As the historian Francois Mignet said; "The assembly had acquired the entire power; the corporations depended on it; the national guards obeyed it... The royal power, though existing of right, was in a measure suspended, since it was not obeyed, and the assembly had to supply its action by its own." This also worked well, as Louis was in no position to demand of the national assembly as he could no longer rely on the army to help him out. The fall of the Bastille is significant in that it is further evidence that the army was abandoning the king.
The revolt in Paris, led to a percentage of the nobles emigrating abroad. Again this showed the failure of the king as it was led by the kings brother, Comte d’Artois who led 20,000 émigrés out of Paris in 2 months. Many went on to join the foreign opponents of the revolution, and the Bastille was a significant trigger for this.
The humiliation of the king, was heard of over many continents, Gouverneur Morris, who became the US ambassador to France, reported to George Washington; “You may consider the revolution to be over, since the authority of the king and the nobles has been utterly destroyed.”
But before the storming of the Bastille even occurred there were significant moments, creating the lead up to the revolution.
The estates general met on the 5th May 1789, it was an attempt by the government to take control of the situation. It was thought that because the 3rd estate deputies, lacked experience and had no prominent leaders, then they would back-up the king if he promised reforms, however the government did not take the initiative to draw up programmes.
All the cahiers had demanded a new constitution; however this was not brought up by Necker who talked about making taxation fairer. The estates general met as three separate groups, however the 3rd estate wanted them all to meet as one, and refused to do anything until the nobles and clergy joined them, this led to weeks of inaction and the governments failure to create any form of leadership.
On the 10th June, the 3rd estate passed a motion that it would begin verifying the deputies’ credentials even if the two other parties refused to join them. A small minority of priests then joined the 3rd estate in the following days.
On the 17th June after a debate the deputies of the 3rd estate voted by 490 to 90 to call themselves the national assembly. It was claiming that as the 3rd estate represented the majority of the population that gave it the right to manage its affairs and decide on taxation. On 19th June the clergy voted to join the 3rd estate, showing that things were escalating on such a sale out of control of the government. Both of these were hugely significant events
Another pronounced event occurring before the storming of the Bastille, was The Tennis Court Oath. The aim of this was to directly challenge the authority of the king, who was at last made to act. On the 23rd June the king decided to hold a séance royale (a session of the estates general in the presence of the king), attended by all three estates. On 20th June the hall in which the 3rd estate normally met had been closed to prepare for the séance royale, this angered them as they had not being informed of the closure. They chose their place of meeting therefore on a Tennis Court nearby, and took an oath; not to disperse until they had given France a constitution. They also claimed that the king did not have the right to dissolve them. This underlined the fact that the 3rd party was becoming stronger, more independent, and confident. And the strain in the kings power was beginning to show, as he was prepared to propose a series of reforms. The Tennis Court Oath is another very significant event in 1789.
On the 3rd August, the period known as the August decrees began. It is said that the decrees started the dismantling of the Ancien Regime, although after this period ended there was still a lot to be done, it marked the end of noble power and the privilege of birth. It had been established that all Frenchmen had the same rights and duties, could enter any profession according to their ability and would all pay the same taxes. Equal rights were a huge step forward to the constitution in France. The August decrees had swept away institutions such as; provincial estates, and made way for national, uniform system of administration. However it was a huge task in front of the Assembly and would take about 2 years to replace; institutions, law, finance, the church and the armed forces.
The main changes which occurred during the period of the August Decrees were as follows; tithes abolished, financial & tax privileges connected to land or persons abolished, all citizens taxed equally, special privileges abolished, all citizens without distinction of birth were eligible for all offices. The French society would never be the same again; the old society of orders and privilege had gone.
The August Decrees prepared the ground for the creation of the constitution. One of the most important pieces of paperwork created in this period, was ‘The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.’ it condemned the Ancien regime and outlined the rights of citizens as outlined in the cahiers. The declaration was later attached to the constitution, and became an inspiration to Europe in the 19th century. Showing that the events started by the Bastille were significant not just in 1789, and in France but across time and other countries.
A historian, George Rude said about the declaration; ‘….it sounded the death-knell of the Ancien regime, while preparing the public for the constructive legislation that was to follow.’ I think this quote summarises actually how significant the August decrees was to the revolution in France.
Finally I would like to mention the October Days, and this is where I can include the source picture shown above. The painting (by an unknown painter) shows a crowd of women carrying weapons and with a cannon. The print is to mark an event on the 5th October 1789, when a crowd of women stormed the hotel de Ville, the headquarters of the commune, demanding bread. They were persuaded to march to Versailles to see the king. 6000/7000 took up the challenge and set off on the 5-hour march. When reaching Versailles the women invaded the assembly and sent a deputation to the king who promise Paris grain.
On this day Louis also agreed to the August Decrees, which meant he was subordinate to the laws, his subjects were made into ordinary citizens. The assembly issued a decree changing Louis’ title from; “King of France and Navarre,” to “Louis, by the grace of God and the constitutional law of state, king of the French.”
“The storming of the Bastille was the most significant event in 1789.” In conclusion, I agree with the statement. However I believe that all the events that occurred after the Bastille were equally as significant; if it wasn’t for the first event then none of the others would have followed. However today people recognise the Bastille as being the most significant as French people still celebrate the 14th July.
