The stages of the French Revolution

National Constituent Assembly (1789-1791):

The National Constituent Assembly was dominated by leaders of the Third Estate. The
idea of absolutism is replaced by the concept of national sovereignty which affirms that
the government power is legitimized by the people.
The achievements of the National Constituent Assembly were:
 The Declaration of the Rights of men and of the citizen that was enacted on
August 26th in 1789. It declared the equality of treatment of all citizens and that
property was a natural right as well as liberty, security and freedom of speech.
Religious toleration and liberty of press were held to be inviolable.
 Based on the declaration of the rights of men and of the citizen, a constitution
was enacted in 1791 which established a constitutional monarchy, the
separations of powers and the system for the election of a new Legislative
assembly. The privilege of voting was restricted to those who could pay a direct
tax equal to three days wages, while eligibility was limited to citizens of
comparative wealth.
 The Feudalism benefits (hunting privileges, serfdom and exemption from
taxation) were eliminated as a result of “Le Grand Peur” (The great fear). It was
a period of panic and riot by peasants that rose against their lords.
 The secularization of the church was a resolution taken in order to use the
church´s lands to finance the economic crisis. The civil constitution of the clergy
was enacted in 1790, providing that all members of the church should be elected
by the authority of the state. They were required to swear alliance to the
legislation.
 The National Constituent Assembly restructured the territorial organization into
departments and rearranged justice.
Legislative Assembly (1791- 1792):
Some historians like Lacomba Abellan consider the Legislative Assembly as a separate
stage from the National Constituent Assembly. When king Louis XVI was captured
trying to escape at Varennes on June in 1791, the Legislative Assembly voted to
suspend the king and ordered a new election. The Assembly suffered the opposition
from the European monarchies like Austria and Prussia.
National Convention (1792-1795)
The National Convention represented the first French Republic and was composed by
749 deputies from three different factions: Girondins, Jacobins and the Plain. The
national convention was supposed to draft a new constitution and then surrender its
authority to a regular government. But it prolonged its power from year to year. The
government of the National Convention had three distinct periods:
 a- The Girondins (September 1792- May 1793): This faction was republican
but not extreme democrat. They believed in a decentralized government
Louis XVI was brought to trial on charges of plotting with foreign enemies
of the revolution and was beheaded on January 21st in 1793. France was in
war against the coalition between Austria and Prussia.
The rose of “La Vendèe” rebellion, which was a civil conflict, marked the
fall of the Girondins
b- The Montagnards or Jacobins (May 1793- July 1794): The revolution
became democratic. The Jacobins used the Sans- Culottes’ force to destroy
the Girondins government. This faction was radical and proposed a
centralized power.
Maximilien Robespierre ruled the National Convention and the Committee
of Public Service. This period is known as “The Terror” because every
person who had been identified in any way with the bourbon dynasty or with
the Girondins was seen as an enemy and could be beheaded. For example,
Maria Antoinette was beheaded.
On the other hand, the Jacobins government also had significant
accomplishments such as the abolition of slavery in the colonies, the
establishment of the metric system of weights and mesearus. Also a new
calendar was adopted dating the year from the birth of the republic.
A republican and democratic constitution was enacted in 1793.
c- Thermidoran Reaction (July 1794- October 1795): This faction was
moderated. As they inclined toward increasing conservatism, it was possible
the return of priests, royalists and emigres from abroad. During this period
Jacobins and sans culottes were proscribed and the Committee of Public
Safety was shorn of its despotic powers. The conservative bourgeoisie and
the army formed an alliance. The National Convention signed a treaty with
Prussia, Spain and Austria in 1795 which led to the transition to a new kind
of government.

Directory (October 1795- November 1799):

The Constitution of the year III vested the executive authority in a board of five men
known as the Directory. It also organises the legislative body into two houses: a lower
house or Council of five hundred and a Senate or Council of Ancients.
The opposition to this government was formed by the Jacobins, the realists and the
members of the movement called “The Equals of Babeuf” who were repressed. Due to
these civil riots the army began to have more power and importance. The wars against
the European monarchies continued and the figure of Napoleon Bonaparte began to
grown due to his military victories.
The government instability (financial crisis and corruption) and the external danger led
to the coup d’état of Napoleon Bonaparte on 18 Brumaire that established the Consulate
with him as the main member.
Bibliography: Lacomba Abellan J.A “Historia Contemporánea: De las Revoluciones
burguesas a 1914”, capitulo 3 “La Revolución francesa”