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France in Revolution
Section 2: Experiment in constitutional monarchy 1789-1792
Chapter 6: Attempts to establish constitutional monarchy
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Cards (31)
9th July 1789
: National Assembly becomes the
'Constituent Assembly'
Significance
of the
Constituent Assembly
Between
1789-1791
, set about devising a new constitution that would curb the powers of the monarchy and provide
'liberty
and equality'
Why did the Constituent Assembly try to change the Church?
the
wealth
of the Church
went against
Enlightenment
ideals - many who spoke against the Church were often clergymen themselves (i.e.
Abbé Sièyes
)
What religious
changes were made between August 1789-June 1790?
Pluralism was abolished
Payment of annates was ended
The tithe and the don
gratuit
were abolished
Synods were
abolished
Church property was
nationalised
(2nd Nov 1789)
Full citizenship granted to
Protestants
All religious
orders
dissolved - unless contributing to community
Feb 1790 onwards - state also sold off monastic wealth and property
What
was the Civil Constitution of the Clergy (12th June 1790)?
the decree outlining the
reorganisation
of the Church
What
was stated in the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
Clergymen would become
state
officials
Bishops and priests were to be
elected
Papal power to confirm bishops
outlawed
Boundaries of dioceses were to be redrawn and every départment was to have a
bishop
What was the result of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
effectively made the Church subservient to the state
Louis reluctantly accepts it December 1790
Why was the Oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy introduced 27th November 1790?
Doubts about the Church's support
How many swore the Oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
7 bishops and only 55% of the parish clergy - later many retracted their oaths after the Pope denounced the constitution
What
was the significance of the Oath of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy?
Pope suspended those who took the
oath
Assembly responded by annexing Avignon to
France
Assembly declared
refractory
priests as 'counter-revolutionaries' - income to be
stopped
Large numbers of clergy
fled
abroad
Many feared (
wrongly
) that the Assembly was trying to change their faith
Political
reforms - what form should the constitution take?
An elected governing body acted as the legislative
The
king
and
royal
ministers made up the executive
The
judiciary
was made
independent
Political
reforms - should the King be able to veto laws?
Louis was given a suspensory veto
After 4 years, any measure vetoed would automatically become law
Political
reforms - what title should the King hold?
He was to be called
'King of the French'
not King of
France
Political
reforms - who should have the right to vote?
Active citizens (could vote) - males over 25, lived in one place for a year, spoke
French
and paid direct
taxes
equal to 3 days labour
Passive citizens - received
civil rights
, not a
vote
When
did Louis XVI accept the constitution?
September 1791
What
was the key focus of administrative reforms?
Decentralisation, achieved through the
abolishment
of the old provinces in
Nov 1789
Départements -> Districts ->
Communes
=
Decentralisation
Administrative
reforms - councils
Made responsible for
law
and order in their localities
Had a range of duties - from the collection of
taxes
to construction of
roads
Why did the government fall into the hands of the bourgeoisie?
the
income qualifications
for
voting
Judicial
Reforms - courts system
A single central
high
court of appeal
Each department was to have a court in its
capital
for
criminal
cases
District
courts - deal with more serious cases
JPs were to hear
minor
civil cases in each group of
communes
Legal
reforms - legal rights
Every accused person was brought before a judge within
24 hours
of arrest
Accusations, proceedings and judgments were to be open to the
public
The accused were to be assisted by a
lawyer
Torture
, branding and hanging were abolished
1792
- introduction of
guillotine
Sentences were to be
fair
and
equal
for all
Impact
of legal and judicial reforms
The judicial system established by the
revolutionaries
of
1790
was one of the most enlightened systems in Europe
What
were assignats?
Introduced
Dec 1789
government bonds
which allowed for the purchase of
Church lands
Fiscal reform - what would replace direct and indirect taxes?
A land tax
A poll or property tax
A limited tax on commercial activity
What
was the impact of the fiscal reform?
a fairer system of taxation and provided a basis for further reform
Economic reform -
trade
and
industry
Internal
tariffs disappeared
All
corporate
bodies were abolished in 1791 -
minipolies
and guilds
Emergence of a new
land-owning
bourgeoisie
Why
were economic policies
not
particularly significant?
Large producers benefitted from
high
prices but poor peasants and
townsfolk
lost out
There was no drop in the price of
food
New class of
'capitalists'
- perpetuated past
divisions
Societal
reform - class
loss of
noble 'trappings'
did not mean loss of
wealth
/influence
Individual rights and
liberties
were more
protected
in law
State charities
provided for the
poor
The removal of barriers barring the way to
high office
offered new opportunities for
social mobility
Societal
reforms -
general
Divisions of
gender
, wealth and office rapidly replayed those based on
birth
Men
had more rights than
women
Employers
had more rights than
employees
Active citizens
had more rights than
passive citizens
Who were the social 'winners' of the revolutionary changes?
The
bourgeoisie