HISTORY 5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Tennis Court Oath, Absolute Monarchy, Bourgeoisie
Document Summary
1791: 1st 10 amendments to the constitution: religion, speech, press, assembly; right to bear arms; equality before the law, fair trial; no cruel & unusual punishment, etc. Madison argued the bill was superfluous, that the constitution covered it all. But in times of crisis, real or imagined, while these rights were violated by the federal gov"t, they were still on the law books. They also have become well established in the minds of american people. Having rights v exercising them: use them for grievances or they are worthless . The old regime & the revolution in france. Full awareness on all sides of significance of the american rev . Old regime: absolutist monarchy; divine right to rule; typified by louis xiv (1638- The estate system: 1st clergy, 2nd aristocracy, 3rd the rest (peasants, urban dwellers, merchants, professionals) - the vast majority.
