Decree in the Context of French Revolution

A decree is an official order issued by a legal authority. During the French Revolution, decrees were issued by the National Assembly to initiate wide-ranging political and social reforms. On the night of August 4, 1789, the Assembly passed a decree abolishing the feudal system of obligations and taxes. This decree was a significant moment in the French Revolution, as it marked the end of the feudal social order and paved the way for a new social and political system based on equality and democracy.

Abolishing the Feudal System

The feudal system was a complex social and economic hierarchy that had existed in France for centuries. Under this system, the nobility owned vast estates and collected taxes and other obligations from the peasants who worked on their land. The peasants were bound to their lords by a range of obligations, including labor services, rent payments, and other forms of tribute. This system was deeply unpopular among the French people, who resented the privileges of the nobility and the burdensome taxes and obligations they were forced to pay.

The Assembly's Decree

The Assembly's decree abolished the feudal system of obligations and taxes, declaring that all forms of feudalism were "contrary to the principles of liberty and equality." The decree abolished all the legal privileges of the nobility and declared that all French citizens were equal before the law. This meant that the peasants were no longer bound to their lords by obligations and taxes, and the nobility no longer had the legal right to collect these payments.

Impact of the Decree

The decree had a profound impact on French society, as it marked the end of the old feudal order and the beginning of a new era of equality and democracy. The peasants were freed from their obligations and taxes, and the nobility lost many of their privileges and legal rights. The decree was also a significant step towards the creation of a modern, centralized state, as it abolished many of the traditional local powers and authorities that had existed under the feudal system. Overall, the decree was a crucial moment in the French Revolution, as it symbolized the triumph of the principles of liberty, equality, and democracy over the old order of feudalism and privilege.