The document summarizes the key events and reforms of the early French Revolution from 1789 to 1791. It discusses the challenges faced in creating a new post-revolutionary society and analyzes the nature of the society created. Some of the major reforms included abolishing feudal privileges and dues, declaring equal rights and liberties for all citizens, simplifying the legal system, establishing a democratic national assembly, and passing economic reforms like the Le Chapelier Law which banned trade unions. However, the revolution did not fully achieve the aims of peasants as many feudal taxes remained, and tensions continued over the extent to which the old order had been overthrown.

1. Creating a New Society - AOS 2
Analysing the challenges facing the merging new order, and the way in
which attempts were made to create a new society, and evaluate the
nature of the society created by the revolution.
Monday, 17 March 14

2. Prior events leading up to this point.....
• June 20th - Tennis Court Oath
• June 23rd - Royal Session: King announces that the National Assembly was ‘illegal’ and that the
estates shall meet separately unless eh permitted them to meet together.
• National Assembly refuses to disassemble
• 24th June - Soldiers sent to deny National Assembly entry to the meeting hall revolted against the
king and joined the Assembly instead.
• June 25th - Many others joined the Assembly
• King crumbles and and agrees top let the estates meet in common and to vote by head. Now it
seems that the people will have their say.
• King blames failure of compliance of the people on Neck and fires him.
• King sends troops to Paris
• Storming of the Bastille (14th July)
• 23rd of July - Murders of Bertier de Sauvigny and Foulon (intendant of Paris and King’s ministers)
• Night of the 4th August - What to do? How to move forward? Auction off rights. Noblemen rose to
volunteer to forfeit their rights. i.e. hunting rights, tithes. Equal taxation agreed to.
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3. Now into the next stage of
the Revolution......
How do you move forward from this point?
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4. The August Decrees 5 - 11th August 1789
Liberty, Equality and popular sovereignty were to replace old
structure.
Power now in hands of National Assembly - Monarchy to
remain, though not absolute
Original aims of National Assembly now met - no desire to
revolt?
Robespierre “The Revolution is finished”
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5. Was everyone happy?
For the peasants? Were their aims met?
Harvest dues NOT abolished
tithes remain
impossible “payouts” required for land
Many peasants believed that feudalism had been abolished absolutely,
but in fact many of the former seigneurial dues had to be redeemed or
paid out. Other feudal taxes were to remain in place until the taxation
system could be reformed. Many peasants stopped paying taxes from
this time.
Monday, 17 March 14

6. Historians Views
Historians’ Views:
1) Class reading p 95-96 “Liberating France”
2) Class discussion - who were the sans-culottes?
Discussion:
What is the opinion of Historian’s?
Who were the Sans-Culottes?
What significance to they have to the revolution?
Monday, 17 March 14

7. The National Constituent Assembly
So far what has the National
Assembly achieved? Is this
what they aimed? Have they
been successful?
Achievements
(5th August 1789)
privileges
removed
feudal dues
abandoned
serfdom
abolished
seigneurial dues
abandoned
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8. What is the significance of a document such
as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and
the Citizen? What does it symbolise?
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9. Monday, 17 March 14

10. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen
Like a Bill of Rights
Clear defined rights of all people not just the Clergy.
Ends the war on social class/divide?
Is the revolution over?
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11. Revolutionary Journée’s
What is a revolutionary Journée?
1st revolutionary Journée was the storming of the
Bastille......
We now move into the 2nd revolutionary Journée.....
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12. October Days (second revolutionary Journée)
Women’s march
Fundamental principles -October 1 1789
Doubts of King’s acceptance of the Revolution
Decree on Martial Law - Mirabeau
October 1:
King no longer had absolute power.
National Assembly became like a
democratic law making body
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13. Reforms
Military Economic
*Judiciary simplified
*Replacement of the
seigneurial court
*Introduced juries for
criminal cases
*Eliminated torture
*Rationality and equality
main theme
*Open army to all people
*Pay increase for common
soldiers
*Tricolour flag - national
flag
*31st October 1790 all
taxes abolished
*Introduced simple tariff
on imports and exports
*Attempts to introduce
uniform weights and
measures
Law
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14. Le Chapelier Law
14 June 1791
NB Guilds ~ Practitioners of a given craft that determine
the price of goods to sell, number released to sale etc.
Basically had complete power over the distribution of
goods
The Le Chapelier Law abolished all associations of workman and
employers (effectively banning trade unions and the right to strike)
This freed up the trade market - ‘economic liberalism’ (McPhee)
More supporting of employers over employees in the long run.
Le Chapelier Law:
What was the purpose of Le Chapelier Law?
Was it successful?
Monday, 17 March 14