- National Constituent Assembly: The Estates-General transformed itself into the National Constituent Assembly, declaring itself the sovereign representative body of the French nation. Its initial goal was to draft a constitution for France.
- Oath at the Tennis Court (June 17, 1789): Members of the National Constituent Assembly took the Tennis Court Oath, pledging not to separate until a new constitution was established. This symbolized the determination of the revolutionaries to bring about significant changes.
- Fall of the Bastille (July 14, 1789): A mob stormed and captured the Bastille, a symbol of royal authority and oppression. This event marked the first major victory of the revolutionaries and set in motion a wave of popular uprisings throughout France.
- Great Fear (Grande Peur): A wave of panic and peasant revolts spread throughout France in the summer of 1789. Peasants attacked feudal estates and destroyed manorial records, symbolizing their opposition to feudal privileges and their desire for social equality.
- Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (August 1789): The National Constituent Assembly adopted this document, which outlined fundamental principles such as liberty, equality, fraternity, and the sovereignty of the people. It aimed to establish these ideals as the foundation for the new French society.
- End of Feudalism: The National Constituent Assembly passed a series of decrees that abolished feudalism, including the August Decrees, which eliminated feudal privileges and serfdom. This marked a significant step toward social and legal equality in France.
- Separation of Church and State: The National Constituent Assembly also took measures to weaken the power of the Catholic Church. Church lands were confiscated, and the clergy was subjected to state control. This led to tensions between the revolutionary government and the Catholic Church.
- Civil Constitution of the Clergy: This law passed in 1790 reorganized the Catholic Church in France, requiring priests to take an oath of loyalty to the state. Many clergy members resisted this, deepening the conflict between the Church and the revolution.