This classification was first used during the French Revolution in the National Constituent Assembly in 1789.
The King had not been able to manage the finances of France well.
So he called a meeting of about 1200 people, including common people, Church leaders and King’s officers, in May 1789.
The meeting went wrong, and common people took matters into their own hands and, over the next few days, established National Assembly, which became National Constituent Assembly.
This National Constituent Assembly (NCA) later also attracted a few members from Church Leaders (Clergy) and King’s officers (Nobility).
The agenda for one of the NCA meetings was to decide how much power should rest with the King.
Those favouring King’s absolute power were asked to sit on the right, and those favouring partial power sat on the left.
This was done, so it was easy to count the votes.
Mostly King’s officers and some from Church sat on the right of the King, and common people sat on the left.
This seating pattern continued in all the meetings going forward.
People and the press started referring to these groups as left and right.
The French revolution was a big deal, and the whole world was watching, so the names travelled and eventually became identities – Left who are pro-change; Right who are more conservative.
