National Assembly

In June 1789, the representatives of France's third estate--a social class that includes peasants, the working people of the cities, and a large and prosperous middle class made up chiefly of merchants, lawyers, and government officials--declared themselves the National Assembly of France. The other two estates, made up of nobles and clergy, joined later. By September 1791, the National Assembly believed that the revolution was over. It disbanded at the end of the month to make way for the newly elected Legislative Assembly.