General Assembly

The General Assembly, also known as the Estates-General (États Généraux), was a representative assembly in pre-revolutionary France. It comprised three estates: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the commoners (Third Estate). This assembly was called by King Louis XVI on 5 May 1789 in response to the financial crisis and widespread discontent among the French populace.

Within the General Assembly, each estate had one vote, which often led to tensions. The privileged First and Second Estates generally voted together, often overpowering the Third Estate despite its population majority. Frustrated by this inequity, the Third Estate (representing roughly 98% of the population) demanded more influence. On 17 June 1789, the Third Estate declared itself the National Assembly (Assemblée nationale). This bold move marked a turning point as it represented the collective will of the common people.

The situation escalated when the National Assembly members found their meeting hall locked on 20 June 1789. They relocated to a nearby tennis court, where they took the Tennis Court Oath (Serment du Jeu de Paume), vowing not to disband until a new constitution was established. This act of defiance further intensified the revolutionary fervor.

The General Assembly played a significant role in the early stages of the French Revolution by initiating discussions on fiscal reforms and greater representation. However, continual conflicts and the eventual formation of the National Assembly overshadowed its influence. Key figures in the General Assembly included Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès, who advocated for the Third Estate's demands, and Jacques Necker, the king's finance minister, who attempted reforms to address the economic crisis.

Subsequently, the National Assembly began implementing significant changes, such as the abolition of feudal privileges (4 August 1789) and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (26 August 1789). These reforms aimed to dismantle the ancien régime (the old political and social system of France) and replace it with principles of equality and citizen representation.

In essence, the General Assembly's convening and the subsequent rise of the National Assembly were crucial in setting the stage for widespread revolutionary changes. These events highlighted the demands of the French people for better representation and equality, laying the groundwork for the transformative events that defined the French Revolution.

• The General Assembly was established on 17 June 1789, when the Third Estate (representing the common people) declared itself the National Assembly, marking a pivotal shift in the power dynamics of France; this bold move signaled the beginning of the end for absolute monarchy.
• During its deliberations, the National Assembly famously took the Tennis Court Oath on 20 June 1789, vowing not to disband until a new constitution was established; this event showcased the determination of the representatives to reform the governmental system.
• The National Assembly was responsible for the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen on 26 August 1789, a fundamental document that laid out individual rights and the principles of popular sovereignty; it is regarded as one of the cornerstones of modern democracy.
• Racial and social inequalities were addressed by the National Assembly's efforts to abolish feudal privileges; on 4 August 1789, members agreed to the elimination of serfdom and feudal rights, which marked a significant turn towards equality, albeit in a tumultuous revolutionary atmosphere.
• Notably, the General Assembly operated amidst the constant threat of external and internal opposition, with fears of royalist counter-revolutions influencing debates; these tensions often fueled radical decisions that further escalated the revolution's intensity.