The Downfall of the Ancien Regime Flashcards
When was the procession of the Estates-General?
4th May.
How many representatives were at the EG?
1200.
How were they dressed?
All dressed according to regulations: cardinals in red capes, archbishops and bishops in purple cassocks.
Other clergy in cassocks and flowing cloaks.
Nobles, sporting matching cloaks and waistcoats decorated in gold.
Third estate dressed in black, a short cloak, muslin cravat and a hat on three sides.
How did Louis open the session on 5th May?
1st session began 5th May, all deputies gathered together at Versailles.
Louis XVI opened session with address.
Explained the circumstances leading to the meeting, and what he expected from the EG.
Emphasised he was ‘the first friend of the people.’
Which other person spoke, apart from Necker?
Followed by speeches from Charles de Baretin, the keeper of the privy seal.
What was problematic about Necker’s speech?
Necker spoke about the kingdom’s economic situation, and the need for new taxes.
Although the 3rd estate appeared to listen patiently, even cheering the king, the long speeches failed to settle their most pressing concerns.
No agenda put forward for a ‘reform package’ with positive policy proposals for discussion.
No clear indication given of procedures to be adopted (so 3rd estate didn’t know how meetings would proceed or how voting would take place).
Why were the next few weeks extremely frustrating for the 3rd Estate, esp. with the verification of credentials?
Several weeks of delay, frustration and anti-climax followed the opening.
Deputies’ first task to verify the credentials of those elected.
1st and 2nd estates prepared to meet separately to do this.
3rd estate refused, claiming they should all meet as one body.
Thus, a simple technical procedure became entwined with a deeper concern.
3rd estate reps refused to carry out the verification procedure until a definite statement of voting by head was guaranteed.
How did Sieyés prove very influential at this point?
Argued the third estate ‘the nation’ and could act alone if others refused to join it.
Some clerics persuaded, and joined them on week of 10th June, but no nobles.
Prompting from Sieyes in part helped third estate to declare itself ‘The National Assembly.
What was the size of the vote to form the National Assembly on 17th June 1789?
By vote of 491 to 90.
Why was this so important for the downfall of the Ancien Regime?
Effectively, asserting right to represent the nation and make decisions about the future of the French state.
How did representatives of the other estates begin to join it?
Other estates again invited to join.
19th June, the clergy did so.
Followed by some of the more liberal nobles over the next week.
Why was the king’s attention not focussed fully on the EG at this point?
The King’s attention had been focussed on his eldest son Louis-Joseph, who died of TB of the spine on 4 June 1789.
Persuaded by Necker that he needed to present a clear reform programme to the deputies in a royal session, why did the preparations for session anger the National Assembly?
Arranged for 23rd June.
Before the royal session could take place, there needed to be some alterations to the room where the national assembly had been meeting: the Salon des Mesus Plaisirs.
On 20th June 1789, when national assembly deputies arrived, found the doors to the room locked.
They feared the worst.
Not having been informed offended them.
Doubly alarmed by the presence of royal soldiers and the fear the king might forcibly dissolve their assembly.
Where did the National Assembly go instead to meet, and what did they do there?
They determined to meet elsewhere, but rain too heavy to march to Paris.
Led by elected president Jean-Sylvain Bailly, they made their way to the nearest available indoor space, which happened to be the royal tennis court.
Who was Bailly?
Jean-Sylvain Bailly (1736-1793) an astronomer, elected as 3rd EG deputy.
Became first president of the National Assembly.
Presided over the tennis court oath.
Became the first mayor of Paris (1789-91) under the new commune and presented Louis XVI with a revolutionary cockade in July 1789.
However, attacked by radicals such as Demoulins as being too conservative.
Lost popularity after ordering the dispersal of the crowds at the Champs de Mars in 1791.
Retired, but in 1793 was asked to testify against Marie-Antoinette.
He refused and was guillotined.
What was the Tennis Court Oath, and why was it so revolutionary?
In the tennis court, members of the national assembly swore the ‘Tennis Court Oath’, by which they promised never to disband, wherever they met, until France had a new constitution.
This declaration a direct challenge to the position of the king.
The formation of the national assembly and accompanying oath thus represent the first revolutionary actions.
Why was the Royal Session of 23rd such a failure, despite Louis’ acceptance of the principle of consent to taxation and the acceptance of a fairer land tax based on the value of land, rather than social status?
However, deputies incensed by his continued use of the term ‘Estates-General’.
Also by his demand that the Estates should continue to meet separately.
How did the 3rd estate representatives show their defiance?
At the end of the session, members refused to leave, openly defiant.
What convinced the king of the need to call in troops to the outskirts of Paris, and how many extra did he call?
Over next days, constant meetings held at Palais-Royal, where orators such as Camille Demoulins stirred up fury against the Court.
Wary of this, and conscious state finances weren’t improving, the king brought in 4800 extra troops to Paris.
How did Louis demonstrate his inability to prevent the National Assembly from being recognised, at least temporarily?
On 27th June, Louis rescinded the orders of the royal session, recognising the national assembly and permitting voting by head.
Why were many deputies nonetheless suspicious of this?
However, few deputies still trusted the king, and steady flow of troops increased their suspicions.
Rumours of lots to arrest deputies, destroy Assembly or cut off grain to starve Paris to submission.
Why did Paris feel very threatened by Louis’ actions?
By 4 July just under 30,000 troops in and around capital.
Many foreign mercenaries, since the king couldn’t rely on loyalty of French troops.
With artillery batteries on high ground over the city, little wonder tensions ran high.
Who was Desmoulins?
Camille Desmoulins (1760-94) had been a lawyer in the Paris Parlement.
Nominated as deputy, but unable to take seat due to illness.
Inspired by political excitement, wrote impassioned articles for Mirabeau’s paper.
Gave impassioned speeches at the palais-royal and wrote radical pamphlets.
Given the nickname ‘The lantern lawyer’ because he advocated hanging nobles from lampposts.
Became a deputy in the National Convention in 1792.
Voted for the king’s execution.
Opposition to the extremes of the terror led to his own execution by guillotines in April 1794.
