National Assembly (1789–91)

The National Assembly of 1789–1791 played an important role in the early stages of the French Revolution. Derived from the Estates-General, the National Assembly represented a revolutionary shift towards a constitutional monarchy and the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Includes the transformative period when the Third Estate, asserting itself as the nation’s voice, collapsed and formed the National Assembly. The storming of the Bastille, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, and the abolition of feudal privileges illustrate how the National Assembly laid the foundation for modern democratic ideals and set the stage for further revolutionary developments in France.

The National Assembly (1789–91)

Historical facts	National Assembly (1789–91)
Estates-General Convened	May 5, 1789
Tennis Court Oath	June 20, 1789
Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen	June 17, 1789
Storming of the Bastille	July 14, 1789
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen	August 26, 1789
Women’s March on Versailles	October 5, 1789
National Constituent Assembly Dissolved	September 30, 1791

Introduction

Unable to solve the financial crisis, Louis XVI abolished all parliaments as part of a general restructuring of the judiciary. The public’s reaction to the king’s actions was strong and even violent. The people began to ignore the royal edicts and attack the royal officials. Pamphlets denouncing despotism began to flood the country. At the same time, people began to demand an immediate meeting of the Estates General to solve the crisis. The General Estates Assembly was a consultative assembly composed of representatives of the three French estates, or legally defined social classes: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners. The last time it was convened was in 1614. Under increasing political pressure and faced with the total collapse of his finances, Louis XVI reluctantly agreed to the convening of the Estates General. The king hoped that the Estates-General would pull him out of the pitiful situation and help replenish the empty treasury. Within a short time, the General Estates Assembly was transformed into the National Assembly, which also became known as the Constituent Assembly.

Cahiers

During the first months of 1789, the three estates prepared for the upcoming meeting by selecting representatives and compiling cashiers des doléances (lists of grievances). These lists reflected an overwhelming consensus in favor of limiting the power of the king and his administrators through a constitution and establishing a permanent legislative assembly. The Cahiers also proposed improvements in prison and hospital conditions and reforms in economic, religious, and political matters.

General composition of the Estates

The General Assembly of the Estates met on May 5, 1789, in Versailles. It consisted of 285 nobles, 308 clergy, and 621 representatives of the third estate, elected by all males over 25 whose names were included in the tax. registry. Previously, each of the three estates had an equal number of delegates, and each estate met separately. It was a tricameral body with two chambers consisting exclusively of the privileged classes. Each estate had one vote to decide any question. In this way, the privileged classes combined to overrule the third estate, which made up more than 90 percent of the population.

Establishment of a National (Constituent) Assembly

The Third Estate was aware of its power and required each member to cast one vote in a single chamber composed of all three estates. This method would give each estate several votes that more accurately represented its population and would make it more difficult for the first two estates to routinely outvote the third estate. However, the clergy and nobility opposed this demand of the third estate. The lockout continued. Five wasted weeks later, the Third Estate finally took the initiative and invited the clergy and nobility to join them in a unicameral legislature where the vote would be by heads. Some individual members of the other estates joined the third estate, and on June 17, 1789, they declared themselves together as the National Assembly (later also called the Constituent Assembly).

The Tennis Court Oath

When the members of the newly formed National Assembly went to their usual meeting place on June 20, 1789, they found the entrance to the hall blocked by soldiers. Sensing that their initiative would soon be crushed, the members of the National Assembly gathered at a nearby indoor tennis court on June 20, 1789, and vowed not to dissolve until France had a constitution. This pledge became known as the “Tennis Court Oath.”.

Recognition of the National Assembly by the King

On June 23, 1789, Louis XVI proposed major changes in the financial system. He also agreed to get MPs’ approval for all new loans and taxes and proposed other important reforms. However, he still refused to recognize the transformation of the States General into the National Assembly and insisted on voting by state. In addition, he tried to intimidate the deputies by surrounding the meeting hall with a large number of soldiers. Faced with strong opposition from the Third Estate and the growing willingness of members of the clergy and nobility to join the Third Estate in the National Assembly, the King had no choice but to agree to a head vote on June 27, 1789.

Attempt to suppress the National Assembly

The king made a second attempt to suppress the National Assembly. More soldiers were brought to Paris and Versailles. On July 11, 1789, Necker, who had been brought back as minister of finance and who was in favor of reforms, was not only dismissed but also ordered to leave the country. These actions of Louis XVI were seen by the people as clear signs that the king was trying to atone for the events of the previous weeks.

Storming of the Bastille

The dismissal of Necker, the most popular minister, awakened the people of Paris. People generally feared that the king was determined to use force to suppress the National Assembly. Under these circumstances, mobs began to roam Paris in search of weapons to repel the royal attack. On July 14, 1789, these mobs stormed the Bastille, a large fortress on the eastern edge of the city. They believed it contained ammunition and many prisoners of despotism, but in reality, the fort had only seven prisoners at the time. The storming of the Bastille, a symbol of royal autocracy, marked the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. In the face of this uprising, the monarchy retreated. The troops were withdrawn, and Necker was dismissed.

City Government in Paris

After the fall of the Bastille, the people of Paris spontaneously formed a city government to replace the old royal form of government. They also organized a new military force called the National Guard. In the countryside, the peasants rebelled, looted noble castles, and destroyed documents containing noble titles. A large number of nobles were killed by the revolted peasants.

Achievements of the National Assembly

On July 9, 1789, the National Assembly declared itself the Constituent Assembly. The members sat in a semi-circle around the chairman of the assembly, who was elected every 15 days. Those who sat to the right of the president were ultra-royalists. To the right of the center sat those who recommended a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary form of government, as in England. Mirabeau led the members, who sat left of center. He advocated for a constitutional monarchy. The members of the Constituent Assembly, who sat far to the left of the President, were those who wanted to carry out a program of complete political, economic, and social revolution in France under the vision of Rousseau. They were for democracy in a republican arrangement. Between 1789 and 1791, the Constituent Assembly introduced several reforms in the political, administrative, social, and economic fields. The main reforms of the National (Constituent) Assembly were as follows:

(1) Abolition of Feudalism

The most important work of the National Assembly was the abolition of feudalism, serfdom, and class privileges. In many parts of France, the peasants revolted against the feudal lords and burned down their castles. To fulfill the aspirations of the people, the National Assembly needed to legalize what the peasants had accomplished and destroy feudalism throughout France. On August 4, 1789, a resolution of the National Assembly was adopted that introduced equality of taxation. The nobles and clergy agreed to give up their privileges. The subjects were freed, and the manorial courts were abolished. The clergy gave them tithes and other privileges. The sale of offices has been completed. These measures were signed by the king. In one week, the National Assembly accomplished what many ministers had attempted but failed to do for many years. Feudalism and the three medieval social orders were abolished. After these fundamental changes, the National Assembly further focused on creating an individualistic society based on liberty, equality, and fraternity.

(2) Declaration of the Rights of Man

Another major work of the National Assembly was the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on August 26, 1789. The Declaration included some principles of the English Bill of Rights and the American Declaration of Independence. This also reflected Rousseau’s philosophy. According to the declaration, “men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” The rights of man are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression. The Declaration of the Rights of Man further stated that law is an expression of the general will. Every citizen has the right to participate in its formation personally or through his representative. The law must be the same for all. No person shall be charged, arrested, or imprisoned except under conditions prescribed by law. The Declaration concluded by stating that, as private property is an inviolable and sacred right, no one shall be deprived of it unless public necessity, determined by law, is clearly required and duly compensated. One French historian called the Declaration of the Rights of Man “the death certificate of the ancien régime.”

(3) Constitution of 1791

The National Assembly created a new constitution for France. The constitution was completed in 1791 and accepted by King Louis XVI. It was the first written constitution of France. It was based on the principle of separation of powers advocated by Montesquieu and included in the US Constitution. The legislative, executive, and judicial powers of the state were separated and entrusted to three separate organs of the state. According to the Constitution of 1791, the form of government in France was to be monarchical. However, the king was supposed to be a constitutional monarch. He was supposed to be the head of the executive. He had the power to appoint senior officers of the army and ministers of the government. The Constitution of 1791 did not adopt the British parliamentary system. Ministers did not have a seat in the legislature and were not dependent on its support. The king only had a “suspension veto,” not an “absolute veto,” i.e., he could only postpone the adoption of any legislative measure or law for four years. The Constitution of 1791 vested legislative power in a single assembly of 745 members elected for two-year terms, not by universal suffrage but by electors paying taxes of just over $4 million. Only men who paid at least 50 livres in taxes and were landowners could stand for election. The Legislative Assembly could initiate legislation and debate and vote on laws before it. The judiciary was completely revolutionary. Judges were to be elected. Their term of office was to range from two to four years. A jury system was introduced for criminal cases, and torture was abolished.

(4) Division of France into departments

The National Assembly developed a unified administrative system for France. For this purpose, France was divided into 83 provinces, or departments, of almost equal size. Each department was divided into districts, and each of these districts was further divided into cantons. The smallest administrative unit was a rural village or commune. The administrative system of France provided the basis for the creation of electoral units. In addition to participating in elections, every active citizen was a member of the National Guard, which provided France with a local defense system. France thus became a highly decentralized state from a highly centralized one. Formerly, the central government was represented in each province by its agent or official, called the “intendant,” and his subordinates. The central government was not to have any representatives in the newly created departments. Voters were to select local ward officials. The job of these officials was to carry out the orders of the central government.

(5) Confiscation of church property

To solve financial problems, the National Assembly confiscated church property valued at many hundreds of millions of dollars. With church property as security, the National Assembly issued paper currency known as allotments. However, the natural temptation to print more paper money could not be restrained by the National Assembly. This led to inflation and the rising prices of various commodities.

(6) Civil constitution of the clergy

Another important work of the National Assembly was the civil constitution of the clergy. In November 1789, church property was confiscated. In February 1790, monasteries and other religious orders were suppressed. In April 1790, absolute religious tolerance was proclaimed. In July 1790, the National Assembly adopted a civil constitution for the clergy. This act reworked the episcopal structure and the position of the clergy. The number of dioceses was reduced from 134 to 83, one for each department. The number of bishops and priests also decreased. They were to be elected by union voters. The clergy were to receive salaries from the state. In this way, the clergy effectively became officials of the state. Further, the clergy were required to swear an oath of allegiance to the revolutionary government and were not allowed to swear an oath of allegiance to the Pope. The religious policy of the National Assembly thus led to a conflict between revolutionary France and Rome, which was not resolved until Napoleon’s Concordat of 1801. The priesthood of France was divided in its reaction to the civil constitution of the clergy. The majority of bishops and clergy refused to take the oath of allegiance to the civil constitution of the clergy. Almost one-third of parish priests took an oath of allegiance to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. They became known as the “judged clergy,” and those who refused were called the “bearing clergy.”.

Flight of the King

When the civil constitution of the clergy was presented to Louis XVI for his approval, the King remarked, “I would rather be King of the Met than remain King of France in that position, but that will soon end.” Louis XVI, humiliated by the loss of power, planned to escape from Paris. On the night of June 20, 1791, the king, queen, and other members of the royal family fled the Tuileries in disguise. However, they were recognized and captured in the small village of Varennes, not far from the border. They were brought back to Paris under humiliating circumstances. Despite these developments, the National Assembly continued its work. The king’s powers were drastically curtailed after he attempted to flee France. In September 1791, the National Assembly completed the Constitution. Louis XVI had no choice but to accept the 1791 Constitution. The National Assembly, which also doubled as the Constituent Assembly, dissolved itself on September 30, 1791, after decreeing that none of its members were to be elected to the newly proposed Legislative Assembly.

Conclusion

The work of the National Assembly had far-reaching consequences for the political, social, financial, religious, and legal systems of France. She destroyed the pillars of the ancient regime. He abolished feudalism, the old form of government, the old territorial divisions, the old financial system, the old judicial and legal system, and the old ecclesiastical arrangement.

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