300 representatives from first and second estates each were seated in rows facing each other while 600 members of third estate sat at the back.

Each estate had one vote but the members of the third estate demanded rights for individual voting, where each member of the estate would have one vote. However, the king rejected their demands and they walked out of the assembly in protest.

On 20 June, the representatives of third estate assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis court in Versailles and declared themselves a National Assembly. They drafted a constitution for France to limit the powers of the monarch.

On 4th August, 1789, France passed the law for abolishing the feudal system of taxes.

The members of clergy we forced to give up their privileges, tithes were abolished and the lands which were owned by church were confiscated.

After the completion of draft of the constitution by the National Assembly, the powers were now assigned to different institutions - legislature, executive and judiciary, which therefore made France a constitutional monarchy.

The power of making laws was given to the National Assembly by the constitution.

The National Assembly was elected by a group of electors, chosen by active citizens

Active citizens included men above 25 years of age who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer's wage.

The remaining men and women were classified as passive citizens who did not have any voting rights.

The time period from 1793 to 1794 is known as the Reign of Terror as Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.

All those who did go along with his methods were arrested, imprisoned and guillotined.

Robespierre's government issued laws for placing a maximum ceiling on wages and prices.

Churches were shut down and the buildings were transformed into offices. Robespierre followed his policies so harshly that even his own supporters began to demand moderation.

He was convicted by a court in July, 1974, arrested and then guillotined the next day.

From the very beginning, women were active participants in the events which brought a number of significant changes in the French society.

Women from the third estate had to work for a living and they also didn’t have any access to education or job training.

Working women even had to take care of their families. As compared to men, their wages were also lower.

In order to debate and express their interests, women started their own political clubs and newspapers.

About sixty women’s clubs were formed in different French cities. The Society of Revolutionary and Republican Women was the foremost famous among them.

In April 1972, The National Assembly chose to declare war on Prussia and Austria.

The revolutionary wars lead to losses and economic problems to the people.

Political clubs became the significant rallying point for people who wanted to talk about government policies and plan their own forms of action . The Jacobins were the most famous among these clubs.

They attacked the royal family palace, killed the guards and held the royal family captive. Later on the assembly decided to imprison them.

Elections were held to make a new assembly. The assembly which was elected was called Convention. On 21 September 1792, it put an end to the monarchy and declared France as a republic.

There was a triangular slave trade among Europe, Africa and America.

There was little criticism of slavery in France in the 18th century.

No laws were passed against it.

In 1794, The convention made free to all slaves.

However, Napoleon reintroduced the concept of slavery 10 years later.

It was finally in 1848 that slavery was abolished in the french society.