By 1789 the French monarchy was nearly powerless and, for all intensive purposes, the National Assembly was the current government of France. Maximilien Robespierre encouraged the people of the Third Estate to take action, resulting in such events as the storming of the Bastille in Paris and in acts of violence out in the French countryside. The vast majority of the French population supported Robespierre's efforts. His popularity grew further as he gave speeches to the public about the issues of French society, such as suffrage and equal rights for all, regardless of race or religion.…
