Desire for Constitutional Government

The desire for constitutional government during the French Revolution was significantly driven by growing discontent with the absolute monarchy and the Ancien Régime (the political and social system in place before the Revolution). The French society faced increasing inequality, particularly evident in the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and nobility (First and Second Estates) compared to the burdens borne by the common people (Third Estate).

The Estates-General, convened on 5 May 1789 by King Louis XVI, opened the door for political change and provided a platform for the Third Estate to voice their demands for more representation and fairer taxation. The Third Estate's grievances were documented in the Cahiers de Doléances (notebooks of complaints), which included calls for a constitutional government that would limit the king's power and guarantee individual rights.

Tensions escalated when the representatives of the Third Estate declared themselves the National Assembly on 17 June 1789. Their intention was to draft a constitution for France, leading to the Tennis Court Oath on 20 June 1789 (where they vowed not to disband until a constitution was established). This act signaled a break from the previous autocratic rule and a move towards a more participative form of governance.

The storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 symbolized the widespread frustration with the existing regime and marked a critical step in the Revolution. Shortly after, on 26 August 1789, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted by the National Assembly. This document laid the groundwork for constitutional government by affirming principles such as liberty, equality, and fraternity; it also proclaimed that sovereignty resided in the people rather than the monarch.

The shift towards a constitutional government continued with the drafting of the Constitution of 1791, which was completed on 3 September 1791. This new constitution established a constitutional monarchy, reducing the king's powers and introducing a legislative body elected by property-owning male citizens. Although short-lived, this move was a significant departure from absolute monarchy, signaling an important development in the quest for democratic governance in France.

The trajectory towards constitutional government was neither smooth nor unchallenged. The radical phase of the Revolution (culminating in the Reign of Terror led by the Committee of Public Safety) highlighted both the potential and the perils of rapid political change. The execution of King Louis XVI on 21 January 1793 and the subsequent rise of the Republic showcased the fluctuating nature of the period's political landscape.

Despite the eventual rise of Napoleon Bonaparte and his establishment of the Consulate in 1799 (marking a return to a more authoritarian regime), the desire and efforts for a constitutional government during the Revolution left a lasting impact. The principles and ideas born out of this tumultuous period continued to influence French and global political thought in the centuries to follow.

• The desire for constitutional government during the French Revolution stemmed from Enlightenment ideas (which emphasized reason and individual rights), inspiring many revolutionaries to seek a system that limited the power of the monarchy.
• The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was adopted on 26 August 1789; it reflected a revolutionary demand for a constitutional framework that protected individual freedoms and aimed to ensure equality before the law.
• The initial constitutional phase, known as the Legislative Assembly (1791-1792), faced significant challenges, including internal divisions and external threats from monarchies that were alarmed by the revolutionary ideas spreading across Europe.
• The 1791 Constitution was France's first attempt at a constitutional monarchy; however, it ultimately failed due to ongoing political instability and public dissatisfaction with King Louis XVI (who tried to escape the country but was caught).
• As the revolution progressed, the desire for a constitutional government shifted from a moderate request to one for more radical change, leading to the eventual rise of the French Republic in 1792 that abolished the monarchy altogether.