Chapter 6: Establishing constitutional monarchy

• The Constituent Assembly?

  The new name for the National Assembly that lasted between July 1789 and September 1791
• The bonnet rouge?

  A red cap worn by revolutionaries, which was previously worn by freed Roman slaves
• Temporal?

  Secular or earthly matters, not religious
• Why did revolutionaries prioritise attacking the Church?

  The Church represented the privileges of the first estate. They also wanted to remove the Church's non-spiritual power, and exploit the Church's wealth
• Gregoire?

  A first estate member of the Estates-General. He supported the formation of the National Assembly and the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
• Pluralism?

  Holding multiple religious offices. This resulted in absentee clerics
• Annates?

  A year's revenue paid to the pope
• Limits to the Church's power in the early months of the revolution?

  Pluralism, annates and the don gratuit were abolished, Church property was nationalised and full citizenship was granted to Protestants
• Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

  First published in July 1790. It reorganised the administration of the Church, turned clergymen into salaried officials, and made the office of bishop an electable position
• Why didn't Pope Pius VI condemn the Civil Constitution of the Clergy at first?

  He was involved in delicate negotiations surrounding Avignon
• When did Louis accept the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?

  He did so reluctantly in December 1790
• Papal bull?

  An official declaration from the Pope
• Plebiscite?

  A vote from the entire electorate
• Opposite of a juring priest?

  A non-juring or refractory priest. They refused to swear the oath to the Civil Constitution
• The oath to the Civil Constitution?

  The Assembly doubted the clergy's loyalty to the revolution, and thus made them swear an oath of loyalty to the nation
• Support for the oath to the Civil Constitution?

  Very low. Less than 5% of bishops and 55% of parish clergy supported it, and many oaths were retracted after the Pope condemned the Civil Constitution
• The Assembly's response to the Papal bull?

  They occupied Avignon and declared refractory priests "counter-revolutionaries"
• Impact of the Church reforms of the early revolution?

  Many clergy fled abroad. The reforms were generally accepted in the areas surrounding Paris, but they were met with scepticism in strongly Catholic regions of France. This exposed how around 50% of the population were more committed to salvation than the revolution
• Montesquieu's view of government?

  It should be based on rational principals
• How many chambers would the 1791 revolutionary government have?

  One - the Assembly
• The King under the 1791 constitution?

  He had a suspensory veto, and was allowed to appoint a cabinet of ministers. His title changed to "King of the French", and he was granted a comparatively modest private income
• How often were elections to be held under the new constitution?

  Once every two years
• Active citizens?

  French-speaking men over the age of 25 who paid taxes equivalent to 3 days of labour. They were granted political rights
• Passive citizens?

  They only received civil rights, not political rights
• Powers of the Assembly?

  They could make laws, collect taxes and discuss warfare
• When did Louis accept the 1791 constitution?

  September 1791
• The canton?

  Electoral and judicial divisions of France, which were made by combining multiple communes
• France's new administrative divisions?

  Departements, which were further divided into districts, and subsequently communes
• How many departements were in France in 1790?

  83
• Decentralisation?

  Distributing power to local officials, rather than controlling everything centrally
• What was significant about France's departemental system?

  It embraced the revolutionary principal of decentralisation
• Who occupied local governments?

  The educated bourgeoisie
• Duties of local counties under the 1791 constitution?

  They resided over law and order, assessment, taxes and construction of roads
• When was the parlement system abolished?

  September 1790
• Duty of JPs?

  They heard out minor civil cases
• Courts in the capital of the departement?

  They held criminal cases and had a dual jury
• Elections for judiciary under the 1791 constitution?

  JPs and district courts were elected every 2 years. Criminal judges were elected for a fixed term
• Tribunal de cassation?

  High court of appeal under the 1791 constitution
• The guillotine?

  A method of execution adopted by revolutionaries in 1792 because of its humanity
• New legal rights under the 1791 constitution?

  The accused were to be brought before a judge within 24 hours and were assigned a lawyer. Torture and hanging were abolished, and sentences were to be fair and proportionate