The Abolition of Feudalism

What happened

As peasant revolts swept the countryside, the National Assembly met in a dramatic all-night session on 4 August 1789. One noble deputy after another rose to renounce his privileges, and in a series of decrees the Assembly abolished the feudal system, seigneurial dues, and the tax exemptions of the nobility and clergy — though many dues were, on paper, to be bought out rather than simply cancelled.

Why it matters

The August Decrees dismantled the legal foundations of the Ancien Régime in a single night, proclaiming in principle that all citizens should be equal before the law.

Sources

• World History Encyclopedia. August Decrees · Reputable source