Women's March on Versailles

Women's March on Versailles (October 5, 1789) Women of France unite! In this article we will learn about the female led march on Versailles that turned the tables in favor of the people during the French Revolution. …But first, some background knowledge The French Revolution (1789-1799) was a coup against the French monarchy under the reign of King Louis XVI. France was on the brink of financial destruction due to costly expenditures of King Louis XVI. The consequences of these spendings fell on the shoulders of the French people, who dealt with famine, dwindling resources, and high taxes that took more money from what little they had. There was also a growing divide between the Third Estate and the Second Estate of France, as the Second Estate as well as the French monarchy continued to accumulate power and money over the Third estate, and exploited them. The people of France decided it was time for change in the country and in the government, thus sparking the idea for revolution. Leading up to the March The People of France were fearing the worst for their country. The French commoners were being imposed with heavy taxes and faced with the threat of famine. Rumors began to spread of a possible plot by the upper class of France to withhold grain and food from the poor, and destroy wheat crops to force starvation of the common citizens. In the days leading up to the march, plans for an uprising amongst the second estate were in the works, following the events of October 1, that led to outrage amongst the public. On the day of October 1, the Officers for the Palace held a royal banquet for newly appointed officers. The event, it was said, was lavish, extravagant, and excessive. Members attending the party became rowdy and embarked on a drunken escapade where they stamped on the tricolor cockade, the symbol of the French Revolution, and pledged their allegiance to the white cockade of the House of Bourbon. This sparked outrage from the French people, especially supporters of the French revolution who felt disrespected by the lavish party, and the actions of its guests. It was time to make their voices heard. Tricolor cockade: The tricolor cockade was the symbol for the French Revolution. People would wear the symbol on the hats and coats to show their support for the revolution. It is also believed the three colors of the cockade represent the three estates of France The House of Bourbon: The House of Bourbon was a branch of the French Dynasty that were the first rulers of france. Their symbol was the white cockade The assembling of women It was the women of France who assembled and carried out the march on Versailles. Women were particularly upset by the rise in prices for goods and especially grain. They were the frequent buyers of goods in the markets, as they were needed to provide food for their families. The march on Versailles On October 5, 1789, a group of women gathered at the eastern sector of the Parisian markets. Marked by the sound of a nearby church bell, they embarked on their march through the markets. Many were armed with guns, kitchen knives, and makeshift weapons. Their members accumulated as they reached city hall, with men now joining their plight. By the time they reached Versailles, the crowd had reached thousands of members. When they reached the palace, the National Assembly met them there. A man named Stanislas- Marie Malliard who had unofficially been appointed the leader of the march was invited by the assembly to speak on the behalf of the people. The members of the march grew tired as they waited in rain and hunger for a decision. It was eventually decided that the reasoning behind the protest was for the demand for food to be met. Six women were allowed in the palace to see the king, where they told him of the hardships they faced and what was needed by the people. The meeting went apparently well, as King Louis XVI promised food for the people provided by the royal family. It seemed that in one day, their needs had been met. National Assembly (National Constituent Assembly): The National Assembly was a group of officials who advocated on behalf of the French people to the monarchy.Their main goal was to enact a constitution that ensured the rights of the French people. It would later end in 1791, when France became a constitutional Monarchy Stanislas- Marie Malliard: Was a former member of the French National Guard who led the attack on Bastille. Though seemingly respected, his role in the Women’s March on Versailles is believed to be exaggerated. Later that day Despite the demands of the people seemingly having been solved, others had felt that the fight was about more than the need for food. They wanted their taxes and prices of goods lowered, and to stop the exploitation of the Third Estate by the upper class. Deciding that the fight wasn’t over, a few protesters found a small gate into the palace that was unguarded. Once inside, they had an altercation with palace guards that led to one member of the march being shot. This ignited another fight that did end relatively quickly. Later King Louis XVI would address the marchers, and upon his appearance someone shouted “Vive le Roi” (“long live the king”) which seemingly declared the people’s alliance to the throne and to the king. The crowd demanded that the king come back to Paris with them, and at 1:00 the next day, the crowd guided the King and the other members of the royal family back to Paris, accompanied of course by hundreds of officers and members of the National Guard. Impact of the March After bringing King Louis XVI back to Paris, members of the revolution continued to drive their demands for a better, fairer France. The tables were turning in the favor of the people, who were fighting to take control of the government. Success of the march ● They successfully removed any power of the monarchy out of the National Assembly. This weakened the hold of King Louis on France. ● In the wake of the people’s newfound power, members of nobility also began to lose their stronghold on the people, some of them receding their power all together. ● This also encouraged more voices to stand up and represent France, including Maximilien Robespierre, who continued to fight for the rights of the French people . It is most important to note however, that the main heroes in this fight were the women who successfully carried out this march. They became known as the “Mothers of the Nation” and were respected by the French people.