Legislature, however, was more constricted (if possible), and nobility was most eligible.
Direct participation in politics was not extended to the poorest citizens; however, the assembly did attempt to develop a decent standard of living for the poor. This included the right to elementary education for all. It was, nevertheless, difficult for the assembly to make any significant improvement for the lot of the impoverished. Although unsuccessful to facilitate to the poor, the National Assembly was able to extend individual liberty to non-Catholics. .
As they debated over the subject of toleration, the Assembly realized that "a rather long experience has shown that harsh ordeals are insufficient to convert them: we should therefore no longer suffer that our laws punish them unnecessarily" (Hunt, 41). It was decided that religious beliefs should be separated from citizenship. Jews were granted rights of citizenship for the first time in Europe. Article ten of the Declaration writes, "No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law" (Murphy). Natural law was the basis for which religious toleration was practiced in principle; however, natural law did not give complete civil rights to people of color.
Rights were granted to the small number of black people living in France and to the mulatto inhabitants of the French's Caribbean colonies; but nothing was decided on slavery. It was argued from the plantation owners that the abolition would devastate the colonies economically and would also impair the French ports that depended on overseas trade. (Popkin, 51). .
The National Assembly established rights to all men, including non-Catholics and the few black men that lived in France. What about the other fifty percent of the population? The Assembly failed to recognize that women should have the same equal rights as men.
