Paris only while the king was in charge of Versailles. The appointed Royal 

intendants in the local government were replaced by elected council 

leaders signifying the rise of democracy in France.

Viii)The success of the revolutionaries bonded the 3rd estate together and 

gave them courage to fight for more reforms. It became a day for liberty 

not only in France but the whole world. Indeed this event is so important 

that 14th July has remained a day of national celebrations in France,However the event of the fall of Bastilles was very unfortunate. Several 

captives of the garrisons were murdered. Even the governor, De-Launay 

who ordered his troops to surrender was beheaded and his head r/as 

paraded around Paris on a pike. This was despotism and violence of the 

highest order.

5. The Session on 4th August "The night of dupes" Or stupid Dukes

After the storming of Bastilles, Peasants went on rampage attacking the 

castles/residences and property of the clergy and Nobles. Consequently 

by August the remaining nobles who had not given up their privileges had 

seen the sense in sacrificing their privilege to save their lives. On 4th August 

when the national assembly was in a night session, it abolished feudalism 

and all its forms throughout France. The nobles and clergy denounced their 

privileges and the ancient system of taxation was scrapped off. Thus, the 

long-term grievances, which had made the revolution inevitable, were 

removed. This was a total destruction of the foundation of the ancient 

regime and a relief to the peasants.

The event is memorable because it guaranteed equality of all the men 

before the law and other forms of taxation, thus burying social class 

discrimination in France.

The way feudalism was destroyed makes it significant. It was very peaceful 

where the nobles and clergy just denounced their privileges hence 

compromising with the third estate in the spirit of brotherhood.

It guaranteed admission and promotion in to public offices on merit than 

birth. This gave way to competent and talented men of ability to rise to 

power irrespective of birth right.

This event became a social revolution that laid a firm foundation of 

fraternity between the three classes compared to their position prior to 

1789. This strengthened the spirit of patriotism and nationalism in

France.

However, the event forced most nobles and clergy to flee to exile from 

where they regrouped in Austria and started planning a counter-revolution. 

This took France to war with foreign powers and contributed to the reign of 

terror in the course of the revolution.

In short the destruction of feudalism was a landmark that modernized 

France in Europe compared to Austria, Germany, Italy, Russia, and Poland. 

It was a stepping-stone for the declaration of the rights of man and citizens.

6. The declaration of The Rights of Man and Citizens, 27thaugust 1789

The National assembly was known as the constituent assembly because its 

role was to make a constitution for France. But before the constitution could 

be made, it was necessary to guarantee the rights of man. On 27 August 

1789, the constituent assembly met, its discussion was centered on the 

restoration of people's political freedom and how to protect them. By the 

end of the session, it had come out with a document called the declaration 

of the rights of man and citizens, which was to act as a preamble to the 

French constitution. It had the following declarations amongst others;

i)People had the rights to rule themselves and that men were by nature 

equal and therefore entitled to equal rights and privileges from the state. 

This includes equality before the Law and taxation.

ii) It granted freedom of press, speech, worship, Association, ownership of 

property, security and resistance to oppression.

iii) All government officials are public servants and are responsible to the 

people. It continues that sovereignty is vested in the people who have the

final voice to determine their leadership.

iv) Imprisonment was not allowed except by laws decided only by the 

people. No one was to be arrested without a proof of his or her guilt.

SIGNIFICANCE AND EVALUATION OF THE DECLARATION

i) It’s on record that the declaration of the rights of man and citizens was 

the noblest side of the 1789 ; French revolution, without which it might not 

have been a great even tin European History (Grant and ' Temperly, 1952, 

P24). The human rights that were declared became the foundation for 

people's rights and freedom not only in France but the entire world. These 

have been adopted by the present UNO. The UNO charter has a special 

article (16) on the rights of man and citizens, which was Xeroxed from that 

of France. Although the political liberties were short-lived with the reign of 

terror France, they were resurrected and have survived up to now.

ii) The declaration destroyed the remains of segregative social system that 

had characterized the French society prior to 1789 i.e. between the nobles and the clergy against the third estate. It asserted equality of all men by 

nature irrespective of social status or birth.

iii) The declared rights of man confirmed the abolition of feudalism and 

feudal dues in the history of France. However the abolition of feudal dues 

worsened the financial crisis in France.

iv) David Thomson describes the declaration of the rights of man, as the 

most important event in the development of democratic and republican 

ideas. This is justifiable because every citizen had the right to influence state 

policies through elected representatives. This was through national 

elections (direct or indirect), parliamentary debates in framing national 

laws as against royal decrees. These were drastic measures that 

challenged and reformed Bourbon despotism.

v) The declared rights especially political liberties inspired the oppressed 

masses outside France to struggle for their freedom. This was witnessed in 

the future revolutions of Germany, Italy, Belgium, Poland, 1848 and Russia. 

These revolutions were caused by the violation of human rights, which were 

declared in France.

vi) Although the declaration of the rights of man and citizens corrected the 

wrongs in the French society, it had several loopholes. It accorded Louis xvi 

a legal status on the forefront of French politics. He was allowed to have 

power to choose, discipline, demote, promote and even dismiss ministers. 

He was also given power to Veto the decision of the national assembly. It 

was this that he used to refuse to sign the declaration of the rights of man 

and citizens and the civil constitution of the clergy.

vii) The document made people aware of their rights but did not tell them

about their duties yet the politically charged atmosphere of France 

required people to know more about their duties instead of their rights. This 

raised a lot of expectations by the people from the government which was 

impossible considering the financial situation of the country. Moreover most 

of the taxes had been abolished yet the government had no other sources 

of revenue to meet people's needs. Thus as “Ketlebey” puts it;

In the declaration of human rights the assembly lifted the curtains, which 

veiled an impossible liberty only to drop it again.

viii) The declaration of the rights of man ignored the rights of women hot 

until 1954 when it was adopted. Madam Olympe-de-Gouges pleaded for 

the rights of women and citizen in vain. When she submitted it to the 

national assembly in 1791, she was condemned as "outrageous and scandalous and consequently she was guillotined. This was against the 

principle of equality and gender balance.

ix) Lastly, the freedom granted by the declaration of rights of man and 

citizens made the Frenchmen crazy under emotional excitement of 

freedom. They resorted to violence as a means of achieving whatever they 

wanted. This is justified by the fact that;

“It was useless to take people on top of a mountain and show them 

wonderful plains that could not be given to them”

The document made the Frenchmen knowledgeable about their rights and 

it became a yardstick for measuring the worth of any government in 

France. This is why the Frenchmen easily resorted to Violence against the 

government when it failed to grant them such declared rights. ''' '

7. The March of Women, 5th October 1789

The Paris commune organized women to March (in a demonstration) from 

Paris to Versailles. The causes of the demonstration were; the king's refusal 

to accept reforms especially the civil Constitution of the clergy, his attempt 

to suppress the revolution using foreign troops, desire to bring the king to 

Paris, famine and unemployment. ' '

Women were chosen because the impact of their demonstration would be 

most felt and their cries for food would be most heard. So on 5th Oct, a 

crowd of 6,500 women including men dressed in women's attire marched 

the21 miles distance from Paris to Versailles to present their petition to the 

king. Lafayette was ordered to follow them with thousands of soldiers of the 

National Guard. He was to maintain law and order and bring the king to 

Paris where he would be out of reach of the aristocracy. The King yielded 

to their demands and was escorted to Paris with his entire family. On 

reaching Paris they were lodged/ kept in the Tuilleries palace in a condition 

of prisoners.

SIGNIFICANCE

i) The role of women in the demonstration shows the concern of everybody 

in the revolution. Since the beginning of the revolution women had not 

been very active and their participation in the marching shows the national 

outlook of the French revolution. This upheld the revolutionary principle of 

equality since women had actively joined men in the revolution.

ii) It acted as a preamble for the transfer of the national assembly from 

Versailles (a monarchical stronghold) to Paris (a revolutionary center). From 

then onwards, French politics and the revolution was championed from 

Paris by the Paris commune.

iii) The king was forced to accept some reforms which went a long way in 

meeting the demands of the revolutionaries. He promised special food for 

Paris and to reduce the price of bread. He agreed to sign the declarations 

of the rights of man and citizens and he also accepted the National Guard 

to be entrusted with the defense of Versailles.

iv) However, the mistreatment of Louis to the extent of being kept in the 

Tuilleries provoked internal uprisings from the royalists and foreign 

condemnation by foreign powers. This contributed to the reign of terror and 

war between France and her neighbours.

8. The Civil Constitution of the Clergy, July 1790

Before the revolution, the pope and the Catholic Church had a lot of 

influence on the political, economic, social and religious affairs of France. 

The Catholic Church and the clergy were the most privileged in France. It's 

on this account that the revolutionaries targeted the vast resources and 

influence of the church. So in July 1790, the national assembly passed a 

law, which incorporated the church in to state and the clergy in to civil 

service. This became known as the civil constitution of the clergy. It had the 

following implications/effects on France and Europe.

i) It abolished the church tithe since it was a sign of feudalism and a source 

of exploitation. This was a relief to the peasants who were able to save part 

of their meager/ little incomes.

ii) The Catholic Church monopoly over land was terminated. The church 

land was nationalized, and, sold to the French citizens at a fair price. Such 

a resolution availed land to the majority peasants and increased their 

productivity and socio-economic welfare.

iii) For the first time, the clergy (church officials) were to be elected by the 

general public and their salaries were to be paid by the government. The 

salaries of the lower clergy were increased while those of the upper clergy 

were reduced. These measures turned the clergy in to paid civil servants of 

France.

iv) The pope's influence and interference on the politics of France and the 

Catholics in France were nullified. He was not to have any power on altering 

elections and payments of the clergy and any policy in France.

v) It abolished old dioceses and established new ones, which 

corresponded with the newly established districts. This decentralized the 

church administration and increased its efficiency. Besides, the title of Arch 

Bishop was abolished and each of the 83 Districts of France were to have 

a Bishop.

vi) Through the sale of the church Land and abolition of its privileges, the 

national assembly temporarily raised some money for the administration of 

the country. A paper form of money called Assignats was printed 

according to the value of Land. However, by 1796 the value of Assignat 

was undermined by inflation due to over printing.

vii) The civil constitution of the clergy delivered a deathblow to religious 

intolerance that was dominant in France by 1789. It asserted freedom of 

worship by legalizing other religion besides Catholicism.

viii) In Dec 1790, a decree was passed by which all the clergy/church 

officials were to take an oath of allegiance to the civil constitution. This 

divided the clergy in to two i.e. those who took the oath who were called 

Turing priests and those who refused who were known as Non-Juring priests. 

This produced civil strife where the Non- Turing priests staged revolts against 

the revolutionary government and the Turing priests (at Lavandee District 

of western France). This contributed to the reign of terror in France.

ix) The civil constitution of the clergy brought hostility and war between 

France and the rest of the Catholic states in Europe. The pope condemned 

it and sought support from all catholic states against the revolutionary 

government in France. Besides, it forced the clergy in to exile from where 

they organized counter revolutionary forces with assistance from catholic 

states like Austria, Prussia and Russia.

X) The civil constitution of the clergy made King Louis XVI to attempt the 

abortive flight to exile i.e. Austria. He had hesitantly signed it out of the fear 

that his veto might bring him more troubles with the revolutionaries. 

However, when the Pope .denounced it, Louis xvi regretted signing it. He 

confessed; I ask God to accept my profound repentance for having affixed 

my name though against my will to acts which are in conflict with the 

discipline and belief of the Catholic Church. It was this that made him 

attempt to escape from Paris and join the émigrés in Austria. This haddisastrous consequences because he was arrested and brought back as 

an enemy of France and the revolution.

9. The King's flighttovarennes, 22nd June 1791

It ought to the recalled that Louis xvi was forced to accept reforms from the 

national assembly against his free will. He felt the condition under which he 

was kept the Tuilleries were unbearable. He said; I would rather be a king 

of Metz than remain king of France in such a position but this will end soon.

Eventually, he decided to join the émigrés in Austria for a counter-

revolution. So, Louis XVI and the royal family stealthily (secretly) left the 

Tuilleries at night and headed for Austria. However, he was detected and 

arrested by peasants at Varrenes, a few miles from the boarder of Austria 

and France. They were brought back to Paris amidst great humiliation.

The significance of this abortive flight is as follows.

1. It depicted King Louis and his family as traitors and conspirators against 

the revolution. This event made the revolutionaries to lose the little trust that 

they had for the king.

2. It revealed further the king's inconsistent nature and his wavering 

character. This is because he succumbed to ill advice of the queen and 

the aristocrats to flee abroad and fight against the reforms he had 

endorsed.

3. The event was a serious humiliation to the king amongst his subject. He 

was arrested by peasants and escorted back to Paris as an enemy of 

France and the revolution. The king and his family were kept as prisoners in 

the Tuilleries which was a disgraceful event.

4. It strengthened the spirit of republicanism in France. Men like Robespierre 

and Danton demanded for the replacement of the monarchy with a 

republican form of government. However the National assembly was still 

dominated by constitutional monarchists and no action was taken against 

the monarchy. The king took an oath of allegiance to the constitution and 

the matter rested there. Nevertheless, the spirit of republicanism spread fast 

and that's why the monarchy was replaced by a republic the next year 

(1792). One historian correctly observed that; At Varrenes, the monarchy 

had died; all that Paris had to do a year later was to hurry it

5. While the Jacobins were agitating for a republican government, a 

number of people wanted a constitutional monarchy. This marked thediversion of opinion and the development of political parties in France. 

Henceforth, France entered into an era of multi-party politics although it 

was short lived.

The humiliation of the royal family provoked internal protests from the 

aristocrats add external war that contributed to the reign of terror.

7. Those who had acquired the church Land and some revolutionaries, 

began to fear that they would be killed if the king got military assistance 

from outside, this also contributed to the reign of terror in

France.

8. Lastly, the event increased the hostility between revolutionary France 

and her neighbours. European monarchs condemned the French 

revolutionary mistreatment and humiliation of Louis xvi. Prussia and Russia 

issued the Pilnitz declaration of August 1791 in which they threatened war 

against France in case the king was hurt. This was responsible for war 

between France and her neighbours with all its disastrous consequences.

Online recommend resources.

www.history.com/topics/french-revolution