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The Establishment of the French Constitutional Monarchy

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The French Constitutional Monarchy's establishment marked a shift from absolutism to a constitution-based rule. Key events included the financial crisis under King Louis XVI, the formation of the National Assembly, the Tennis Court Oath, and the adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Man. The Constitution of 1791 and the Legislative Assembly's role in advancing reforms are also discussed, leading to the monarchy's downfall and the First French Republic's proclamation.

The Establishment of the French Constitutional Monarchy

The establishment of the French Constitutional Monarchy represented a profound transition from the absolutist rule of the monarchy to a system governed by a constitution. The financial crisis that plagued King Louis XVI's reign reached a climax when the French Treasury ceased payments on 16 August 1789, effectively declaring the state bankrupt. This fiscal emergency compelled the king to summon the Estates-General on 5 May 1789, an assembly representing the three traditional estates of the realm. The Third Estate's subsequent self-proclamation as the National Assembly on 17 June 1789 marked a decisive step towards curtailing the monarch's authority. The Tennis Court Oath, taken by the Assembly on 20 June 1789, underscored their determination to draft a new constitution. The transformation of the National Assembly into the National Constituent Assembly on 9 July 1789, coupled with the symbolic storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789, were pivotal events that hastened the transition to a constitutional monarchy.
Late 18th-century French scene with people in period attire listening to a man reading a parchment, set against historic buildings and a lush tree.

The Formation of the National Assembly and the Tennis Court Oath

The National Assembly was born out of a financial crisis and the Third Estate's quest for equitable representation. The Third Estate's demand for a voting system based on headcount, rather than the traditional estate-based system that favored the First and Second Estates, was a democratic move that challenged the status quo. When King Louis XVI closed their meeting place, the Assembly members reconvened in a nearby tennis court, where they took the historic Tennis Court Oath, vowing not to disperse until France had a written constitution. This act of defiance against royal authority was a clear statement of their resolve to establish a constitutional government.

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00

Financial crisis date halting French Treasury payments

16 August 1789, marked fiscal emergency leading to state bankruptcy.

01

Significance of summoning the Estates-General

5 May 1789, King Louis XVI called assembly due to financial crisis, pivotal in political transformation.

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Transformation of the Third Estate into National Assembly

17 June 1789, Third Estate self-proclaimed as National Assembly, challenging monarch's authority.

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