The National Assembly (French Revolution: Part 3)

Summary

The video discusses the collapse of the Estates General during the French Revolution, leading the Third Estate to form the National Assembly without the king's consent. They vow to draft a constitution to limit the king's power, sparking tensions with King Louis XVI, who calls in troops but fails to act decisively. The unrest spreads to Paris, culminating in the storming of the Bastille. Grain shortages and rumors of aristocratic plots fuel peasant revolts, prompting the National Assembly to abolish feudal privileges. This chaotic start marks a significant moment in the French Revolution.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Third Estate was frustrated and decided to break away from the Estates-General to form the National Assembly, declaring they represented the nation of France.
• 👑 The National Assembly was formed without the king's permission, and some members of the clergy and nobility joined them while others, like Marquis de Lafayette, waited for the king's approval.
• 🔒 King Louis XVI locked the delegates out of their meeting hall, leading them to gather at a tennis court and swear an oath not to adjourn until a constitution for France was created.
• 🖼️ Jacques-Louis David's painting of the Tennis Court Oath depicts the unity of the three estates, but the portrayal is more energetic than the likely somber reality.
• 🛡️ King Louis XVI reluctantly recognized the National Assembly as the lawmaking body, but simultaneously brought troops to Versailles, which heightened tensions.
• 🌊 The actions at Versailles caused a ripple effect, leading to unrest in Paris, where people feared the troops were meant to suppress them.
• 🗡️ On July 14, 1789, a mob stormed the Bastille, beheaded its commander, and paraded his head on a pole, marking the start of the French Revolution.
• 🌾 A grain shortage in the countryside, compounded by rumors of an aristocratic plot, sparked a massive peasant revolt known as 'The Great Fear.'
• ⚔️ The National Assembly responded to the unrest by passing the August 4th Decrees, which abolished the feudal system and noble privileges like tax exemptions and hunting rights.
• 📜 The National Assembly’s decrees helped quell the peasant revolts by eliminating feudal dues and other oppressive practices associated with the nobility.

Q & A

What was the Third Estate's reaction to the collapse of the Estates-General?

The Third Estate was frustrated and decided to break away, forming the National Assembly, declaring that they represented the nation of France without the king's permission.

Why did some clergy and nobility join the National Assembly?

A few clergy and nobility joined the National Assembly because they were dissatisfied with their privileged status or saw it as an opportunity for change, while others hesitated or awaited the king's permission.

What was the significance of the Tennis Court Oath?

The Tennis Court Oath was a pivotal moment in which the members of the National Assembly vowed not to disband until they had created a constitution for France, marking the beginning of a push to limit the king's power and establish a constitutional government.

How did King Louis XVI respond to the formation of the National Assembly?

Louis XVI reluctantly recognized the National Assembly as the lawmaking body but also secretly brought in troops, contributing to the growing distrust between the Assembly and the monarchy.

What role did the storming of the Bastille play in the French Revolution?

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, became a symbol of rebellion against tyranny. Though only a few prisoners were held there, it marked the start of revolutionary violence and remains a celebrated event in French history.

Why did the people of Paris storm the Bastille?

The people of Paris stormed the Bastille after hearing rumors that prisoners were being killed and out of growing paranoia over the presence of royal troops. They saw the Bastille as a symbol of oppression.

What was the Great Fear in the French countryside?

The Great Fear was a period of panic and peasant revolts in rural France, driven by rumors of an aristocratic plot to starve the population. It led to widespread violence and unrest.

How did the National Assembly address the unrest caused by the Great Fear?

The National Assembly responded to the unrest by issuing the decrees of August 4th, which abolished feudal privileges, including noble tax exemptions and hunting rights, in an effort to calm the peasants and stop the revolts.

What were the decrees of August 4th, and what did they abolish?

The decrees of August 4th abolished several feudal privileges, including noble hunting rights, feudal dues owed by peasants, and tax exemptions for the nobility, effectively ending what was known as 'feudalism.'

How is the French Revolution portrayed differently from the American Revolution in this script?

The French Revolution is portrayed as more chaotic and less dignified compared to the American Revolution, which is depicted as more orderly and 'classy,' though both revolutions sought fundamental political change.