The Revolution Begins Violence and the Rights of Man

Meeting of the Estates General May 4, 1789 Over 1,200 elected deputies met at Versailles Third Estate members were angered –Ordered to vote in three separate chambers (rooms) –Dressed in black cloaks to mark their inferior status

The National Assembly First Estate votes to join the National Assembly By June 27, Louis orders remaining delegates to join the National Assembly However, in early July, he also ordered 20,000 to nearby Paris and fired his only non-noble advisor – Jaques Necker.

The Tennis Court Oath May 17 –Members of the 3 rd Est. refused to meet separately, and a few members of the other estates joined them. –They took the name National Assembly, claiming they represented the “general will” of the nation (France). –May 20 th : After being locked out, the members of the National Assembly moved to a nearby tennis court and pledged their loyalty to unity, the pursuit of a constitution, and “the true principles of the monarchy.”

Trouble in Paris Bread prices rose from 8 to 14 sous (currency) per four-pound loaf Suspicions and rumors spread that the noble landowners were trying to starve the people into submission by withholding grain. The “common people” of Paris began to raid gunsmiths and other stores for weapons, but gunpowder was in short supply.

The Bastille To obtain gunpowder and more arms the Parisians attacked the Bastille – a prison fortress that was also a symbol of royal tyranny. The governor of the fortress – Marquis de Launay – further enraged the people when he ordered prison guards to fire on the invaders killing about one hundred of them and injuring another seventy. Launay surrendered when some soldiers joined with the crowd and turned the cannon on the prison.

Results of Victory at the Bastille Saved the National Assembly Provided arms and gunpowder to a new Militia commanded by the French hero of the American Revolution the Marquis de Lafayette. The withdrawal of royal troops from Paris and the recall of Necker The invention of the French flag The beginning of a pattern of violence

Violence at the Bastille Marquis de Launay and six of his troops had been killed after losing the fortress.

More Violence July 22 nd The Royal Governor, Louis Bertier de Sauvigny, who allegedly told poor people in France to eat straw, is captured trying to escape Paris. He and his father-in-law were both decapitated and had their mouths stuffed with straw.

Violence in the Countryside As in Paris, the countryside was a place of open rebellion with noble rule being replaced by popular militias and councils. The common people refused to pay their feudal dues to nobles and the church

The National Assembly Responds The National Assembly passed laws (known as August decrees) abolishing feudal dues – taxes paid to nobles. On August 27, the National Assembly also approved the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen which guaranteed rights of free speech, association, religion and opinion. The age of feudalism was over.