FRENCH REVOLUTION:
THE MODERATE PHASE
Significant reforms occurred during
the early years of the revolution but
the king remained in place.
• (1789) Louis XVI summons the Estate-General
• Had not convened since 1614
• 300 reps for 1st Estate, 300 reps for 2nd Estate and 600 for
the 3rd
• Each Estate had 1 vote
• The Cahiers – list of grievances submitted (read pages 161-162)
• June 17, 1789 3rd Estate transforms to the National Assembly
• June 20, 1789 Tennis Court Oath – oath to make a constitution
• Two violent events that forced action
• July 14, 1789 Bastille falls
• July to early August The Great Fear (peasant uprisings in
the countryside)
ACTIONS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
• Abolition of feudal privileges
• End of feudal dues
• End of Church tithes
• End of tax exemption for nobles
• End of old regime class distinctions
• End of guild restrictions on trade and manufacturing
• Adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man
• Financial Measures
• Church lands seized and used to back paper currency,
• Church land (and some noble domains) were broken up
and sold at low prices to peasants
• Religious Measures
• Guaranteed religious freedom
• Civil Constitution of the Clergy (the Catholic Church in
France under government control)
• Reform of Local Government
• Old Regime provinces replaced with 83 departments
ruled by local assemblies
• Constitution of 1791 establishes a constitutional
monarchy
• king has limited executive powers
• Elected Legislative Assembly makes the laws
• Legislative members must be property owners
• In writing, compare the
Declaration of the Rights
of Man (pg 165-167) with
the Declaration of
Independence (pg 167168)