Question

Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.

Answer 1

• Taxes were increased by Louis XVI.
• In France, the power to impose taxes was not in the hands of Monarch in the old regime.
• Representatives were sent by three estates to a political body named the Estates General.
• His proposals for new taxes were required to be passed by the Estates General, when the Monarch called them for a meeting.
• The power to call for a meeting of Estates General was solely in the hands of the Monarch.
• To pass proposals for a new tax, King Louis XVI called for a meeting with the Estates General on 5 May 1789.
• The delegates of Estates General were hosted in Versailles.
• Third estate had sent 600 members who were made to stand at the back, while the second and first estates had sent 300 representatives who had sat in the front rows facing each other.
• Women, artisans and peasants were not permitted to enter the assembly. Educated and prosperous members represented the third estate.
• Around 40,000 letters were brought by the representatives listing the demands and grievances of people.
• The Third Estate wanted voting to take place in which each member had one vote. In the earlier voting system 1 estate had only 1 vote, Louis XVI wanted to continue with this practice.
• But this proposal of the third estate was rejected by the King, hence to mark their protest members of the third estate walked out of assembly.
• The members of the third estate believed that they were spokespersons of the entire French nation.
• In the grounds of Versailles, in the hall of an indoor tennis court, on 20th June, members of the third estate declared themselves as the National Assembly and they promised they would disperse only after a constitution was drafted for entire France, and thereby limiting the powers of the Monarch.
• Rest of France was facing turmoil when the National Assembly was busy with drafting a Constitution for France.
• Due to severe winter, the harvest was bad, supplies were hoarded by bakers, prices of bread rose. Angry people stormed into shops. The agitated crowd went on to destroy Bastille when the King had ordered troops to move into Paris on 14th July.
• In villages due to rumours there was a large scale violence, Nobles had to flee to neighbouring countries.
• Due to the strong revolt of the subjects, the National Assembly was awarded recognition by King Louis XVI and accepted that his powers would be checked by the Constitution.