Causes of the French Revolution

Olympe de Gouges proposed a voluntary patriotic fund as a way to address the monarchy's financial crisis.

The Committee of Thirty argued for voting by head and maintained that political sovereignty rested with the people.

The Committee of Thirty pressed the Estates General to adopt voting arrangements that strengthened representation of the Third Estate.

Barnave participated in the Dauphine political assembly at Vizille, which pressed for representative reform before the Estates General.

The August Decrees abolished tithes and other privileges, drawing the peasantry more directly into the Revolution.

Beauharnais voted for abolition of privilege, legal equality and equal eligibility for public office during the August reforms.

This record states: The taxes, the feudal dues, all are extinct. the laws are without force, and the magistrates without authority." With the hope of pacifying and encouraging the people, the Assembly, in a fervour of enthusiasm and excitement.

The National Assembly abolished the feudal system and judicial privileges, preparing the way for wider constitutional reforms.

Talleyrand proposed placing church property at the disposal of the nation to address the state's financial crisis.

Strong electoral turnout produces 1,201 delegates, including: "291 nobles, 300 clergy, and 610 members of the 3rd Estate, books of grievances" (cahiers de doleances) are compiled to list problems.

Elections to the Estates General produced 1,201 delegates, while cahiers de doleances recorded grievances and proposed reforms.

Elections are held in the spring of 1789; suffrage requirements for the 3rd Estate are for French-born or naturalised males only, at least 25 years of age, who resided where the vote was to take place and who paid taxes.