The Liberal Phase

The first phase of the French Revolution was considered moderate in comparison to what came later Prior to the meeting of the Estates General, Louis XVI asked all French people to write down their grievances (cahiers de doleances)

As the Estates General in 1789 Disagreements broke out over: To double the size of the delegates to the Third Estate. Whether the delegates should vote as individuals or by orders

The pamphlet What Is The Third Estate The pamphlet What Is The Third Estate? By clergyman Abbe Sieyes stroked discontent June 17, 1789 – the Third Estate declares itself the National Assembly June 20th – N.A. pledges not to disband until they have written a new constitution (Tennis Court Oath)

Unsure of what to do, the king begins raising an army possibly to disperse the National Assembly June 14, 1789 – the crowds of Paris march on the Bastille (saved the N.A. and shows the power of mob violence) Revolutionaries form a National Guard to protect the revolution

The king is forced to recognize the N. A The king is forced to recognize the N.A. and orders the other two estates to sit with the new body June-August 1789 – the Great Fear takes place To reestablish order, the N.A. dismantles the entire feudal system (night of August 4th)

August 26, 1789 – the N.A. completes the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen October 1789 – women of Paris march on Versailles and force the royal family to return to Paris The actions of women to protect the revolution are termed the October Days

By the end of 1789, the revolutionaries succeeded in restructuring the French state From November 1789 through July 1790, the N.A. attacked the privileged and the Church It confiscates Church lands and issues paper currency which results in rapid inflation

The Church is brought under state control With the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, all priests are required to swear an oath of loyalty to the revolution Nonjuring clergy are those who did not take the oath

June 1791 – the N.A. completed the Constitution of 1791 Active citizens are those who owned substantial property Passive citizens are the less well-to-do and women The revolution was in the hands of the wealthy bourgeoisie

The king and his family decide to flee France They are stopped just short of safety July 1791 – a crowd gathers to demand the overthrow of the king and the declaration of a republic

The Jacobin Club grows in influence and later produces many of the important leaders of the radical phase of the revolution Emigres from France heighten tensions by working against the revolution from abroat