The financial condition in France was in a pitiable state. Louis had almost bankrupted France with a 3 million livre debt. Louis XVI wanted to impose more taxes.
1789, Louis XVI called together an assembly of the Estates General to pass proposals for new taxes.
The first and second estates sent 300 representatives each.
The third estate 600 members. The third estate was represented by educated members.
Voting is estate general has been conducted as according to past principle of each state – one vote but members of 3 - estate demanded for each member one vote philosophy.
Due to rejection, they walked out of assembly in protest after this, they declared themselves a national assembly and drafted a constitution for France to limit powers of monarch, which was led by Mirabeau (a noble) and Abbe Sieye’s (a priest).
The members of the third estate gathered and declared themselves as the National Assembly and decided to draft a constitution that would limit the powers of the King.
France Becomes a Constitutional Monarchy
The National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution in 1791.
Its main object was to limit the powers of the monarch.
These powers instead of being concentrated in the hands of one person,were now separated and assigned to different institutions ñ the legislature, executive and judiciary.
This made France a constitutional monarchy.
Only men who were older than 25 years and who paid taxes were allowed to vote. The constitution commenced with the Declaration of the Rights of Man.
It stated that the right to life, to freedom of speech, to freedom of opinion and to equality before the law were intrinsic to all human beings.
