Discuss the reasons that France became a republic with
reference to the years 1789-1792
1. Original demands of 1789 for reform of the monarchy and a
constitutional system Actions of the National Assembly – most
important
They desired to end the Ancien regime and inaugurate a new
constitutional monarchy because:
o economic conditions
o social unrest and the Great Fear
o influence of the American revolution
o ideas of the Enlightnment
o weak King
Issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
o was described as a ‘solemn declaration of the natural,
inalienable and sacred rights of man’
o Gradual removal of feudalism and the establishment of a
constitutional monarchy
o Meeting on 4th August 1789 concluded with far reaching
social and political pledges from the upper class
o confirmed the end of feudal privileges and laid the foundation
for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy
Political reform:
o France divided into 83 departments and 44,000 communes
o More power given to local governments in order to prevent a
royal takeover
Judicial reform
o Previous courts replaced by a uniform system
o Justices of the Peace in each canton
o Trial by jury
o Torture and mutilation abolished
o Justice free and equal for all
2. Importance of the radical populace in Paris – not most
important
Storming of the Bastille by a Parisian mob
o Destruction of the Bastille marked the end of monarchical
power
o Crowd showed extreme violence when they murdered Launey
and paraded his head on a stick as a sign of the Revolution
Violence in the streets of Paris out of control even for the National
Guards
o eg. October Days when Parisian crowds heard about the King
stamping on the Revolutionary flag
reference to the years 1789-1792
1. Original demands of 1789 for reform of the monarchy and a
constitutional system Actions of the National Assembly – most
important
They desired to end the Ancien regime and inaugurate a new
constitutional monarchy because:
o economic conditions
o social unrest and the Great Fear
o influence of the American revolution
o ideas of the Enlightnment
o weak King
Issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen
o was described as a ‘solemn declaration of the natural,
inalienable and sacred rights of man’
o Gradual removal of feudalism and the establishment of a
constitutional monarchy
o Meeting on 4th August 1789 concluded with far reaching
social and political pledges from the upper class
o confirmed the end of feudal privileges and laid the foundation
for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy
Political reform:
o France divided into 83 departments and 44,000 communes
o More power given to local governments in order to prevent a
royal takeover
Judicial reform
o Previous courts replaced by a uniform system
o Justices of the Peace in each canton
o Trial by jury
o Torture and mutilation abolished
o Justice free and equal for all
2. Importance of the radical populace in Paris – not most
important
Storming of the Bastille by a Parisian mob
o Destruction of the Bastille marked the end of monarchical
power
o Crowd showed extreme violence when they murdered Launey
and paraded his head on a stick as a sign of the Revolution
Violence in the streets of Paris out of control even for the National
Guards
o eg. October Days when Parisian crowds heard about the King
stamping on the Revolutionary flag
