Legislative Assembly (France)

During the French Revolution, the Legislative Assembly was the legislature of France from 1 October 1791 to September 1792. It provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary law-making between the periods of the National Constituent Assembly and of the National Convention.

Election of the Legislative Assembly

Despite a limited franchise, the elections of 1791 brought in a legislature which -- perhaps even disproportionately to the will of the country -- desired to carry the Revolution further. Prominent among this legislature were the Jacobin Club and its affiliated societies throughout France.

Related Topics:
Jacobin Club - France

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Legislative Assembly first met on 1 October 1791. It consisted of 745 members, mostly from the middle class. The members were generally young, and, since none had sat in the previous Assembly, they largely lacked national political experience.

Related Topics:
1 October - Middle class

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Right consisted of about 165 "Feuillants", guided chiefly by persons outside the House, because incapable of re-election. The Left, generally dominant during this period, consisted of about 330 "Jacobins", a term which still included the party afterwards known as the Girondins or Girondists. The Left as a whole was openly anti-émigré and anticlerical. They also generally, although often not openly, favored a republic. In these views, they were was reinforced by the less privileged classes in Paris and throughout France. The remainder of the House, about 250 deputies, generally belonged to no definite party. The king's ministers, named by him and excluded from the Assembly, are described by the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica as "mostly persons of little mark."

Related Topics:
Right - Feuillant - Left - Jacobin - Girondin - Anticlerical - Republic - 1911 ''Encyclopaedia Britannica''

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~