In January 1789 elections were held to choose
deputies for the Estates-General (a
political body made up of representatives from all three of the Estates). The big issue on hand was the economic crisis
with tax reform seen as a necessary
antidote. On May the 5th,
1789 the Estates-General met at
Versailles with the Third Estate occupying the Main Floor.
The meeting of the Estates General source: studylib.net
However the tax reforms proposed in June by Jacques Necker were rejected by the Nobility forcing the Third Estate to reformulate their strategy. They were joined by some members of the clergy and on June 17th, directed by Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès, the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly. The clergy elected to join the Third Estate two days later.
Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès source: gettyimages.com
Oath of the Tennis Court harvardmuseums.org
The French King Louis XVI then ordered the Third Estate to be locked out as a way of stifling the new initiative. This failed with the Third Estate representatives moving to a nearby Tennis Court to sign what would become the Tennis Court Oath. They demanded a new constitution for France, that drew heavily on the American Declaration of Independence.
King Louis XVI source: Johnwbally.com
The King resisted these attempts but eventually had to cede ground when 48 Nobles including the influential Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (a member of the ruling House of Bourbon) joined the National Assembly. Louis' opposition to separate meetings was withdrawn but he did bring in foreign reserve troops from Germany and Switzerland to pressure his opponents. This caused more unease on the streets.
The King resisted these attempts but eventually had to cede ground when 48 Nobles including the influential Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (a member of the ruling House of Bourbon) joined the National Assembly. Louis' opposition to separate meetings was withdrawn but he did bring in foreign reserve troops from Germany and Switzerland to pressure his opponents. This caused more unease on the streets.
Louis Phillipe II, Duke of Orleans
On June 30th, the prison at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés was liberated and a week later a new committee established to write the constitution. The Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau emerged as a powerful figure in these early stages of the Revolution as the National Assembly transformed to become the National Constituent Assembly.
On June 30th, the prison at the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés was liberated and a week later a new committee established to write the constitution. The Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau emerged as a powerful figure in these early stages of the Revolution as the National Assembly transformed to become the National Constituent Assembly.
Nevertheless the situation worsened with Louis XVI dismissing Jacques Necker after accusing him of manipulating the public. Then on, July 14th 1789 – The Bastille - a prison and a hated symbol of Ancien Regime, was stormed and destroyed by a crowd in search of gunpowder (they were fearful of a government reprisal). The Bastille governor Bernard-René de Launay was killed and seven prisoners were freed as the revolution reached its first climax. The first blow against the Ancien Regime had been struck.
Storming the Bastille source: time.com
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