Petition of Women of the Third Estate to the King

While women were not allowed to meet as a group, draft grievances, or vote, some did write down their thoughts. It says that women did not wish to overturn male authority, but simply wanted the education and enlightenment that would make them better workers, wives, and mothers, but most of all, they wanted a voice in the government.

JANUARY-1789
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Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen

The 1st and 2nd Estates feared that the 3rd Estate would break out and revolt against them. Therefore, they surrendered their feudal privileges. Because this document was published while the Frances crisis deepened and civil authority broke down. The economic crises also intensified and bread prices rose which would then lead to women protesting. However, this document was given great attention because it completely excluded women from any of the rights stated in this declaration.

AUGUST-1789
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The Womans March on Versailles

7,000 working-class women marched on Versailles taking with them weapons because there was a lot of bread shortage and the prices were very high. They demanded the King and Queen to go to Paris and reluctantly agreed and were sent to the Tuileries Palace. This event shows how women were a turning on the French Revolution.

OCTOBER-1789

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Womens Petition to the National Assembly

Women proposed a decree to the National Assembly about giving them equal rights like men. However, out of thousands of petitions reviewed by the Assembly, this one was completely ignored. The women who wrote this petition show to be well aware of the document about the rights of men and therefore felt they had the lawful right to equality.

NOVEMBER-1789

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Condorcet Publishes his On Giving Women the Right of Citizenship

In this published article, the rights of women are defender by stating that if right were indeed universal, and women possessed the same qualities as men, then she should rightfully be entitled to the same rights as men.

JULY-1790

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The Constitution of 1791

This document established a limited monarchy, but stated that only male tax-payers could vote which excluded and discriminated women and poor men to vote. This also limited the power of the King, but eventually agreed to it.

SEPTEMBER-1791

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Olympe de Gouge publishes The Declaration of Rights of Women

This document attacked the Declaration of Rights of Man for excluding women and stated specifically the rights women should have which were very much like mens. It also told the Queen, Marie Antoinette, to either work for the Revolution or destroy the monarchy.

SEPTEMBER-1791

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Womens Participation in Riots over the Price of Sugar

Women protested in the streets of France about the price and shortage of sugar and gathered together to oppose greedy merchants who neglected to sell any.

FEBRUARY-1792

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A Deputation of Women Citizens Demands Action on Food Prices Women were rioting over prices in Paris in 1793. They appealed first to the authorities which showed that they intended to communicate directly with the discriminatory government they had. Also, by calling themselves citizens, these women claimed their lawful right to be heard.

FEBRUARY-1793

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Regulations of the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women

Women formed a club called the Society of Revolutionary Republican Women and formed regulations which demonstrated that women wanted to be taken seriously as political participants. This female club mainly taught women how to act and be politicians. This also showed how women also formed their own clubs like men even though they were not yet allowed.

JULY-1793

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Sources: 1) Human Legacy-The French Revolution 2) http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/ 3) http://faculty.unlv.edu/gbrown/hist462/resources/ 4) http://www.hf.rim.or.jp/~kaji/cal/cal.cgi?1793