The Abolition of the Feudal System in France Essay

In 1789, thousands of starving peasants abandoned the lands of their ancestors as the price of bread rose to eighty percent of the average peasant’s income (Kreis). Blazing buildings marked the path they took to the source of their woes in Paris. They attacked any food cart they passed. The outline of their skeleton could be seen from under their filthy, thread-bare clothing. Their impoverished condition had reached its climax. Their desperation led them to action. They over took the largest fortress in France, the Bastille, in search of weapons. Members of the Bourgeoisie had formed the National Assembly three weeks prior to the storming of the Bastille to begin to address the grievances of the peasants (Dabney). On August 4, the†¦show more content†¦The second decree demanded that all pigeon-houses be controlled by the citizens, allowing them to determine when the pigeons should be locked up and when they should be hunted (Roberts). Logically, the abolition of the â€Å"right to hunt and to maintain unenclosed warrens† followed (Roberts). The lord’s game stock, deer, rabbits, and other animals, continuously destroyed thousands of pounds of crops. In three years, the deer at Farcy ruined all but twenty of originally 500 peach trees planted there (Aveling). However, it was against the law for farmers to protect their fields by killing in the royal forests. The extremely harsh punishments for poaching started with hands being cut off and ended with death. Yet, some were desperate enough to take the risk for a small bowl of rabbit stew. The third decree forbade anyone, including lords, from hunting on any lands other than their own (Roberts). Royal forests and hunting rights were dissolved. The Assembly also promised to ask the King to pardon anyone guilty of poaching. With this rule, hunger rapidly decreased among the poor. The lower classes were as poverty-stricken as the French court was luxurious. 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