The Revolution Begins

The Declaration of the Rights of Man

- "Men are born equal and remain free and equal in rights which are liberty, property, security and resistance to oppression. Liberty is being able to do whatever does not harm others." - "The law should express the will of the people. All citizens have a right to take part personally, or through their representatives, in the making of the law. Every citizen can talk, write and publish freely, unless the liberty is abused in a way which breaks the law." - Feudal privileges and unjust taxation were abolished. - No more church tithes, no feudal dues, no more private companied keeping part of the taxation. - Rights of women and position of slaves excluded. - New middle class officials, elected by people were appointed, to take charge of local government. They were called intendants, and they replaced the former agents of the King.

Peasants Revolting

- Peasants went around burning Feudal documents, the chateaux and palaces of the lords, and their property in general.

The Storming of the Bastille

-The Paris mob (large crowd of rioting people) rioted and attacked the royal fortress prison called the Bastille on July 14th, 1789. - The mob saw the Bastille as a symbol of everything that was wrong with France. It was a symbol of the King and his government and the Paris mob wanted it destroyed. - The Paris mob killed the governor of the prison. - The Soldiers in and around Paris, refused to stop the attack, showing that King Louis XVI had lost control of the army.

The New Constitution

Created by the members of the Three Estates. - The Assembly was to be elected every two years, by men who paid a certain lever of taxation. About two thirds of the male population gained the vote, they were called 'active citizens'. - The King was to be called 'King of French', not 'King of France'. - The King could delay the passing of a law for three years. - 83 new departments were created to become centers for local government. - Judges, deputies, tax-collectors and priests were to be elected by 'active citizens'. - A new taxation system, based on income, and a new currency, the assignat, was created. - Church lands were nationalized. Income from their sale would pay off the government dept. - Tithes (the Church tax) was abolished. - Marriages has to be celebrated as civil ceremonies in front of state officials. Divorce was introduced. - Priests had to take an oath of loyalty to the state; some saw this as an attack on the power of the bishops and on the Pope.