The next morning, the King agreed to accompany the mob back to Paris. He never returned to his palace. The National Assembly followed the King, and Paris was - now the seat of the Revolution, with the Assembly in-dependant of the King and dependant on the populace of Paris. This was the end of autocracy. Revolt spread to the towns, which set up their own officers and National Guard. In the country districts, the houses of nobles and of some of the clergy were attacked and burned. The intendants or local governors left their posts and the royal courts ceased to function.
The National Assembly, in June 1789, began its reforms. Though its convention as the States General had been intended by the King to secure him financial aid, many grievances and reforms were on the agenda. Privilege was now abolished, introducing equal taxation, cessation of tithes to the Church and feudal dues, and the great estates were divided among the peasants, now to be proprietors. "The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" was proclaimed with stress on liberty and equality.
Because the Church was reckoned the ally of auto-cracy, and because its possessions would stay bankruptcy, its lands were confiscated and monasteries and religious establishments suppressed. The measure styled "The Civil Constitution of the Clergy" reduced the number of Bishops and priests, demanding their appointment by the people, under State control and payment, and subtraction from the Church jurisdiction. The clergy were obliged to take an oath of allegiance to this Constitution in 1790. Pope Pius VI forbade the oath under pain of excommunication. Those who refused it lost their salaries, were threatened with prison and later deportation.
The old provinces were reorganised into departments and districts and communes; all local officers were elected by the people, but the King was still supreme ruler, though limited by a Constitution and a legislative assembly. There was still peace and calm in 1790.
Many nobles and clergy emigrated to neighbouring countries and tried to stir up civil war in France and to induce foreign intervention. In June, 1791, the King and Queen Marie Antoinette fled from Paris, but were captured and brought back, to be guillotined later on. Austria and Prussia threatened invasion and France declared war on them in April, 1792; she was ill--equipped but the army and people were enthusiastic, in spite of reverses, In Paris, August 1792, the mob had the King im-prisoned; the government officials ceased to function, and Danton, head of the Paris Commune, became dictator.
The National Assembly, in June 1789, began its reforms. Though its convention as the States General had been intended by the King to secure him financial aid, many grievances and reforms were on the agenda. Privilege was now abolished, introducing equal taxation, cessation of tithes to the Church and feudal dues, and the great estates were divided among the peasants, now to be proprietors. "The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen" was proclaimed with stress on liberty and equality.
Because the Church was reckoned the ally of auto-cracy, and because its possessions would stay bankruptcy, its lands were confiscated and monasteries and religious establishments suppressed. The measure styled "The Civil Constitution of the Clergy" reduced the number of Bishops and priests, demanding their appointment by the people, under State control and payment, and subtraction from the Church jurisdiction. The clergy were obliged to take an oath of allegiance to this Constitution in 1790. Pope Pius VI forbade the oath under pain of excommunication. Those who refused it lost their salaries, were threatened with prison and later deportation.
The old provinces were reorganised into departments and districts and communes; all local officers were elected by the people, but the King was still supreme ruler, though limited by a Constitution and a legislative assembly. There was still peace and calm in 1790.
Many nobles and clergy emigrated to neighbouring countries and tried to stir up civil war in France and to induce foreign intervention. In June, 1791, the King and Queen Marie Antoinette fled from Paris, but were captured and brought back, to be guillotined later on. Austria and Prussia threatened invasion and France declared war on them in April, 1792; she was ill--equipped but the army and people were enthusiastic, in spite of reverses, In Paris, August 1792, the mob had the King im-prisoned; the government officials ceased to function, and Danton, head of the Paris Commune, became dictator.
When Verdun was attacked by the enemy, a wholesale mas¬sacre of royalist supporters and clergy raged. in Paris for the first three days of September. Among the victims of this time were Blessed. Louis Joseph Francois, C.M, and Blessed Henry Gruyer, C,M, Danton assembled a National Convention in Sept-ember, which decreed the abolition of royalty and the inauguration of the French Republic on the 22nd, King Louis XVI was put on trial and condemned by the Conven-tion. Early in 1793, this Convention gave supreme executive authority to a "Committee of Public Safety;" its policy was terrorism in order to secure unity and. destroy any opposition. Its agencies, under the direc¬tion of Robespierre, were the Committee of General Security and Revolutionary Tribunal. It is estimated_ that, during this Terror of 1793 - 94, two thousand five hundred were guillotined in Paris, and ten thousand elsewhere.
Meantime, the war against the foreign enemies was progressing successfully, and the country was clear¬ed of foreign troops. A new Constitution of the Re-public was brought into effect in 1795, giving executive power to the Directory of five members, with two legis¬lative chambers to supplant the National Convention. This was the end of the Revolution in France.
Meantime, the war against the foreign enemies was progressing successfully, and the country was clear¬ed of foreign troops. A new Constitution of the Re-public was brought into effect in 1795, giving executive power to the Directory of five members, with two legis¬lative chambers to supplant the National Convention. This was the end of the Revolution in France.
